Belt size to by pass AC

[CCTGENE]

The belt tensioner bracket broke on my son 89 Grand Am 2.3 quad 4. Does anybody happen to know what belt size I would need to by pass the AC.
The air doesn't work anyway and it looks like I would have to tear the engine haft apart to change the bracket, if I could even fine one. It looks like I would need a belt 34 to 35 inches but its hard to tell. Before I go buying belts, I thought I'd ask if anybody has done this before and if so what size belt did you use.

Thank in advance for any replies.

Gene from Georgia

[3100]

You can use the idea

picture 3 pulleys arranged in the shape of triangle, the pulley in the middle is your AC pulley lets call it:A then above you have pulley B and below you have pulley C. It will be easier if you draw a sketch of this on the paper. Now measure distance from A-B and A-C add them up and subtract from the total length of your original belt plus subtract maybe one inch since you will not have the belt tensioned.

[3100]

sorry for spelling mistakes, the last word is tensioner. I am not sure how your belt diagram looks but I am sure you got the idea,

[3100]

Xero sorry I can not edit, I just got simpler idea: if your belt is off, just use the measuring tape that tailors use and go around the pulleys that you want to use and measure. Then again maybe 1-1.5 inches shorter since you will not have belt tensioner. But this idea will not work for a long time since the belt will stretch and will probably slip off. Or if you get it too tight it can damage your alternator bearings etc. In the end it pays off to do it right the first time.

[roboticgod]

Originally Posted by CCTGENE

The belt tensioner bracket broke on my son 89 Grand Am 2.3 quad 4. Does anybody happen to know what belt size I would need to by pass the AC.
The air doesn't work anyway and it looks like I would have to tear the engine haft apart to change the bracket, if I could even fine one. It looks like I would need a belt 34 to 35 inches but its hard to tell. Before I go buying belts, I thought I'd ask if anybody has done this before and if so what size belt did you use.

Thank in advance for any replies.

Gene from Georgia

i dont think you can by pass the AC on teh 89's.
Wouldnt it be cheaper just to replace the tensioner ?

Autozone sells by pass pulleys and braket, might check and see if they carry these.

[CCTGENE]

Problem solved, a 35 and half inch belt fits. The way you have to do it, is to remove the crankshaft pulley, put the belt around it and the alternator pulley, and then remount the crankshaft pulley. If and when the belt stretches, I'll just put on another belt.

Thanks again for the replies.

Gene from Georgia