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I currently have a 69 with 2 groove water pump and crankshaft pulleys. I have power steering. Do I need to convert both of these to 3 groove pulleys to install Vintage Air?
I'm planning on buying the complete Gen IV kit, but I don't think it comes with the pulleys. Anything else I might need to buy that doesn't come with the kit? I know it needs refrigerant at the end.
Thanks all. Looking forward to having some A/C down here in Texas!
Was your 69 model available with air conditioning? My 68 L-79 was not not available with a/c and the pulleys on mine were being used for Power Steering and the Alternator.... so I bought the "add on" pulleys for crank pulley and the water-pump pulley...and then modified the a/c compressor bracket to move it forward so the a/c belt runs on the forward most pulley.
Do you have an AIM for your 69? You would want to verify that these will fit on yours.
Here are the part numbers for my 1968 - and a little more info
(see post #24):
Here is the diagram (top right) that I think fits best in my AIM. I Have an L46. I don't have the AIR pump anymore. Looks like I'll just need a 3 groove crankshaft pulley.
In that case you need to figure out configuration because (per your attached image) the PS Pump pulley will be coming off the forward-most of 3 grooves on the crank (add on pulley may be easier than a new 3 groove pulley?). I'm not sure how you would move the PS pump forward to line up with that?
See post #2 in this thread. I had to decide how to run my belts with my added a/c. I figured it was easier to modify the a/c compressor bracket than to move the PS pump forward.
In that case you need to figure out configuration because (per your attached image) the PS Pump pulley will be coming off the forward-most of 3 grooves on the crank (add on pulley may be easier than a new 3 groove pulley?). I'm not sure how you would move the PS pump forward to line up with that?
See post #2 in this thread. I had to decide how to run my belts with my added a/c. I figured it was easier to modify the a/c compressor bracket than to move the PS pump forward.
I had the same problem with my 68 L79. I ended up using the add on crank pulley and a big block PS pulley to move the PS groove out one spot. It is really tight but if you get the right belt is just fits. Worse case scenario you can turn down the outer edge of the PS pulley to clear the frame.
Yeah, I wanted to avoid all those issues, and in the end, modifying the a/c bracket and sliding the compressor forward was really quite easy. I don't have any "real tight" issues either.
Below is a picture from the driver's side:
Originally Posted by msminnesota
I had the same problem with my 68 L79. I ended up using the add on crank pulley and a big block PS pulley to move the PS groove out one spot. It is really tight but if you get the right belt is just fits. Worse case scenario you can turn down the outer edge of the PS pulley to clear the frame.
I ordered an add on crank pulley that should work.
You guys hit the nail on the head with the PS pulley. The AIM doesn't seem to list the part number for the correct pulley in my situation. The one for the big block looks like it could work as it has 2 grooves. I just wasn't sure what was different about it. I also noticed that there's not much room between the PS pulley and the frame crossmember. Somehow the AIM says it's a valid configuration, so it SHOULD work if I can find the right pulley. I may have to experiment I guess.
What crank groove is your PS belt running to now? (mine is on center as you can see above).
If yours is similar to mine, then it would be easier to modify the a/c bracket than anything else. Of course, that would assume you also have the add-on pulley for the water pump pulley.
Here are a couple of links. I used these to figure out what add-on pulleys to get for mine (one for 68s & one for 69s... not sure there's any difference since i did not look closely):
Look at water pump pulley and crank pulley. Get their numbers and see where they fit on one of the above tables. Note that the "extension/add-on/smog" pulley numbers are in the table.
Once you get your water pump pulley and crank pulley numbers perhaps you can post them here for assistance in identifying what "smog"/"extensions"/'add-on" pulleys you may need.
Last edited by carriljc; Jul 3, 2017 at 09:56 PM.
Reason: add links and info
Good. That makes it easy. If you get the pulley numbers off your present crank and water pump pulleys, then we can determine the "add on" pulleys that will mate with yours (well, that's the plan). Then if your a/c bracket won't adjust to the full front, we can look at modifying it (if that's what you want to do).
I've been looking at the prices of pulleys and they seem to be getting ridiculous. If I was doing this today, then I would consider going to a GM TPI serpentine system..... a used one or from some auction site.
Let me know if you want a picture of the a/c compressor bracket modification - I had to cut off a portion and then shim (the compressor, not the pulley) it with washers to align with the forwardmost pulleys.
Last edited by carriljc; Jul 3, 2017 at 11:14 PM.
Reason: add comment
Good. That makes it easy. If you get the pulley numbers off your present crank and water pump pulleys, then we can determine the "add on" pulleys that will mate with yours (well, that's the plan). Then if your a/c bracket won't adjust to the full front, we can look at modifying it (if that's what you want to do).
I've been looking at the prices of pulleys and they seem to be getting ridiculous. If I was doing this today, then I would consider going to a GM TPI serpentine system..... a used one or from some auction site.
Let me know if you want a picture of the a/c compressor bracket modification - I had to cut off a portion and then shim it with washers to align with the forwardmost pulleys.
If you want it to be configured like a 'stock' vehicle (except for it being a Vintage Air compressor), have at it. The AIM for your model year will show you what you need.
Otherwise, you can do it all with two belts and a little 'adjustment' work. There were many GM (and other US brand) A/C cars which ran two groove crank and water pump pulleys: one belt drove the W/P and the A/C compressor and the other drove the W/p, alternator and the power steering. The P/S pump uses only 1-2 hp (unless dead-headed). The only reason to drive the w/p with both belts is so there will be engine cooling when only ONE belt breaks. The other belt will continue to run the w/p.
You may have to 'adjust' either the alternator or the p/s pump so that the pulley grooves are aligned the same. But, that will do the job.
7T1vette makes a good point. Since your vehicle could be optioned with a/c and PS, you should be able to get all the pulleys to bolt it right in. (As opposed to my 68 L-79 which could not be obtained with both a/c and PS).
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Vintage Air Pulley Question
