86 2.8 serpentine belt question

[ratrapp]

has anybody converted a carb 2.8 v belt over to serpentine belt without changing the timing cover and oil pan?the truck doesnt have factory a/c and the air pump was gone when i got the truck.id don't mind using an aftermarket kit if some one knows of one available.i wouldnt even be opposed to using serpentine belt with a manual tensioner if that was an option.i just don't feel like changing the oil pan just to use a serpentine belt.

[eaglescout526]

Not sure if many on here have done such. I know the 2.5L can be converted by simply changing all the pulleys. 
Maybe the S10 guys had better luck, if they kept the engine…

[ratrapp]

ive searched through some s10 forums and the only solution i could find was you had to swap the timing cover and oil pan.then i think you lose the mechanical fuel pump option as well.i don't want to start going down a rabbit hole to do something thats not super important.i hate new v belts anymore.it seems that you have to tighten them up several times before they finally quit stretching.i think self tensioning serpentine belts have ruined me lol.

[eaglescout526]

8 minutes ago, ratrapp said:

i hate new v belts anymore.it seems that you have to tighten them up several times before they finally quit stretching

What’s weird is I ran into an issue similar on my XJ where the belt would squeal, loosen it, stopped but became too loose when it was hot. Then I learned I had to get strong and really make the belt tight to not squeal and be an issue. Sometimes you just gotta really crank down on those tensioners. 

[ratrapp]

i know and sometimes you can get them too tight and itll eventually ruin your water pump bearing or any other bearing thats associated with it.its a slippery slope sometime.

[eaglescout526]

Yeahhhh it can be. 
 

Well that sucks that you have to do a lot of work to convert it to a serp set up. 

[Pete M]

classic trucks come with classic problems