Del: Have not tested with belts off....I have been going the assumption that since the whirr did not change with the water pump change, then it is not the water pump. And it is not the alternator; those bearings are a bit worn but not the same noise at all. But I might just try that.
Bill....good idea. I guess I am so used to tensioned chain systems that that did not occur to me to try.... duh! Easy to do.... and I need to look under the distributor cap anyway.
Will report 'whirr' this ends up....
