Damn you guys are tough ( and OLD ) Ran into a minor issue last night, went to put the belts and fan back on and the ac/power steering belt seem to long? WTF? I'm thinking there are two positions to mount the PS pump on the bottom and I may have used the wrong one. Figures, work 12 hours then go home and go back to work. I may be just too tired to concentrate. Gonna have another look at it tonight. I've really been taking my time, every nut, bolt, bracket and accessory has been cleaned, painted, wire wheeled, an or/ replaced. New starter and alternator ( thanks to Auto Zone life time free replacement ) all new hoses, cleaned up all wiring etc. what I really need is a good 4 hours straight to get it done. Maybe I'll call in sick tomorrow.
Yes, there are 2 positions that you can mount the PS pump in.
One is just a hole for the bolt (making the PS pump non-adjustable). You use this position, when you have AC, and then use the AC compressor to adjust belt tension.
The other position is a slot for the bolt. You use this position, when you have just PS, so you can use the PS pump to adjust belt tension.
The slot is farther out on the bracket, than the hole. So if you have the bolt in the slot, instead of the hole, then that would make the belt too short, not too long. I'd guess they gave you the wrong belt. From my experience, the belt is a PITA to get on, when you have both AC and PS (the belt is just barely long enough to slip/pry over the pulleys, with the AC compressor loosened as much as it will loosen).
I guess if you really think the belt is too long, and you don't want to get another one, you could move the PS pump to the slot. Between the PS pump and the AC compressor being able to take up slack, you should be able to run a belt that is considerably longer than a stock one.