I have an 87 with a 350 in it, and I'm trying to figure out some alternate v-belt routing options, but everything I find is for 88+ (serpentine) cars.
Anyways, lets get into it. My car currently has no ac belt on it, so I'm trying to hook it up. I've found this diagram:
but I'm wondering if I can just run my a/c compressor directly off the Power steering or Water Pump (In which case, I'll remove the smog belt, which isn't even working properly anyways). Or is there any reason GM ran it through the whole CS-> PS -> AC ->WP loop?

 

The A/C compressor is going to be the hardest drag on the belt drive by a fair margin. If you don't run it off the crank, it's probably going to cause problems.

 

The AC is the highest "long term" drag; the PS puts the highest "spike" loads on the belt. Those 2 things need all the help they can get, and then some. CERTAINLY NOT any reduction in the amount of belt they get. Above all, NOT making all that load pass through the PS belt FIRST, given that that's the hardest one to tighten anyway.

Remove the smog belt, sure; but leave the others as they are designed. No benefit to be gained by doing what you suggest.

 

Just switch it to the serpentine system and be done with it.

 

wrong thread. Sorry.