1966 A/C Question

[gbarber]

I'm trying to piece together all of the components for the A/C in my '66 coupe. The previous owners had removed most of the A/C related items from under the hood, and left them in the trunk. They also replaced the correct alt. bracket with another type. I bought a new bracket (idler bracket with the pulley), but I need help mounting it. There are two bolts which hold the bracket to the water pump. From pictures I've seen, it appears that there should be a spacer on at least one of these bolts. Can anyone tell me how long this spacer is? I have a spacer which the PO had used on the other alt. bracket. It measures 3/4" in length. Is this the correct spacer?

 

[calpolymustang]

do you have power steering?

i have a few part diagrams for the 65-66 a/c that i used for my setup

i have a few washers here and there to straighten brakets out as mine did not come with a/c originally, but all of my parts are original. i have bought many parts i though would work, but found out the hard way that they were wrong.

my system has an adjustable idler pully on the alternator side, stationary pully on the driver side (the pully braket has two holes that use the same two bolts as two holes for my power steering pump and then two on the water pump

i took out the smog pump braket and used a bolt sleeve spacer in between the alt and the block. this bolt is also used by the adjustable pully bracket

i did not use the braket that goes from the top of the compressor the the intake because i have a weiand intake manifold, but i did use the dog-leg bracket

let me know if you have questions, as i have taken this stuff on and off a few times (last month i switched heads so im still familiar with most of it). one tip i learned was to pull the distributor out in order to get those dang bolts into the bottom of the compressor and the mounting bracket

sorry, i wont be down at school where my car is until september, but i can round up pics or diagrams

 

[PraireBronze]

do you have power steering?

i have a few part diagrams for the 65-66 a/c that i used for my setup

i have a few washers here and there to straighten brakets out as mine did not come with a/c originally, but all of my parts are original. i have bought many parts i though would work, but found out the hard way that they were wrong.

my system has an adjustable idler pully on the alternator side, stationary pully on the driver side (the pully braket has two holes that use the same two bolts as two holes for my power steering pump and then two on the water pump

i took out the smog pump braket and used a bolt sleeve spacer in between the alt and the block. this bolt is also used by the adjustable pully bracket

i did not use the braket that goes from the top of the compressor the the intake because i have a weiand intake manifold, but i did use the dog-leg bracket

let me know if you have questions, as i have taken this stuff on and off a few times (last month i switched heads so im still familiar with most of it). one tip i learned was to pull the distributor out in order to get those dang bolts into the bottom of the compressor and the mounting bracket

sorry, i wont be down at school where my car is until september, but i can round up pics or diagrams

Wow what a long answer without actually answering the question! lol

The answer to your question is: 7/16 inch

 

[gbarber]

Great info. Thanks to both of you. I do have power steering, but that side went on smoothly. I'm switching to a Sanden compressor, and I'm just having to make some small adjustments to the bracket I built to mount the new compreesor to the old bracket. I think the smog pump bracket was on the car when I bought it. Although I'm not sure how the A/C belt would have run if the car originally had a smog pump. Did the smog pump and A/C share the same belt? I've put the new bracket on temporarily using some washers as spacers, but I figured that 3/4" spacer was going to be too long. 7/16" seems about right. Anyway, thanks again.

 

[WORTH]

Great info. Thanks to both of you. I do have power steering, but that side went on smoothly. I'm switching to a Sanden compressor, and I'm just having to make some small adjustments to the bracket I built to mount the new compreesor to the old bracket. I think the smog pump bracket was on the car when I bought it. Although I'm not sure how the A/C belt would have run if the car originally had a smog pump. Did the smog pump and A/C share the same belt? I've put the new bracket on temporarily using some washers as spacers, but I figured that 3/4" spacer was going to be too long. 7/16" seems about right. Anyway, thanks again.

If your swapping the compressor for a sanden then you obviously don't care about stock, so all that matters is that you get the belts aligned correctly and you can route hoses to the compressor fittings.

There are probubly more aftermarket AC units out there than stock anyway so I wouldn't worry about how it is setup.

 

[MustangPaul]

I had a york on my 66 and every time I turned on the AC, it would rumble so much that it sound like I had thrown a rod!

Switched to a Sanden with 134a and I really like it. Quiet and efficient. I've solved my 134a problems and now have cold air on demand in 95+ degree heat.

Had to put back on the fan shroud and aligning that was a pain in the ass, but that's a different story.

Good luck!

--Paul