1995 F250 5.8 4x4 M/T

If I take the AC compressor off the engine can I use a serpentine belt for a non-AC truck? As look at the engine it seems like an obvious "yes". But I'm paranoid enough about unexpected complications that it compells me to ask.

 

You will either need an idler pulley to substitute the AC one or a shorter belt, i'm pretty sure you won't have any issues doing either mod.

 

I got a look at a non-AC engine and noticed that there was an idler wheel where the compressor would go. A quick trip to the local auto recycler and I found one. Compressor off, and idler wheel on, and it's good to go.

 

The idler pulley is the best method only because some day you'll need to buy another serp belt and when your auto parts supplier asks you what it's for, they'll hand you the belt assuming the AC compressor or the pulley is there.

Getting an auto store to give you a belt by size is about as convienent as taking your wife shopping for new shoes.

When the idler pulley on my non-AC truck died I couldn't find one in the junkyard right away, so I plucked off an obviously dead compressor that didn't have any play in the pulley and used that until I found one.

 

I couldn't help but wonder about the idler's life expectancy. The one I installed looked in reasonable condition and it spun freely without any serious noise.

Is there some way to grease / oil the inner workings in the idler wheel? I may pull it off in order to see if it can be lubed somehow...should have done that to begin with I suppose.