Many years ago I owned a 71 Corvette, which I still own. It had come equipped with all options including AC, but with the base 350 engine.

At one time I decided to build a destroked 400 small block with an LT 1 forge crank and LT 1 solid lifter cam. Immediately proceeded to blow off the AC belt at 6,000 plus RPM.

Found the reason that Corvette never offered AC with the LT1 engine,,,that is until 1972.

When drag racing I would remove the AC belt because when it blew off it would take out the PS and alternator belts with it.

One day replace all pulley's with March pulleys,,,smaller crank pulley, same size water pump and alt. Problem solved.

Interesting side note how GM solved for 1972 Vette, the only year they offered AC on LT 1 engine. They merely lowered redline on tach from 6,500 to 5,600 RPM on 72 models,,,numbers are correct best I can remember,,,still same solid lifter camshaft and same other specs except for no lead premium compression lowering on 71 and 72 models.

Still own car today.