Is it possible to just get a shorter belt and reroute it instead of buying the delete pulleys? If so what would the belt size be? I've searched, but everything I seem to find leads to posts describing steps using the delete pulleys. Preferably would like to free up space which would mean not adding a delete pulley.

 

Assuming serpentine setup; unless you put in the AC delete pulley there is no way to run the belt. I think someone was able to make the tensioner work the opposite direction, but you would have to do some searching. Otherwise you need to go to an aftermarket brackets setup to keep the serpentine belt.
I know what you mean though, I have a TPI serp setup and I would like to use it on an old car but I don't need the AC or air injection pump and it seems illogical to run the AC delete pulley just to run a serp belt

 

You can reroute the belt to eliminate the smog pump, but you still need something is place of the A/C.

At that point, a person might be further ahead to fabricate something to hold the alt and steering pump, or look into a different bracket setup.

From the Tech articles... https://www.thirdgen.org/serpentine/

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...without-c.html There's one way to do it with the stock stuff + a pulley swap.

There are tensioners on lots and lots of vehicles. Some Gen V engines are getting spring-loaded piston strut style tensioners down low.

The main thing forgotten with accessories is triangulation. (I'm mostly thinking of aftermarket LS stuff, but I digress.). If you can build that into what you're doing to locate a tensioner, you can do a lot of different stuff.

 

I did a lot of experimenting with different setups, ended up going to a full system because - especially - with the TPI style setup the cold air and rad hoses use up the same space needed by the belt and pulleys. When you change things around remember that lots of these systems use revers water pumps as well.

 

possible if you get a standard rotation water pump...

I have (2) belts.

(1) for water pump and Alternator
(1) for vacuum pump

water pump is standard rotation

 

I'm currently modifying an alternator and power steering pump brackets from ICT to work with a serpentine belt and a reverse rotation water pump. Check out Alan Groves web site there is a ton of good info for working on OEM and custom applications with alternator and power steering pumps
SBC Alternator & Power Steering Pump Accessory Drive Brackets Kit for Electric Water Pump
ALAN GROVE COMPONENTS, INC
Third Gen Thread - New belt routing. (with diagrams!)