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Serpentine setup

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Old Jun 26, 2023 | 06:40 PM
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Default Serpentine setup

Hello All,

I wanted to convert my 1980 to serpentine so I bought the setup that you see in the picture below. The issue I'm having is the AC compressor is touching the hood. This came off of a 1985 Monte Carlo and it looked like the same setup that others have used but won't fit in my case.

Am I doing something wrong or are there more that one type of accesorie bracket for the SBC?


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Old Jun 26, 2023 | 09:10 PM
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It looks like the same serpentine setup that’s on the newer GM turnkey crate motors like mine. I used a Sanden compressor with my CAA A/C unit. I know that doesn’t help much but it fit under my 71 base model hood and the GM compressor did not…

cheers,
Richard


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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 08:37 AM
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I used one off an 88 z28 and it worked perfectly. I've seen people use them off LT1 CAMAROS AND OTHERS AND NONE OF THEM WORK WITHOUT A TON of WORK. There has to be an old thread on this.
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Old Jul 9, 2023 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Kidster71
It looks like the same serpentine setup that’s on the newer GM turnkey crate motors like mine. I used a Sanden compressor with my CAA A/C unit. I know that doesn’t help much but it fit under my 71 base model hood and the GM compressor did not…

cheers,
Richard

Thanks. I guess I'll try to find a Sanden compressor to clear the hood.

Can anyone recommend a Sanden model that will have ports in appropriate place to replace pancake compressor? I would assume that I'd also need a bracket to mount the Sanden in place of the GM pancake compressor.

Thank you
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Old Jul 9, 2023 | 10:22 PM
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The GM Performance Parts catalog serpentine kit was originally installed on 1990,1991 Firebirds and Camaros. It comes with a Sanden compressor if you order the AC option. Just eyeballing the two compressors, the A4 has a much larger diameter.
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Old Jul 10, 2023 | 05:18 PM
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The only reason that I used the Sanden compressor is that it came with my aftermarket Classic Auto Air A/C kit and they wouldn’t support using the factory GM compressor.

The Sanden compressor requires the use of custom brackets and spacers with this serpentine kit (See attached illustration). You could probably pick these up from Vintage Air or Classic Auto Air. They also have every high and low side hose end angles available if its going to be tight. I’ve dealt with both companies before and they both have excellent customer service.

The Sanden that CAA sent me and I am using is a SD5S14 model 5312 but that is for my aftermarket AC unit…

Cheers,
Richard





Last edited by Kidster71; Jul 10, 2023 at 06:45 PM.
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Old Jul 10, 2023 | 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Kidster71
The only reason that I used the Sanden compressor is that it came with my aftermarket Classic Auto Air A/C kit and they wouldn’t support using the factory GM compressor.

The Sanden compressor requires the use of custom brackets and spacers with this serpentine kit (See attached illustration). You could probably pick these up from Vintage Air or Classic Auto Air. They also have every high and low side hose end angles available if its going to be tight. I’ve dealt with both companies before and they both have excellent customer service.

The Sanden that CAA sent me and I am using is a SD5S14 model 5312 but that is for my aftermarket AC unit…

Cheers,
Richard



Thank you Richard
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