GMCforum: GMCnet » installation note for aluminum a/c compressor

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » installation note for aluminum a/c compressor

Show: Today's Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator

installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273955]

Wed, 18 March 2015 13:53

Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Just had an interesting ac system failure on our way to death valley and figured I'd share it to save others a similar fate.

I've been struggling to get our dash ac system working, finally gave up on the old a6 compressor
and went with the coolpro compressor that applied sells. The fact that it weighs half as much sure made
life easier on installation, and it seems to work OK, but... the version that applied sells (coolpro 5004)
has a smaller diameter pulley than oem (5" vs stock of about 5.75"). It also has bolts sticking out the side
of the pulley, vs the smooth original. What this means is that unless you change the belt to a shorter one,
the compressor ends up a little bit closer to the floor of the cockpit. The hoses cleared the pulley fine while cold,
but once everything warmed up, sagged just enough to make contact with the spinning bolt heads, which made short
work of the hose.

So, if you do change to this new compressor, probably should go to a shorter belt, and add some additional support or
shielding to the hoses to protect them from the pulley and prevent them from sagging. If you have a 455 engine,
I believe you can use the belts for a 403 which are about 1" shorter.

Karen
1975 26'

[Updated on: Wed, 18 March 2015 14:24]

Report message to a moderator

Re: installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273956 is a reply to message #273955]

Wed, 18 March 2015 14:09

Keith V

Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Karen,
I had the EXACT same issue!
I got the thing all working and happy and then heard a strange Buzzing sound on throttle.

I couldn't see the issue at idle, but I soon found it when the hose gave way spewing the duracool all over the parking lot Sad

Those bolts on the pulley are a hose killer.
And that hose is EXPENSIVE if you can find them. I ended up getting a new one made

Make sure your hoses clear the pulley even when the engine tourques over!

Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com

Report message to a moderator

Re: installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273957 is a reply to message #273956]

Wed, 18 March 2015 14:22

Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009

Karma: 0

Senior Member

We'll try to get new rubber put on our old hose fittings. If that isn't cost effective,
Golby has the whole new assembly for a sane price:

http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/gmc-parts/2/4/body/dash-a-c/hoses,-evaporator/hose-assy-compressor-detail.html

Karen
1975 26'

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273963 is a reply to message #273957]

Wed, 18 March 2015 16:10

powwerjon

Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013

Karma: -2

Senior Member

Golby has offered this hose assy for years, I bought it from them in 1998 to repair the AC system on our 77 Elegant II. I don’t thing the price has changed since then.

J.R. Wright
30' Buskirk Stretch
Michigan
On Location in Tucson

> On Mar 18, 2015, at 12:22 PM, KB wrote:
>
> We'll try to get new rubber put on our old hose fittings. If that isn't cost effective,
> Golby has the whole new assembly for a sane price:
>
> http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/gmc-parts/2/4/body/dash-a-c/hoses,-evaporator/hose-assy-compressor-detail.html
>
> Karen
> 1975 26'
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Report message to a moderator

Re: installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273968 is a reply to message #273957]

Wed, 18 March 2015 18:17

Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009

Karma: 0

Senior Member

it occurs to me that if the hoses are in good shape and just have a new hole in them,
they do make double-sided barb fittings for splicing ac hoses. For example:

http://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/a-c-repair/santech-hose-splicer/157578_0_0/

Too bad I already ordered a replacement hose set before I thought of it...

Karen
1975 26'

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273970 is a reply to message #273963]

Wed, 18 March 2015 18:17

Gary Berry

Messages: 1002
Registered: May 2005

Karma: -1

Senior Member

Does Applied stock the shorter belt? If not, would you happen to have the
number for it? Thanks.

>
> Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273971 is a reply to message #273970]

Wed, 18 March 2015 18:46

Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009

Karma: 0

Senior Member

the stock 455 ac belt is about 62" long nominally (I was using a 61.5" gatorback 15621 with the old compressor, which worked but was a little tight).

I'm thinking a 61" belt would be about right for the new smaller diameter pulley, which is exactly what the 403 uses.
If so, then Napa 15605 or 15603 or gates 7603. I've ordered these belts but haven't tried them yet.
For a 403 engine, you'd probably need about a 60" belt. Summit Racing has a really good tool for finding belts by length.

Even with the shorter belts, I'd make darned sure those hoses can't sag into the pulley by adding a shield or extra supports.

For what it's worth, Coolpro and others do make a modern aluminum compressor with a 5.75" diameter pulley like our oem a6 compressors,
so I don't know why Applied chose to supply one with only a 5" diameter pulley. Maybe there's some fit issue I don't understand.

Karen
1975 26'

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273972 is a reply to message #273970]

Wed, 18 March 2015 18:45

bdub

Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas

Karma: 5

Senior Member

I would think that the supplier would provide, or at least let you know
that it is needed, and have it available for purchase. Also, since it
seems to be a common problem, there should be some warning as to what to
expect in the way of affected components.

On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 6:17 PM, Gary Berry wrote:

> Does Applied stock the shorter belt? If not, would you happen to have the
> number for it? Thanks.
>
>>
>> Gary and Diana Berry
> 73 CL Stretch in Wa.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com
www.gmcmhregistry.com
www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes
www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm

Report message to a moderator

Re: installation note for aluminum a/c compressor [message #273975 is a reply to message #273968]

Wed, 18 March 2015 19:10

roy1

Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada

Karma: 6

Senior Member

KB wrote on Wed, 18 March 2015 16:17

it occurs to me that if the hoses are in good shape and just have a new hole in them,
they do make double-sided barb fittings for splicing ac hoses. For example:

http://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/a-c-repair/santech-hose-splicer/157578_0_0/

Too bad I already ordered a replacement hose set before I thought of it...

Karen
1975 26'

That is a realy good price at Golby .i think you made the best choice. Fixing an old hose could lead to an unhappy Suprise

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic:	[GMCnet] New production OEM brake master cylinders problem
Next Topic:	[GMCnet] A Health Status Update received from Dave Lenzi

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

Current Time: Tue Oct 01 17:10:44 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01085 seconds