Air cond compressor
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Air cond compressor
Have my 75 with a stock air condition system, has not worked it 15 years or so, had it recharged and worked great for two weeks. The compressor is leaking, can see the green dye with a black light and yellow glasses.
Options?
Cost to rebuild compressor?
Get a replacement compressor?
Or just ignore it and keep driving it?
Options?
Cost to rebuild compressor?
Get a replacement compressor?
Or just ignore it and keep driving it?
Last edited by Mod75; Aug 11, 2013 at 10:40 PM. Reason: I cant spell
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,364
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
2 options:
Replace the front seal and bearing, or buy a rebuild and swap it out. I've done it both ways. If you have the tools to do the front seal & bearing pull, you can do it yourself. After having done it, I found that it wasn't worth my time to do it for the cost of the rebuilt, so the next one I did I simply swapped out.
Lars
Replace the front seal and bearing, or buy a rebuild and swap it out. I've done it both ways. If you have the tools to do the front seal & bearing pull, you can do it yourself. After having done it, I found that it wasn't worth my time to do it for the cost of the rebuilt, so the next one I did I simply swapped out.
Lars
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: Lambertville Michigan
You didn't mention where the compressor is leaking. Is it leaking here?
Note the dye, just to the right of the cap in the center of the photo and to the left of the ground wire.
Does anybody know if this possible leak is easy to fix?
Is it just circlip removal and "O" ring replacement?
Note the dye, just to the right of the cap in the center of the photo and to the left of the ground wire.
Does anybody know if this possible leak is easy to fix?
Is it just circlip removal and "O" ring replacement?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Mine is leaking at the front by the pully, will check again before i decide which way to go on the repairs.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
You can find a rebuilt A6 compressor from your local auto parts guy, NAPA or even somebody like RockAuto, as well as any of the restoration houses. (Willcox, Zip, etc.) You need to match the pulley size- I think your car will take the larger (5 3/4") pulley.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
2 options:
Replace the front seal and bearing, or buy a rebuild and swap it out. I've done it both ways. If you have the tools to do the front seal & bearing pull, you can do it yourself. After having done it, I found that it wasn't worth my time to do it for the cost of the rebuilt, so the next one I did I simply swapped out.
Lars
Replace the front seal and bearing, or buy a rebuild and swap it out. I've done it both ways. If you have the tools to do the front seal & bearing pull, you can do it yourself. After having done it, I found that it wasn't worth my time to do it for the cost of the rebuilt, so the next one I did I simply swapped out.
Lars
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 40
From: Swansea IL
Do you know if the compressor is SNed or any specific numbers that match it to a specific year?
I too have the original compressor on my car. Have not run the system for several years but there was no damage when I quit using it. Assumed the same thing as you, change the front seal and bearing due to age.
Thoughts?
Bob
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: Lambertville Michigan
I believe that you need eather an R4 or an A6. I thought that both would work. The R4 is the shorter of the two. It is the one that I have posted above. My mechanic told me that the longer A6 was the more robust unit. I can't comment regarding that.
The R4 was std. in my '78. I think that he longer A6 was for later models.
The R4 was std. in my '78. I think that he longer A6 was for later models.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
GM used the Frigidaire A6 compressor from about the early sixties to the mid 70's across all their product lines. At the time, it was considered the best in the world; Rolls Royce would buy them to install in their cars.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
That looks great, in fact I have been looking to do the same conversion on my '75. Not so much for the bling but rather for the weight and efficiency.
Did you piece the conversion or use someones 'kit'?
Thanks in advance for your time.
