Squealing
 

Have a high pitched squeal in my stock 85 GS. Took off the belt to the smog pump and it does squeak turning by hand, but when I run the engine without the belt, it's actually worse. The car runs cool, so I don't think it's the water pump. The alt spins freely. Anything else to test? Only squeals 3k and above. Belts are fairly new.

Lastly will I kill the converter without the smog pump?
Thanks in advance

I only asked the last question because there's so much conflicting info on this topic. Can't take the cats off for 3 more years due to NC inspection. I can just put the belt on for testing.

Removing the belt for the smog pump always causes the other belts to slip. You need a dual pulley on
the alternator and 2 belts. That's the cure. I have the under drive dual main and alternator pulleys
on mine. Alternator tends to be under driven at idle but not too concerned about it. Some folks
used Mitsubishi alternator pulleys from minivans as well.

Thanks Tim. I'll look around this weekend to see how that may work with the smog pump.
I noticed that all the pulleys are very smooth, so i may try a little sandpaper to make them dull.

You only have to get a safety inspection for cars older than 1996 in NC. No one
should be doing a visual of any kind on your emissions. I can give you the details
for where I take my cars. I barely have to get out of the car for an inspection. Of
course now my SA requires no yearly inspection at all.

You need to find a better place for inspections.

Would like to get the name, I've been to 3 places and they all seem to look at the same stuff. Car is all back together and it is a little better, but will pursue the double belt. Need to get angle air ratchet to get the nut off the alt.

Take the alternator off and have a go with an impact gun. ;)

One thing about alternators: DO NOT SPIN THEM, when not attached to the wiring harness. If you do, the diodes in the voltage regulator will go out, and your alternator will be dead.

Its tempting, but don't do it,

^^^ Did not know this. Why does it cause the diodes to fail?

Stooopid alternator bearing... Thanks to Tim, and a new FC alt, all is right up to 7k rpm. No more noise.