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Old 07-28-2010, 12:04 AM   #1
primrrd
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gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

I have another rebuilt crapped out pancake style compressor... maybe its an a-4.. cant remember) on my 81 chev.
Its a 305 with factory power steering and ac on the left side of the engine.
only other accessory is the alternator.
**
question:
Has anyone swapped the gm compressor for a sanden unit?
(brand new 175.00 or so everywhere and last forever as opposed to the yearly replacement of my other type!)
What has worked for everyone?
I'm not interested in a march pulley system or anything. Fine with keeping the v belt, too. I know i would have to modify the hoses... will probably try to crimp new ends on the existing (new) manifold hose and keep everything else gm... (drier, orifice,etc)
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Old 07-28-2010, 10:27 AM   #2
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

We did it on my Ramjet 350 install, but I used a complete set of aftermarket brackets. Probably not what your looking for.
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Old 07-28-2010, 05:26 PM   #3
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

I used a a/c bracket made by alan grove and had new hoses made by local street rod shop. that was about another 150 plus the sandon. The biggest pain was that I bought and returned a dozen v belts till I found one that was the right length.
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Old 07-28-2010, 05:29 PM   #4
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

So are there any direct bolt-in replacements options for compressors?

I have a 78 silverado with the factory compressor and it really bogs down the truck.

I'm betting its going to die in the near future (very old).

I would love to find something I can just unbolt the old one and bolt in a new one...?
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Old 07-28-2010, 10:19 PM   #5
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ERBSIX View Post
So are there any direct bolt-in replacements options for compressors?

I have a 78 silverado with the factory compressor and it really bogs down the truck.

I'm betting its going to die in the near future (very old).

I would love to find something I can just unbolt the old one and bolt in a new one...?
A PRO6TEN is a Sanden Compressor that is a direct bolt on replacement for the A6 compressor that should be on your 78. It is designed to run on R134a.
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Old 07-28-2010, 10:56 PM   #6
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Dub, thanks. do you have all of the other original brackets, or a system?
***
Slonaker, thanks. r4 is what I was searching for.. yeah this recon is number 2 BTW.... AFAIK?
***
cmon f.monroe... whats the bolt in for my r4? (:
****
thanks for all the reply's fellas!
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Old 05-30-2012, 11:24 PM   #7
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ERBSIX View Post
So are there any direct bolt-in replacements options for compressors?

I have a 78 silverado with the factory compressor and it really bogs down the truck.

I'm betting its going to die in the near future (very old).

I would love to find something I can just unbolt the old one and bolt in a new one...?
Is your truck a small block or big block?
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Old 07-28-2010, 05:39 PM   #8
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

AFAIK, here is nothing that simple.

I went through a couple of rebuilt R4s before deciding to buy a new one. It cost me as much as 3 rebuilts, but 6 years later, it is still going. I figure it has paid for itself since the rebuilt units were lasting one summer each, and I have saved myself from breaking the system open, flushing, and vacuuming 5 or 6 times.

When this one goes out, I'm going with an Alan Grove bracket and a sanden just like DubDubU. A friend went that route on his V8 S10, and it worked out really well. He also reports that it draws less horsepower.

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Old 07-28-2010, 09:11 PM   #9
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Is there a web site for this unit?
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Old 07-28-2010, 09:59 PM   #10
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by coater View Post
Is there a web site for this unit?
http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/
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Old 07-28-2010, 11:40 PM   #11
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Glad to help out, all my other brackets are stock.
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Old 07-29-2010, 01:05 AM   #12
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

found a "new" r4 here. 241.00 aint too hurtful..
***
https://www.ackits.com/pc/20-10403--...ssor++-+Clutch
***
I think i found the bracket you must have used:
http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/S..._Long_Pump.htm
part 119L - ac
cost is 87.50
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Old 08-19-2010, 06:12 PM   #13
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by primrrd View Post
found a "new" r4 here. 241.00 aint too hurtful..
***
https://www.ackits.com/pc/20-10403--...ssor++-+Clutch
***
I think i found the bracket you must have used:
http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/S..._Long_Pump.htm
part 119L - ac
cost is 87.50
Primm,I bought my a/c comp at Advance Auto Parts for 200 brand new with 2 year warranty.Might be a little different cause i converted to serpentine but still same comp.
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Old 07-29-2010, 09:51 AM   #14
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Alan Grove's brackets are really nice. They are well designed, and have beautiful welds on them. I plan to get a bracket from them for my '37. I have heard that Vintage Air uses their brackets, or did at one time.

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Old 07-29-2010, 02:34 PM   #15
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slonaker View Post
I have heard that Vintage Air uses their brackets, or did at one time.

Slonaker
Last I knew they still do. Depending on the cost of having new hoses made, I may do the swap next spring. Brand new sanden 508 compressors are going on ebay for the same money that a rebuilt R4 costs......
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Old 08-09-2010, 08:42 AM   #16
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

check this out!
no need for making new hoses. you can get a GM manifold for the back of the sanden:
http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/air...ad-back-16.php
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Old 08-09-2010, 09:27 AM   #17
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

what is the part number for the compressor for our trucks, I've been looking into replacing my compressor and if this sanden holds up half as well as everyone is saying they do it would be worth the investment. just incase you would need it 78 350
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Old 09-07-2010, 12:24 PM   #18
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

If you are looking to replace a R4 compressor with a Sanden Unit, you can use a set of brackets from Vintage Air. I just used this to put a sanden in a factory serpentine setup off of a 95 truck. It's part # 141805. I can take a couple of pics of it when I get home if you would like.

http://www.vintageair.com/catalog10/...Page%2065).pdf
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Old 10-23-2011, 02:04 AM   #19
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

I know this is an old thread, but smbrouss70 - I'm looking at doing the same thing, but with the serpentine setup from an '89 454. Can you still get a pic of that bracket?
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Old 10-23-2011, 02:05 PM   #20
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

I replied to your PM also, but I'll post my mock-up pics for everyone's benefit.





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Old 05-13-2012, 03:41 AM   #21
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Digging up an old thread....

Hey guys, are you running the rest of the GM designed A/C parts? Is the system running as well as stock? Better/worse?

I ask because I bought a Sanden 508 and Kwik Performance bracket for my '86 K5.


I went to a local A/C shop with the truck and had custom hoses made. As I was paying for the hoses the guy decides to say, "You know that Sanden 508 isn't big enough for the factory GM evap, right?". I wasn't too happy he is telling me this after I just spent $100+ on custom hoses.

So I am curious to hear what you Sanden conversion guys have to say.

Thanks!!
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Old 05-30-2012, 07:30 PM   #22
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Can anyone can speak of this conversion? Like said earlier? any better? Seems like you replace these r4 pancakes about as often as you flip them making morning breakfeast.
My 95 3/4 ton needs an ac compressor and thought I' d like to make it better than before.
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Old 05-30-2012, 10:37 PM   #23
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

I'm researching info on this as well.... If anyone knows the answers or has any additional info, please do contribute!
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Old 07-02-2012, 11:58 AM   #24
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford Assassin View Post
Digging up an old thread....

Hey guys, are you running the rest of the GM designed A/C parts? Is the system running as well as stock? Better/worse?

I ask because I bought a Sanden 508 and Kwik Performance bracket for my '86 K5.


I went to a local A/C shop with the truck and had custom hoses made. As I was paying for the hoses the guy decides to say, "You know that Sanden 508 isn't big enough for the factory GM evap, right?". I wasn't too happy he is telling me this after I just spent $100+ on custom hoses.

So I am curious to hear what you Sanden conversion guys have to say.

Thanks!!

I've done the same swap and heard the same thing from a friend and local AC shop owner here. These little Sandens don't move the same amounts of freon as the larger compressors did. However in my case I didn't have much choice as I was doing an LS swap at the same time.
I did this on a 72 blazer so I used a POA eliminator kit to cycle the compressor. Since it still uses a thermostat of sorts to switch it on and off,,,,it's rather slow as a result. I needed to have custom hoses made as well. The biggest problem with my system is using 134 freon with the old R12 condensor, as it doesn't cool the freon efficiently, and in turn makes the high side line pressures higher than they should be. This limited the amount of freon we could put in the system to keep things at a safe level.
The only saving grace I have is that I installed a dual electric fan setup with the swap and have them wired to trigger on with the AC switch. This way they are pulling air when sitting still and it helps to cool the condensor and keep those high side pressures reasonable.
Ultimately I need a 134 specific condensor that cools better, but that would require more custom lines to be made, a different dryer setup with orifice tube etc.....about another $600. So I elect to leave it as is.

Works okay in the AZ heat, keeps the family comfortable,,,not ice cold, but comfortable. So for now it's doing it's job well enough.

You have an advantage with your 86 since that should be a dryer/orifice setup. Works better than the old POA swap I did.

Actually yours should be similar to my 79 pickup which I converted to 134. I still run the original (HUGE) compressor on this truck and love it. I'm told from the local shop that nothing pumps like these old compressors do. Unfortunately everyone is all about engine drag and mpg so they tend to toss them. It's an oldy but a goody Even using the old R12 condensor with 134 freon conversion this thing will run you out of the truck. Family complains all the time that it's too cold
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Old 05-30-2012, 10:49 PM   #25
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Re: gm ac compressor to sanden swap?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=524353
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