86 AC Compressor removal?
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
86 AC Compressor removal?
I am having some trouble getting my A/C compressor off. Seems that there are three mounting bolts all of which I have loosened. The lower right bolt is out, but the top bolt hits on the valve cover and the front bolt hits on the front clutch assembly. I can remove the passenger side valve cover to get the top bolt out, but I'm not sure about the front bolt.
Are there any tricks to getting these rascal bolts out? Any help will be appreciated.
Are there any tricks to getting these rascal bolts out? Any help will be appreciated.
Last edited by pmihaltian; Aug 5, 2009 at 07:33 PM. Reason: photo
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
I put the same thread on today. Unbelievable. My mounting bracket broke and that is why my compressor needs to come off. How about you? Tell me if you got the compressor off and what steps I might be missing or what bolt. Good luck and keep us informed. Todd
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Not an easy chore. But it is do-able.
Loosen ALL the bracket mount bolts as well. Then find the spot where the upper rear bolts are loosest, and start shifting the comp body until the front bolt will slide out.
You'll find that its more than just three bolts to get this beast off.
Loosen ALL the bracket mount bolts as well. Then find the spot where the upper rear bolts are loosest, and start shifting the comp body until the front bolt will slide out.
You'll find that its more than just three bolts to get this beast off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
The long bottom bolt will only rotate when the bolt head is against the compressor; as it unwinds it binds against the pulley. The only way to allow it to turn is to loosen the 2 bolts holding the bracket to water pump so the whole assembly can come forward until the bolt is out of it's thread.
As you have to loosen the nuts on the water pump studs you may as well remove complete assembly and play with it on the bench
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
Thanks, are there nuts as well that must be removed. Like the two on the bottom bracket. Does anyone know exactly how many bolts including the studs on the water pump do I have to remove. Thanks again for all your help for a rookie like me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Disconnect any compressor braces , remove the 2 nuts , undo the long bolt at bottom of compressor while pulling whole lot foward until bolt comes free.
Slide off WP studs and you have the whole lot out.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
I can't get the bottom bolt out. I have all the other bolts off. How the H#!! do I get it off? What size wrench and how? Is it almost directly underneath the Pulley, what's the trick? The Vette is kicking my butt. Final call for help.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Like we said that bolt is a torq head right? It has a flat ground on the head to allow that little bit of clearance around the a/c pulley.
Line up the flat and pull it out. It aint easy so take it slow.
Drinking heavily helps too!
Line up the flat and pull it out. It aint easy so take it slow.
Drinking heavily helps too!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Obviously bolt will only come out past the flat on the clutch AFTER you undo it .
Last edited by rodj; Dec 22, 2011 at 07:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
You just undo the nuts on the waterpump studs and slide the bracket off without disturbing the WP.
Disconnect any compressor braces , remove the 2 nuts , undo the long bolt at bottom of compressor while pulling whole lot foward until bolt comes free.
Slide off WP studs and you have the whole lot out.
Disconnect any compressor braces , remove the 2 nuts , undo the long bolt at bottom of compressor while pulling whole lot foward until bolt comes free.
Slide off WP studs and you have the whole lot out.
Also, I'm not sure yet, but I think the fuel lines go between the mounting bracket and the compressor which, if I am right, the lines will have to come off to get the mounting bracket off. I'll look closer today and see if this is actually correct. Its just so damn hot here this time of the year !
More later....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
You guys are great !
OH, YOU GUYS ARE GREAT !
I lined up the flat spot and out it came. This neat little trick is not in the GM Shop Manual and I would have never figured it out on my own as the bolt is under the compressor and out of view without a mirror. The Torx bolt is actually a #45 and the wobble socket extention which allows you to get a good straight fit on the bolt is available at Harbor Freight for about $8 for a complete set. Here is a photo of the rogue bolt FYI.
Again, thanks for all the great help. I would never be able to restore this Corvette without this Forum.
I lined up the flat spot and out it came. This neat little trick is not in the GM Shop Manual and I would have never figured it out on my own as the bolt is under the compressor and out of view without a mirror. The Torx bolt is actually a #45 and the wobble socket extention which allows you to get a good straight fit on the bolt is available at Harbor Freight for about $8 for a complete set. Here is a photo of the rogue bolt FYI.
Again, thanks for all the great help. I would never be able to restore this Corvette without this Forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 30
greetings all,
...was up north ;last week and began to change the blown compressor in my brothers car (86)...at that point i realized that the compressor i shipped him many years ago was a v-belt styled pulley instead of the serpentine style it calls for....
(the compressor blew possibly because the fan(s) - at least the aux fan on the outside of the radiator, doesn't/didn't come on when in the ac position and with the "lp" switch jumped out for test purposes. we replaced the relay for fan but got no further).
..at that point, the job ended as i never got to the point of getting the brackets loose for compressor removal....my question is, is it possible and how difficult is it to change out the pulley from the existing compressor to the "v-belt replacement" compressor...
......Thanks Again!
...was up north ;last week and began to change the blown compressor in my brothers car (86)...at that point i realized that the compressor i shipped him many years ago was a v-belt styled pulley instead of the serpentine style it calls for....
(the compressor blew possibly because the fan(s) - at least the aux fan on the outside of the radiator, doesn't/didn't come on when in the ac position and with the "lp" switch jumped out for test purposes. we replaced the relay for fan but got no further).
..at that point, the job ended as i never got to the point of getting the brackets loose for compressor removal....my question is, is it possible and how difficult is it to change out the pulley from the existing compressor to the "v-belt replacement" compressor...
......Thanks Again!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
Yes, I finally got the compressor off! What a pita. Now I have to get the bracket out, it looks like I will have to take the fuel line off to get it off. Thanks again for all your help. I will let you know when I get it all put back together. The bracket should be here Monday.
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Yes, I finally got the compressor off! What a pita. Now I have to get the bracket out, it looks like I will have to take the fuel line off to get it off. Thanks again for all your help. I will let you know when I get it all put back together. The bracket should be here Monday.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
A/c lines are long enough to lay unit to the side so you can remove the water pump