Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
I'm going to do an indepth thread here about the retrofit I'm doing on my 68 T/C wagon. But this info should be relevant to all 65-68 slabside C-bodies.
The wagon is equiped with factory A/C so it has all the underdash and wiring in place and in good functioning condition...I hope.
This kit mounts a Sanden A/C compressor in the same location as your old RV2 A/C compressor. But you will need a matched set of new belts, the kit gives you the Gates number which can be cross refrenced to something available locally.
I eventually went with the underhood kit BPE6651.
After exhaustive e-mails and phone calls to determine the length of the hoses and the types of fittings to help mount everything so it clears and wont interfear with the other systems.
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
So here's what the engine bay looked like when I started...
Most of the stock lines have been removed and the RV2 is being used as a pulley and that it.
After I pulled the engine and redid everything I installed the new Sanden Compressor and braket kit. I bought the Sanden compressor off E-bay, it's a SD7H15 which is a very heavy duty industrial Sanden compressor but I will eventually be running dual A/C in the wagon so I only wanted to buy the compressor once.
After many months of watching and waiting I eventually ended up paying only $75 for the compressor brand new in the box!!!
For most single A/C applications a SD7 or SD8 compressor will do the job, as long as it's a dual V-belt set-up as well.
Here are some pics of the units side by side....
And a couple of the brakets installed on the compressor...
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
So it's a pretty easy mount on the engine, but you can mount the compressor any dirrection you wish since the Sanden compressors have the same mounting flanges on all sides.
I chose the straight up orientation...
And remember you'll need 2 new belts...so check the instructions for the right belts to order.
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
Here is the underhood kit BPE6651...I recieved it today and layed it out for inspection.
It came with the 16x26 condensor and is a universal mount so it will require a bit of fab work to mount it properly, it comes with brakets and screws if you want to use those but I'm going to try and mount it using the stock brackets removed from the stock condensor...we'll see how this goes...
The kit also comes with a variety of different fittings, 90 and 45 degree charging port fittings and a bunch of other straight and 90's. Also the wiring and cycling switch as well.
I also ordered a couple extra male and female straight line fittings for the #10 and #6 lines because I'll eventually install a "T" to run the lines back for the rear A/C set-up.
