My ‘86 alternator is on the passenger side of the engine. The A/C compressor is on the drivers side. Could someone explain why to me?
thanks in advance


Nevermind. This is normal for an ‘86.

 

If you want it switched around go serpentine

 

What is this? Not hooked up to any belt

 

The flux capacitor. They were much more compact by 1986. Leave it alone, you won't be able to get back to the future without it.

 

darn. She’s already out of the car as well as the rest of the smog system. Quick YouTube university business.

 

Because that's how the Chevy factory built all of their V8s from about 69 up to about the 87-89 range depending on the body style, except Vettes which retained the even older style up to about 73 or so. Our cars changed over to serpentine in 88.

Looks like you have the last iteration of the old style accessory drive before they went to the serpentine ("snake-like") routing. They made our cars like yours in 86 & 87. For those last coupla years they used that wide flat ribbed belt you have there, the same type of belt later used in serpentine drive systems, for the water pump & alternator. Note that it is not "snake-like" therefore not serpentine, although it's the same sort of belt that those use. The AC & PS belts were still the older V type.

The thing circled in the photo is the AIR pump (Air Injection Reactor) aka "smog pump". There used to be a short V belt going from the front groove of the water pump pulley to its pulley to drive it.