G'day All,

I run an 85 760 GLE with a B28. I have an A/C system with out gas, and I am not planning on getting it re-gassed (it would have to be cleaned and prepared for the new style gas, and it isn't really necessary in my part of West Aus. any way). By my reckoning, the A/C drive belt is not connected to anything else, so I should be able to take it off with out any negative effect (and not have to spin the compressor around). Is this thinking correct?

Continuing on that line of thinking, is there anything stopping me taking the whole compressor out for good, and plugging the hoses to stop ingress of dirt anywhere?

On a separate issue, after poking around the engine, I noticed the alternator belts squeaking a bit, and a little loose. I attempted to tighten the belts, but have only made things worse. The bottom, 17mm bolt (pivot) is extremely tough to loosen. After only 2 or 3 turns the bolt become tougher to turn than what it was to loosen it. I stopped at that point due to lack of light, but it seems without loosening this bottom pivot bolt I can't adequately rotate the alternator.

Any tips or suggestions on how to loosen it?
Also, I am curious to hear peoples recommendations on the best spot to lever the alternator from while tightening - so far all I have worked out is directly between the engine block and the alternator at the side - this seems to put the force on the alternator shaft rather than the housing though.