I own an ‘88 5.7 TPI IROC.

For some reason, the PO replaced the engine…it’s a ‘correct’ 350 for the car, with the ‘series 2” block (one piece rear main seal), but for some reason, it’s an ‘87 vintage, complete with V belts, rather than the proper serpentine belts an ‘88 should have.

The A/C compressor has developed a significant leak from the front seal, and needs replacing..

I’m wondering if it would make more sense to buy the Chevrolet Performance serpentine kit, which would include a new compressor, or simply replace the compressor, and keep the V-belt setup. Obviously, it would be cheaper to just replace the compressor, but it’s always bothered me that the current setup is ‘wrong’ for an ‘88.

Thoughts?

 

I'd say the '87 setup is fine -wouldn't bother me at all -the '88 setup is quieter,slightly less horsepower use at high rpm,and better mannered at high revs though

 

I agree that the serpentine setup is better, and it’s unfortunate that it didn’t get swapped over to the replacement motor whenever that was done. At this point, it is what it is and the fact that it once had the serpentine is pretty irrelevant now. It would be the same question if the car was an 86’ or 87’ with a bad A/C compressor. Would you swap the whole setup to serpentine, or keep the v belt setup?

If I had access to a donor car and it was basically free, sure swap it over. But, the new GM kit your are talking about is a lot of money and in my opinion not worth it in this circumstance. You at least have the ribbed belt for the alternator, which is better than the v-belt from 85’ and earlier. I would replace the compressor and all of the belts, make sure the belts are adjusted correctly and just run it. It will be fine.

 

To do that, they had to get a whole motor from someplace.

My guess would be, they got it as a roller, and the motor came from somewhere completely else; which is why they had NONE of the serpentine drive system and THE WHOLE V-belt one.

I think I'd check junkyards, the classifieds, etc. for the later system, rather than bite off on the GM "kit", if i really wanted to do that. Problem then of course would be, the alt and compressor would have to switch sides, the WP would have to be changed, the PS pulley swapped, etc. Not a trivial undertaking but not impossible either.

 

Excellent deduction, Sofakingdom!

 

If it ain't broken .........

 

If it works, don't fix it. I'd polish that throttle body plate though.

 

I’d like to…bought the polished plenum and runners from eBay…not entirely certain how to go about polishing the throttle body.

 

I did that years ago, mainly to allow installation of the sanden AC compressor (there's probably a kit for it to mount on the left side now).

was able to use the S10 FAD from the JY's but it slowly escalated. could not re-use the power steering pump or alternator as they wouldn't fit the serp brackets. new AC hose, water pump, that little bracket to keep the water hose up off the belt near the alt.....