Being a California emission vehicle (currently in Oregon), the smog pump has the belt tensioning feature built in and the A/C compressor bolts solid to the side of the engine. On non emission motors, the A/C compressor has a different bracket that has a tensioner pulley mounted to it. I'm finding very few of these adjuster brackets that aren't close to $300.
My current options are:
- drop coin on a non A/C bracket (not the owners preference)
- build an eliminator kit like the FJ series use, but to buy one is close to $200 and it likely needs modified
- build an eliminator kit which takes more time than I want to commit
- use the smog pump.
This last option is where I am at currently. I disassembled the pump the other night as chunks of carbon fins were pouring out the bottom air port so I figured I wasn't hurting anything. I think it will clean up ok and have sourced a possible front bearing (right behind the pulley) if needed, but the rear bearing apparently is not available. The rear bearing doesn't seem to be in bad shape, but with more cleaning of the assembly and some high temp grease it may work for the purpose.
So, if this works, NAPA has the front bearing for $8 and some elbow grease to clean it up (price unknown). I think I have to make a pulley mount removal tool, but that is part of the fun I guess.
