308 A/C conversion - Belt length

I'm in the process of doing my own AC conversion. Using the short Sanden compressor and a York adapter bracket. I just ordered a handfull of 11mm belts in various lengths to find one that fit the best. Either use a longer belt and keep the original tensioner pulley, or use a shorter belt and ditch the tensioner pulley. I'm leaning toward the second option. The belt length will depend on what type of York/Sanden adapter plate you use. There's probably no "right" answer... just trial and error.

 

Yeah similar to my setup. I'll have to look and see which length I decided on when I get back to the garage.

 

I have the same setup. You want the Gates 11m875 belt

I got mine from here:

https://www.biedlers-belts.com/gates-11m875-belt.html

It's not a "common" belt so it was hard for me to find elsewhere like Amazon etc.

 

Awesome glad I could help.

 

34 inches

 

78 GTS US
Did this install a couple of years ago. Classic Air recommends the Gates 7340 xl belt. It works ok but is a little long so I had to modify the idler pully bracket for more movement so it wouldn't slip. I had to replace the AC belt this past weekend after 3 or 4 thou miles due to one of the teeth (ribbed belt) missing which was causing a squeak, bit of a pain, and used the Goodyear 15340. I had both the Gates and the Goodyear on hand and the Goodyear is a little shorter and didn't require so much idler pulley offset. Both are available on Amazon for under $15. A word to the wise. Make sure you have the belt aligned perfectly. Mine was about 1/8 inch off initially and caused a lot of problems. It would twist on the idler pully and eventually break taking the alt belt with it. Changing belts on a 308 in a restraint parking lot with only the Ferrari tools isn't much fun. This happens because the belt is way to wide for the idler and crank pullies and any misalignment causes the belt to eventually twist (roll over) due to (I think) riding high in the idler and crank pullies.

 

Not surprising they recommended the wrong belt. Their "kit" is kind of... terrible?

Had I to do it over I would have followed one of the very detailed threads on here and done it myself and saved about a grand in doing so.

 

The real EU mount has a tightening bracket with over 75mm of adjust so easy!.
The York conversion plate is great price and so convenient but can have this belt challenge ,
great to help others here, Thank You