Big block A/C
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 336
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From: Somewhere Texas
Big block A/C
I am trying to remove the A/c muffler from my big block '71. Are there any tricks to getting the fitting off of the pressure relief valve that is mounted in the fender well? Also what size is the nut that on that fitting? I have removed the muffler from the compressor, but I am not sure about getting the other fitting off, and I don't want to screw it up. Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
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From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Big block A/C (Bob Demmel)
Bob, I don't recognize which nut you're talking about (relief valve?).
For those AC nuts that are larger than the usual tool set wrenches, I had good success using a new, tight 12" crescent wrench by turning the adjusting **** down to ZERO clearance between the hex flats and the jaws, and then making sure I was pulling the wrench perfectly perpendicular to pipe/hose centerline.
This technique is fraught with danger of rounding your tube nuts, but it can work for large sizes if you ensure that the jaws remain fully engaged on the flats and the nuts have not become welded to the tube.
For those AC nuts that are larger than the usual tool set wrenches, I had good success using a new, tight 12" crescent wrench by turning the adjusting **** down to ZERO clearance between the hex flats and the jaws, and then making sure I was pulling the wrench perfectly perpendicular to pipe/hose centerline.
This technique is fraught with danger of rounding your tube nuts, but it can work for large sizes if you ensure that the jaws remain fully engaged on the flats and the nuts have not become welded to the tube.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Hernando Beach Fl
Re: Big block A/C (Chuck Sangerhausen)
Like Chuck I am not familiar with the arrangement you have. In the instance of large nuts / bolts in tight places you might visit an antique tool store and ask for a "Ford" wrench. They are a straight jawed adjustable that will work where many adjustable won't
jer
jer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 336
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From: Somewhere Texas
Re: Big block A/C (Chuck Sangerhausen)
My description of the offending fitting was pretty weak. Here is what I think is a better description. There are two hoses that come out of the compressor; one goes forward to the dehydrator and the second snakes around under the compressor and has a U shaped aluminum end that attaches to a relief valve or some type of valve that is mounted to the inside of the wheel well in the engine compartment where the firewall juts out on the passenger side. Sorry about the earlier description. I plan on having new hoses attahced to my present muffler--I found a guy who says he can do it, but I don't want to cut the old hoses just in case he can't.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Big block A/C (Bob Demmel)
Bob, the other end of that second hose goes to the suction throttling valve mounted on the evaporator housing. The evaporator housing protrudes out very near the wheel well, but is actually mounted on the firewall.
The nut at the suction throttling valve is indeed a big nut, and was one of the ones I was describing in my first post. On the fender well there may be a greasy cylindrical lump of black foam rubber on the hose that is about twice the diameter of the hose and about 4" long, but there are no nuts on that.
The nut at the suction throttling valve is indeed a big nut, and was one of the ones I was describing in my first post. On the fender well there may be a greasy cylindrical lump of black foam rubber on the hose that is about twice the diameter of the hose and about 4" long, but there are no nuts on that.
