"Are you taking the air cond off for weight savings or just because it's toast?"

I'm removing the A/C for space saving and tidyness, really. I want all that crap out from under the hood. (The compressor and back brackets waste about a cubic foot of space on the manifold side.)

I think the radiator will be more efficient without the condenser blocking it's airflow. I also suspect that an idler pulley drags less on the belt than the A/C compressor does.

I finally got my pulleys and guards. I installed with 7/16" a grade 8 bolt and nuts, and a 1-1/2" x 1/2" spacer...all from the Lowes hardware isle. The stock Lowes spacer is almost perfect. It could stand a .10 shim, but it'll live for now. (next phase of mechanical work--timing cover, oil pump and pan gaskets--will require the belt's removal anyway. I'll make sure I have a shim in hand before I start that project.)

Ed,sweet that it's coming together for you,don't forget to put in a good timing chain/gear set as long as your going to change the gasket.

_________________
83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed