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2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Replacing the AC compressor clutch assembly
On a recent trip in my 71 350 coupe I was enjoying a very comfortable ride with the AC on and windows up. Was so nice, until it wasn’t… I started smelling something odd, a new smell. I was thinking it must be from something outside. Then I noticed smoke coming in the interior from the dash area. Panic… Pulled over and opened the hood to find smoke coming up from the AC compressor. As it turns out the the smoke was coming from the fan belt slipping and staring to burn. I cut off the belt and continued on my way with no AC
The clutch failed but the compressor is still good. Luckily I was able to buy a new AC clutch assembly and was told you just have to extract the old clutch and install the new one. Problem is I think you need special tools the do that.. When I try to take the nut off the whole thing turns. Will post some pics. AC Compressor Clutch assembly Nut that has to come off my to pull out the old clutch assembly and install the new one… New clutch assembly New clutch assembly
Last edited by Daveinspain; Jul 24, 2025 at 01:48 PM.
Yes. Air is good. Some battery ones just don't have the oomph the electric or air ones have.
As I recall that nut is staked to some degree. Then you need a proper gear puller which I rented from an auto parts store. Not sure what's available in Spain.
I've been reading about riots in Madrid and elsewhere against American tourists. Any trouble driving the vette around?
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by VERYSOON
Yes. Air is good. Some battery ones just don't have the oomph the electric or air ones have.
As I recall that nut is staked to some degree. Then you need a proper gear puller which I rented from an auto parts store. Not sure what's available in Spain.
I've been reading about riots in Madrid and elsewhere against American tourists. Any trouble driving the vette around?
VS
Really, I haven’t seen any of that at all. That’s really strange. As a matter of fact I was surprised how many people love America cars here, especially American muscle cars. In my WhatsApp group we are over 100 strong and this past May we had the first C3 ralley and over 40 C3 showed up from all over Spain. I’ll post some pics. People are very pro America in Spain. Maybe those news reports are designed to keep American tourist’s dollars in America…
🤔
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by VERYSOON
That's good to hear and those are fantastic vette pics.
Let me know how things go with the compressor!
VS
Had no luck today with a mechanic friend who was trying to help… We couldn’t get the old clutch assembly out. He thinks it heated up so much that it may have fused on. The compressor is not seized up though, it spins freely but we can’t get the clutch assembly out. He thinks I may need to take the compressor out, get it on a bench and put some heat to it to see if it frees up. He had a pulley puller but there wasn’t enough room to get it on the clutch, radiator is too close…
I just looked at the compressor on my 69. Not enough room to get an impact wrench in there due to radiator.. I should have thought of that. I had the compressor off and in a vice when I took it apart to reseal everything.
Seems like you could hold the clutch with a huge set of channel locks and whack a breaker bar with a socket on the nut. But then you still need a short gear puller. Trying to figure out a way to do it without losing your refrigerant.
If you are using 134 I guess it's not too big a deal. I use r12 so it's a bigger deal for me. But taking the compressor off the car is really easy and then you can quickly remove the clutch.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by VERYSOON
I just looked at the compressor on my 69. Not enough room to get an impact wrench in there due to radiator.. I should have thought of that. I had the compressor off and in a vice when I took it apart to reseal everything.
Seems like you could hold the clutch with a huge set of channel locks and whack a breaker bar with a socket on the nut. But then you still need a short gear puller. Trying to figure out a way to do it without losing your refrigerant.
If you are using 134 I guess it's not too big a deal. I use r12 so it's a bigger deal for me. But taking the compressor off the car is really easy and then you can quickly remove the clutch.
Guess it's hot in Spain. Hot in Texas, too!
VS
It was very hot last week but it’s not so bad now… Your in Texas, I bought my 71 from Hopper Motorplex in McKinney, TX… Bit north of Dallas.., Texas Vettes are usually very well taken care of and rust free…👍🏻
Still struggling with getting the clutch assembly off… Looks like I’ll have to find a shop to deal with it.
Here are the tools you need. A clutch plate puller and installer, a holder and feller gauge. If you need instructions get back to me and I will send them to you. I
do not use an impact gun.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by plaidside
Here are the tools you need. A clutch plate puller and installer, a holder and feller gauge. If you need instructions get back to me and I will send them to you. I
do not use an impact gun.
Instructions would be great… I don’t know where I can find those tools… I’m in Spain…
It has been a long time since I worked on A6 compressor. I made this tool up to hold the clutch. Must have been used with the puller and install tools. Maybe it's not needed.
rick
Cool tool! Didn't know such a thing existed until enlightened by plaid side. I've spent a fair amount of time making things work in a sort of 'third world' environment, however I agree with plaid that Dave is gonna need an installer tool to get the new clutch on. And no, I don't use an impact gun to install things!!
I love seeing road trips and pics from @Daveinspain !
i do not know what refrigerant you are running.. but i would take the opportunity to install a modern compressor.
My R4 compressor (no experience R6) works great on r12 and will freeze my leg.. that said.. IT PULLS POWER! a lot..probably drops my rpm from 875 to 700 RPM.
I would consider that option if mine breaks again..even with R12.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by plaidside
Here are the instructions. On the first page do steps 1-5 and on 2nd page do steps 20-23. The rest are for seal replacement.
Hi and thanks for the help… I bought the GM clutch replacement kit that you sent me the link for, I didn’t find the instructions you sent me though. Can you send the instructions again…🙏🏻
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by plaidside
I must have had a senior moment!
Hi Dave in Spain again… I’m still trying to install the clutch assembly. It’s been so hot here it’s been impossible to work. I got the universal tool kit you pointed me to and managed to get the first piece off. Now I need to get the rest of the assembly out… The instructions you sent me are missing one or two pages. What you sent goes from step one to seven and the next page starts at step 19… Could you please send the instructions again with the missing pages…🙏🏻
Replacing the AC compressor clutch assembly
