C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Which compressor?

Old May 7, 2010 | 10:14 AM
  #1  
Apocolips's Avatar
Apocolips
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Default Which compressor?

Time to get off the pot!! Starting to get all of the components to reinstall the A/C in my small block “70”. I have everything except the compressor. Originality is not as issue. My question is, do I go with an A6 or R4 compressor. I have brackets for both and a core for both as well. What compressor is the most reliable and draws the least from the engine? I have an original QJet for a 1970 and an idle solenoid bracket is almost impossible to find so I might go without. Summer is almost here and the wife wants “cool”!!!!!
Reply
Old May 7, 2010 | 11:12 AM
  #2  
Rotonda's Avatar
Rotonda
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Default

The A-6 is huge, weighs a great deal, weeps oil from the front seal and draws a great deal of power. The R4 has always had some reliability/longevity problems - especially when used with R134A.

Have you considered a Sanden 508? It is a much more modern compersser, lighter and more compact, and doesn't draw a great deal. Brackets are available to mount it in the stock position.
Reply
Old May 7, 2010 | 11:40 AM
  #3  
Apocolips's Avatar
Apocolips
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Default

Originally Posted by Rotonda
The A-6 is huge, weighs a great deal, weeps oil from the front seal and draws a great deal of power. The R4 has always had some reliability/longevity problems - especially when used with R134A.

Have you considered a Sanden 508? It is a much more modern compersser, lighter and more compact, and doesn't draw a great deal. Brackets are available to mount it in the stock position.
Where is the best place to get the compressor, brackets and hoses?
Reply
Old May 7, 2010 | 12:14 PM
  #4  
markdtn's Avatar
markdtn
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Default

Originally Posted by Rotonda
The A-6 is huge, weighs a great deal, weeps oil from the front seal and draws a great deal of power. The R4 has always had some reliability/longevity problems - especially when used with R134A.

Have you considered a Sanden 508? It is a much more modern compersser, lighter and more compact, and doesn't draw a great deal. Brackets are available to mount it in the stock position.
If forced to choose between those 2, I'd pick an A6 any day over an R4. Given a choice of something better, I'd go with a Sanden or change to 88?-91 TPI C4 serpentine accessories and use the Nippendenso compressor.
Reply
Old May 7, 2010 | 12:29 PM
  #5  
Wrencher's Avatar
Wrencher
Safety Car
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Default

Forget the R-4, they're junk. A-6 is bulletproof, but does weep oil, draws power and it's HEAVY! All the brackets are available for a Sanden from the A/C vendors (Vintage Aire, etc...) for a SB and they're designed to cycle. That's the way to go unless you want to use the stock POA valve, in which case you would want to make sure the Sanden has the volume to operate that variable pressure system properly.

Hans
Reply
Old May 7, 2010 | 01:43 PM
  #6  
Apocolips's Avatar
Apocolips
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Default

I've checked several web sites about the Sanden compressor. Is Sanden a "style" or a brand? I ask because there is a huge price differene between sites. They range from $159.00 to $275.00.
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 06:01 AM
  #7  
Rotonda's Avatar
Rotonda
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Default

Sanden is a brand - Japanese. It is so popular that many have knocked off the design - hence "Sanden style."
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 08:29 AM
  #8  
Apocolips's Avatar
Apocolips
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Default

Originally Posted by Rotonda
Sanden is a brand - Japanese. It is so popular that many have knocked off the design - hence "Sanden style."
How can I be sure that the one I order is not a "knock off". I saw this one on EBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SANDE...item4ceea6fbeb
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Which compressor?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:48 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE