I'm getting ready to order the complete Vintage Air kit that includes the compressor. It's my understanding that it includes the compressor bracket (based on engine/water pump details that I provide to them).
I talked to VA and they said the bracket I will get places the compressor on the passender side. So I want to put my alternator on the driver's side up top since I have power steering. They gave me a Vintage Air P/N for the alternator bracket. Any opinions on if I should get the VA alt bracket or go with something like the Alan Grove Components? The look very similary but the AG is a little less expensive but only by a few dollars.
I used a set bought in Australia which are very similar to the Alan Groves one. The bolt onto the front of the head and onto the exhausts. No power steering and have worked without issue for about 6 years.
I have a vintage air bracket system for my 57 small block.
Alternator on the driver side and the compressor passenger side.
If the belt for the alternator is too long you run into space problems
with large valve covers.
The part number for the bracket is 17227-VCQ.
I am a fan of Alan Grove brackets for the component placement options. Since I moved my battery to the trunk I had room for the low placement of the A/C compressor and the alternator for (in my opinion) a more 50s traditional look. The quality of the Alan Groves are outstanding and fit is great too.
I've always used the Vintage Air brackets for the cars I've put together. That way, everything fits like it should, no hassle, no issues. I just powder coat them before I install them.
Another question on this installation. Has anyone used this specific setup on a 55/56 and experienced any clearance issues with the two hose connectors on the compressor? I don’t currently have the hood installed but it seems like the compressor is up fairly high that if the connections come out of the top of the compressor that they may be too high to clear the hood.
With that said, can the compressor be clocked in any position? If so, I can have the hoses exit out of the side. They don’t specify in the instructions but they do make reference to the oil plug so I didn’t know if that oil port has to point up.
Another question on this installation. Has anyone used this specific setup on a 55/56 and experienced any clearance issues with the two hose connectors on the compressor? I don’t currently have the hood installed but it seems like the compressor is up fairly high that if the connections come out of the top of the compressor that they may be too high to clear the hood.
With that said, can the compressor be clocked in any position? If so, I can have the hoses exit out of the side. They don’t specify in the instructions but they do make reference to the oil plug so I didn’t know if that oil port has to point up.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
My older R12 VA system requires the ports to be above horizontal.
Jim
An expensive lesson learned..........
DO NOT assume that the compressor actually has the oil in it, as the label says.
We learned that's not always the case.:banghead:
The compressor lasted <10 mins into the charging process.
We now drain it, measure it, and put it back in.
I have long water pump too with Vintage air and Alan Grove 234L drivers side bracket with PS pump. I did all the running around and figured I needed a double pulley for the PS pump to run on the inside crank, then alternator on the PS and mid crank with the water pump, and then the AC would run on the outside grooves on the water pump and crank. Buuut the AC outside groove lines up with the mid crank where the alternator needs to be.
I have Vintage Air in my 57. I purchased a junkyard 350 engine from an early 90's Buick with a 700R4 transmission installed for $200. I did it to get a template to put side engine mounts and a 700 R4 brace located. The idea was to replace it anyway with a crate engine and new transmission But I also got a serpentine belt setup. I had to take off the air pump and bracket . Vintage makes a kit to adapt that to a Sanden compressor for pretty cheap.
A cheaper option maybe.
I thought the compressor on mine looked high with the vintage air brackets that they sent me. Everything fit well.
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