Psychovette

Since the R-4 A/C compressor blew up on my '79, I've been looking for
reliable options. NPD offers a Sanden compressor upgrade kit complete
with hoses, brackets, o rings, and an accumulator for $499.95 (part no.
C-9170B-104B) This conversion is listed for a Chevelle but it looks like it would fit my '79. Have any of you tried a similar upgrade? The only other
qualification for mounting the Sanden compressor seems to be whether the mounting bracket is for a short or long water pump. Which one does
a Corvette C-3 350 use? Thanks for your help!

Ganey

Corvette short pump. Check Vintage Air.
Note for R134, I would use a smaller orifice tube like the Ford (2 O-Rings) Red .062 in place of the GM White .072.


I replaced the R4 compressor with a ND 6P (similar to Sanden 508) which uses less HP & works great. Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system.

redwingvette

I bought my system from Nostalgic Air Parts.
Everything fit nice and works good with R134.
The only difference with you 79 and my 73 is the 73 used a VIR valve which I had to eliminate.

My post

69Vett

you can buy just the Sanden A/C bracket from Allan Grove
http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/B...Short_Pump.htm

chvet73

My brackets came from Grove. Hoses from a local shop. I would add a new crossflow condensor.
There were no kits when I did mine. But it will freeze you out.
If someone has a complete kit with condensor, compressor and brackets I would sure take a look at it.

Psychovette

Thanks for your help! I have inquiries in at both Vintage Air and Nostalgic Air asking what
"kits" they might have available to allow me to upgrade my system and get rid of the R-4 compressor. I don't understand the previous post that advises using a .062 instead of a .072 orfice tube. How do you do this in a Corvette? What is a ND6P compressor?

Ganey

ND 6P is the compressor (similar to Sanden 508) which I used. Not relevant, you can read it as Sanden for your purposes.

The Ford orifice tubes have 2 o-rings which helps w/ R134 so some shops are using them in GM systems. A/C repair shops are not A/C designers.

Some factory a/c systems were converted from R12 to R134 by just reducing the orifice tube size! So use a smaller orifice tube like .062 in place of the GM White .072. The orifice tube goes in the line to the evap. & there is a connection to replace. If one was not switching to R134, the orifice tube would normally be checked for debris.

Psychovette

Thanks for your help! In case anyone else out there had the same problem; Classic Auto Manufacturing of Tampa FL. sells a complete kit for Corvette A/C upgrades that consist of; A Sanden style compressor, All
mounting brackets (Alan Grove), Compressor hoses, O rings, Hardware,and either a filter-drier or accumulator (depending on year)
for $499.95. Contact Ron Marino @ (813)251-2356 X 7022. Seems like a good deal to me. Have any of you tried this?

bobbarry

Throw in a direct-fit parallel-flow condensor, and I'll put the order in next Spring!

zwede

Just be aware that when a vendor writes "sanden style" 99% of the time they will sell you a Chinese copy of the sanden. You may or may not care.

noonie

Hard to get away from China.
Sanden has 4 production plants in China as well as Poland and Mexico.
Shenyang Sanden Automotive Air-Conditioning Co Ltd
Sanden (Shanghai) Automotive Air-Conditioning Co Ltd
Shanghai Sanden Behr Automotive Air Conditioning Co Ltd
Tianjin Sanden Automotive Air-Conditioning Co., Ltd.

Then it's even harder to tell which parts manufacturers supply Sanden and other look a likes.