Hi All,

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as an aftermarket a/c compressor bracket for a 1991? Mine cracked and I replaced it with another original one since that's all I could find (hard to find btw) and that is now cracked. Has anyone made an aftermarlet one or is there a company that sells them? I would prefer to use something brand new so I can get another 25 years out of the bracket and not months which seems to be the way it's going.

 

You could have the existing bracket welded.

I would also make sure all the factory braces are in place. Off the top of my head, I think there should be two braces. One to the exhaust manifold and one to the block?

 

Gotta have the braces. Cast aluminum is hard to weld and often doesn't hold up (ask me how I know). Try to find used.

 

What is the casting # on the one you're using presently. Do you believe this is the reason for the serpentine issues now?

 

I had that problem on my 91. I bought 1 and replaced it. Soon after, it broke AGAIN. Replaced it but this time found all 3 braces and used them. So far, the 2nd one sits on my shelf. I think it was the fact that I only had 2 braces. Once I got the 3rd one, life was good. Make sure you have all 3 braces before you stick another one in there. Now I wish I didn't get the 2nd one.

 

You should have 3x braces on the 91.

1x from exhaust manifold to top rear of compressor.
1x from water pump to a/c bracket
1x from fuel pump block off plate to a/c bracket behind tensioner mount

I have not had a a/c bracket failure since all three supports were fitted, the early ones just had the rear support.
Later the rear and to water pump, last all 3 support brackets.

Go hunting for a good one and supports at a wrecking yard.

 

I believe someone had them in stock, Doug Rippie?, at one point.

But they are no longer made and are a pain to find. I destroyed one and bought another at a salvage yard. People will charge you as-new prices for them too.

You must have the braces for this part. The braces are critical. Its cheap metal, and will crack fairly easily.

I wish someone would cut them out of steel.

 

Oh I know the feeling as well!

I've owned the car for 11 years roughly and the car never had any braces on the a/c or alternator for as long as I have had it.

I put a new motor in it about 5 years ago and finished all the loose ends and tuning etc. maybe 3 years ago. This past summer I barely drove it due to the belt issue.

When I was putting the new 396 in I noticed my a/c bracket had a small crack in it so I had it welded since I couldn't locate a decent one at the time.

From there the car had been dynoed and driven hard for hrs and an entire summer with no issues at all and still no braces on the alternator or a/c! Then last summer towards the end of the summer 2016 the belt started slipping.

It started slipping off the smog pump delete pulley and onto the alternator blade which would instantly shred a groove off. I started with replacing the tensioner/idler (even though it had been replaced at time of new motor) and that seemed to help and the belt had no issue for a month or so. Then it started slipping in the same spot again. I replaced the smog pump delete pulley tht appeared worn and that fixed the problem for a couple months into this summer of 2017.

Then it started slipping again. This time towards the back of the a/c compressor pulley. I then thought ok maybe the a/c bracket has finally weakened and there is a small crack somewhere. I bought a new used one which basically broke while putting it on because it turns out there was a small crack in that one. I relooked at the one I had been using all these years didn't see anything so I put it back on the car. Also at this time I learned the alternator should have a brace on it and that made sense to me since it shook like crazy with the new motor. So figured maybe that's what's doing it. I then made a brace since the factory one I bought didn't clear the headers any longer and took the car out for a test run. Within 5 miles it slipped a groove in the same spot back to the a/c compressor pulley (this time I also added a gatorback belt that made no difference from the factory one) No i'm just stuck. I'm thinking get another a/c bracket with all the braces??? Does anyone have a diagram of where each brace goes and what part numbers they are?

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-brackets.html

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...er-pulley.html