Don't hit me. This is probably a lot longer than it needs to be. Need sleep.

So I'm walking down the pulley replacement line, and I've stumbled upon a question or two.

Ideally, I'd like to replace both tensioner pulleys(#3), and both idler pulleys (#'* 8 & 9), with metal units. I, however, have only found a SC tensioner pulley that is metal. I know that a metal version of the PITA #9 idler pulley can be found, as mine has been replaced once a few years ago with one, after it shattered. I'm thinking that #9 metal is available here, http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_p...=195&catid=111 but the correct size is listed as a "6 rib" pulley, which leads me to believe that is actually a grooved pulley - which is wrong.
I went to Pulley Boys and found this http://www.pulleyboys.com/gm_idler.html when I spoke with Levi (@ PB) this evening, he said that the pulley linked there is actually 3.54" - I'm confident that the tensioner can make up the difference...BUT, it doesn't have the "fanned" face, which leads me to believe that it has a different offset. Is that correct?
For the same reason, I'm thinking that I cannot just use this #3 Acc Idler
in place of this #3 SC Idler because of this
What say you?

Oh bollox!
I've searched many a thread, and looked many places, but I cannot seem to find what I've described that I have been looking for. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

*yes, pulley questions are a dime a dozen - god knows I've looked.

If the back side dimensions are the same I don't see why it wouldn't work. This is assuming all the other dimensions are the same. The points that would be critical are on the back side. You would want to make sure the offset from the hole is the same, but it will just stick out a little farther.

I'd stick with the proper pulley. I know that a metal one is available for the #9 pulley as I have one. My replacement started with the plastic Goodyear one that you have, but it wasn't long before flat spots started to appear. I replaced it with a metal one that my parts guy (local parts/repair shop - not a national chain) found without a problem. Have you checked NAPA?

Thanks for the info, MFB - I'd rather not be the first to try it, however, in which case, I'll just stick with Mr. Thermo Plastic for the second #3 pulley and #8 idler pulley.
Archon - Yeah, I haven't found a new #9 idler pulley at one of the local guys yet and the closest NAPA is 45 minutes away and "over the hill," as we say here. Don't they deliver? If so, do you happen to have a pn for metal #9 idler? I suppose if worse came to worse, I'd just go to the stealership.
Thanks, lads.

Just checked online and all they show is the plastic at NAPA. If push comes to shove, I could check with my parts guy next time I'm there and ask him about it.

Yeah, I was just there myself. I wouldn't kill yourself over it - if I have exhausted the other local options and the dealer is asking way too much, I'll see if I can't get my former employer to look into it and see if it'* available through WorldPac.

Do you think that the GM engineers felt that since nothing in the supercharger belt drive-line is essential and that the vehicle can still be driven without the blower working, that they could save some $ on pulleys by using the thermoplastic?
The thought just occurred to me as I was looking at the pulleys on tensioner assemblies. They all, so far, have the fan-faced thermoplastic pulley, and as mentioned before, there is a steel pulley available for that tensioner - which would lead me to believe that the two tensioner pulleys are interchangeable. Perhaps that should have been more clear to me when I looked at the Dayco pn listing.
I'll take a closer look when I pull them off.