Hi All,
I have a 1969 Corvette convertible with AC however, I have a few concerns/queries to put forward.
For starters, it is on the left side (driver side) of the engine and the alternator is on the right side (passenger side) of the engine, was that a common thing or can I assume someone added it later in its life? Car is a 350ci small block.
My other query is if the AC unit in the car is actually original to the car - I've called Chevy, got passed through most divisions and ended up with GM Heritage Archives who told me to contact NCRS as their records don't go further than 1970 and NCRS cannot confirm any build/data sheets for the car so I can't confirm how it was optioned which is a real pain.
The AC compressor is an "Frigidaire" but the sticker does say "Remanufactured" on it, there is a number on the front as well - 073063, I am not too sure if this is a model number or something else as it is printed in the box above "Model Number". I can also see on the back some casting codes "H-25" as well as what looks to be "L2", I cannot read the code below this due to the brackets holding the unit unfortunately.
The Corvette Registry - C3VR Register suggests that the car was built November 1968 for the 1969 model year so an early 1969 car.
I have attached some photos for reference, you'll see some questionable wiring which was done prior to my ownership and leads me to believe it is not a factory fit.
Let me know your thoughts, appreciate your time and assistance!

 

Can you get a picture of your engine stamp pad? It's in front of the passenger (starboard) side head, at the top of the block. Normally I'd say it might be hard to see underneath the AC compressor, but your alternator is over there instead.

Perhaps there is a clue as to what engine is in there now. If it is the original engine, it will have a partial VIN that matches your car, and a code that can be looked up here:

https://corvettec3.ca/engines.htm

If it is not the original engine, the suffix code may be found in the Lime Book:

https://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf

Perhaps those relays were added for a cleaner headlight circuit, electric headlight servos, or electric cooling fans?

 

Thanks for that. I've been told by the previous owner the engine number was re-stamped so it is not showing up on any register. I did search up the casting block number on the back of the engine by the firewall and it does show up as a 350ci for the 1969 model year.
There is electric cooling fans on the car so part of that wiring would be for that but some of it does connect to the AC Compressor.

 

Do you have active Astro Ventilation - ie do you have vent control levers on your console or none? Are your rear deck vents sealed or have doors activated by linkage to a vacuum pot? Where is your windshield washer bag located - just some potential clues to check if the car is an original factory AC car.

 

Thanks friend. The vent controls are the levers you push up and down in the console, the rear deck vents are open (the grill looking things in between the luggage rack and convertible top). Windshield washer is a bottle and its on the right side of the car right down where the gill is, under the radiator bottle.

 

Hello,
I looked to see where you're from and when I saw Australia it flashed through my brain "is this a right hand conversion"?
When I saw your photos I realized it's not.
Parts must have been flipped for some other reasons.
Regards,
Alan

 

So if you have vent levers present on your console and the rear deck vents have doors that open and close .. likely your Corvette was not a factory AC car. Perhaps AC added later. Factory AC cars had sealed rear vents and no front operating vents as they were sealed as well.

 

Isn't the firewall integrated parts for the AC nearly impossible to add to the car from non-AC to AC?
My march 69 427 ac car has the ac on passenger side and alternator on drivers side. My car doesn't have power steering(ironically) so that may have changed the layout but i am not sure.

 

While I will defer to other restoration experts, I am under the assumption that AC and Non-AC Corvettes both had the same basic firewall structure that would accept either the standard outer heater box as well as the optional C60 AC outer box as pictured in the AIM C60 A1 page 320. So if you had access to a complete C60 factory assembly from a factory AC car - you could install same to modify to C60. The other items I mentioned including the Astro Ventilation system AC vs non AC, washer bag location etc. would aid

to assess originality.

 

Maybe it's an entire engine swap ( not original to the car ) & whatever motor that is, the a/c belongs on that side & it's the correct application for whatever engine that is, but not for a 1969 Corvette ???

 

Thank you for the info, I had my suspicions it wasn't a factory option due to the placement of the AC unit on the left side, the rear deck vents don't open and close so sounds like it wasn't factory fitted.

 

That could be likely as well, the casting number I looked up for the engine suggests it is a correct 1969 engine but it could be out of anything from Chevy, I tried researching the AC being on that side but I couldn't find much.

 

See if you can get a clear photo of this pad. It's located by the passenger side head next to the water pump. ( on your left side when looking at the car from front / center head on )