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I notice on my 77 that I get oil slung up on the hood liner from my AC compressor. I purchased and installed the chrome cover available from Corvette Central ( or one of the mail order companies) a couple of years ago, but it is not large enough to keep the oil from getting on the hood liner. My AC works good enough that I am not ready to invest in a new compressor ect., right now but I know that I will eventually and that the leaks are indicative of this fact.
In the meantime, I'd like to find a lager shield that looks good to install over the AC compressor pulley to keep the oil off the hood liner. I have done some searching and really can't find anything other than what I have. Does anyone have any suggestions? It doesn't have to be chrome, I'd be happy with a painted black one for example if there is anything available.
Only other option I can think of is to try to fabricate one myself and try to make it look decent.
There used to be a cover for the A-6 compressor that was advertised in the NCRS Driveline publication. I have not seen it for a number of years. I have the polished aluminum one on my Sanden compressors. I would change out the compressor before your hood is ruined by oil seeping up from the underside of the hood. The hood on my 68 is showing signs of bubbles. This happened before I added the shield. Jerry
fix the oil leak before it ruins the hood and paint job and every other paint job that's put on it.
If your trying to build a bigger deflector to stop the oil spraying , you would have to encapsulate the whole compressor...
Eventually that's the plan, just don't have the time or $$ to tackle it right now. Only place I see oil spray is directly above the compressor pulley on the hood insulation. I am confident that a larger cover would temporarily take care of the issue, but I just can't locate one to purchase.
That spray is telling you that the front seal needs replacing. I understand not having the $$ right now, but allowed to go on and you will lose enough oil from the system to seize the pump which will add to the $$ you'll have to spend significantly in the future.
As far as a shield. I would just go get a piece of sheet metal and cut it to the size you need and clamp it under the chrome cover you have on there now extending forward over the shaft of the pump and whatever portion of the circumference you figure will do the job.
That spray is telling you that the front seal needs replacing. I understand not having the $$ right now, but allowed to go on and you will lose enough oil from the system to seize the pump which will add to the $$ you'll have to spend significantly in the future.
As far as a shield. I would just go get a piece of sheet metal and cut it to the size you need and clamp it under the chrome cover you have on there now extending forward over the shaft of the pump and whatever portion of the circumference you figure will do the job.
I actually replaced the front seal and still have the oil slinging out. I know it needs to be fixed the right way and I have put together a list of everything I need to do that which includes a new compressor etc., but I'm just not ready to dig into it mid summer. I am targeting this to be a good job during the winter months. I would like to come up with something that doesn't look too "bubba" under the hood. I could buy a piece of sheet metal like you mentioned and see if I can form it, then paint it black so that it looks nice.
I actually replaced the front seal and still have the oil slinging out. I know it needs to be fixed the right way and I have put together a list of everything I need to do that which includes a new compressor etc., but I'm just not ready to dig into it mid summer. I am targeting this to be a good job during the winter months. I would like to come up with something that doesn't look too "bubba" under the hood. I could buy a piece of sheet metal like you mentioned and see if I can form it, then paint it black so that it looks nice.
Could be the shaft diameter is worn down where the seal runs and the seal is not sealing due to the reduced diameter or that the leak is coming from the big o-ring on the front. There is a couple of o-rings, if I recall correctly, on the front of the R4.
In any case I wouldn't worry about looking bubba, it's temporary.
Also if you can fix the original (assuming it is) do that vs buying a new one. The new ones suffer from lack of quality components.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Jul 27, 2017 at 04:45 PM.
Could be the shaft diameter is worn down where the seal runs and the seal is not sealing due to the reduced diameter or that the leak is coming from the big o-ring on the front. There is a couple of o-rings, if I recall correctly, on the front of the R4.
In any case I wouldn't worry about looking bubba, it's temporary.
Also if you can fix the original (assuming it is) do that vs buying a new one. The new ones suffer from lack of quality components.
That may be the case regarding the shaft being worn a little. I actually replaced the seal/bearing thinking that would fix the issue and have been scratching my head wondering why it's still leaking. The leaking/oil slinging is not as bad as it was prior to replacing the seal, but unfortunately it still leaks. I am assuming it's the original compressor. It's not the big long one that I have seen on some, but rather the shorter compressor. I got a laugh out of your note about not worrying about looking bubba because it's temporary. LOL Sometimes we have to laugh to keep from crying. haha. This is the second 77 I have owned and although a 40 year old car is frustrating and always seems to be in need of some sort of repair, I love the thing and the nostalgia. I cuss it at times but it always puts a smile on my face when I walk through the garage and see it sitting there waiting to be taken out for a spin on a pretty day.
After I took it apart I could see that the shaft diameter where the old seal had ran was slightly reduced in diameter. Since the old seal looked exactly like the new seal I figured it was going to try to seal on the same spot. I looked for offset seals and didn't find any so I purchased a seal that looked like this in the hopes that it sealed in a slightly different location on the shaft; https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8
Lucky for me it did. So no leak now. Putting the seal on, it is easy to damage if you don't put oil on it and use the little nipple or some other protection to get it on the shaft without damaging the sealing surface. https://www.google.com/search?q=R4+c...RPSSOBCfy4dNM:
I found all of my parts on ebay.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Jul 28, 2017 at 11:32 AM.
lol..........I thought about that, but I live in Western KY...........right now the heat and humidity are totally freaking brutal and there would be no way to enjoy driving the car without the AC.