A/C To Non A/C conversion

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Princess Valiant

Princess Valiant

A.K.A. Rainy Day Auto
Joined
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How many of us have wanted to get rid of the A/C because either its missing pieces or the expense of getting it going far outweighs the benefit. Or in my case, its to clear dead weight for a big block swap.

well I didn't know how this going to work out but so far so good .....I like where this is going.

I had a donor section of firewall. The insulation holes and even the brake line bracket are in different locations from A/C to non-a/c car.
 

Attachments

ill be doing the same thing to my upcoming 72 Demon project. I picked up this patch from Tony. I still need the standard heater box and control cables.
 

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Vitamin c said:
ill be doing the same thing to my upcoming 72 Demon project. I picked up this patch from Tony. I still need the standard heater box and control cables.
Click to expand...

you will be amazed when you put the a/c box next to the non a/c box

The non a/c box is like half the size.

This car is a 73 and the a/c box is just massive, I had to loosen the lower dash frame bolts and get under the box and wrestle it out. The non-a/c box goes in so easy with room to spare.
 
Tell me about the pulley changes on a sbm when doing the switch. If im remebering correctly, the 2 inside belts (closest to the engine) run from crankshaft to AC compressor to alternator. Outside belt (nearest radiator) goes crankshaft to water pump to PS pump. On a non-AC engine, the inside belt goes crankshaft to waterpump to inside groove on alternator, outside belt from crank to PS pump. Big question is the WP pulley. The ones i see for sale say it fits with or without AC and with or without PS. I cant imagine how that can possibly line up with the alternator. Have i been drinkin too much or is there some big obvious thing I'm overlooking?
 
when you compare the 73 a/c to 73 non a/c boxes, its ridiculous. If the a/c is not going to be used then its pointless leaving this whale under the dash. :???:
 

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Ben Drinkin said:
Tell me about the pulley changes on a sbm when doing the switch. If im remebering correctly, the 2 inside belts (closest to the engine) run from crankshaft to AC compressor to alternator. Outside belt (nearest radiator) goes crankshaft to water pump to PS pump. On a non-AC engine, the inside belt goes crankshaft to waterpump to inside groove on alternator, outside belt from crank to PS pump. Big question is the WP pulley. The ones i see for sale say it fits with or without AC and with or without PS. I cant imagine how that can possibly line up with the alternator. Have i been drinkin too much or is there some big obvious thing I'm overlooking?
Click to expand...


are talking 69 and back small block or 70 + ....the pulleys and brackets all changed in 70 because they went from the cast iron water pump (69 and back) to the aluminum water pump (70+)
 
Or...you could just ditch it.....who needs heat?

Nice work though and this is a common mod
 

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66340SEDAN said:
Or...you could just ditch it.....who needs heat?

Nice work though and this is a common mod
Click to expand...



yea that is a good mod and I considered it but its still going to be a street car and I don't even know why but I feel like I might need a heater, if even just to de-fog windows after a quick summer storm.

Actually I get cold easy and I actually use the heater even in summer nights....after the sun goes down we are on our own so why take a chance.

plus in the unlikely events your engine is running hot ....can use the heater to get rid of some heat to get you home.
 
Rainy Day Auto said:
yea that is a good mod and I considered it but its still going to be a street car and I don't even know why but I feel like I might need a heater, if even just to de-fog windows after a quick summer storm.

Actually I get cold easy and I actually use the heater even in summer nights....after the sun goes down we are on our own so why take a chance.
Click to expand...

My Hooker headers do a great job of keeping the interior warm....
 

Rainy Day Auto said:
are talking 69 and back small block or 70 + ....the pulleys and brackets all changed in 70 because they went from the cast iron water pump (69 and back) to the aluminum water pump (70+)
Click to expand...

Engine in question is 73 318 from a swinger. Currently AC & PS. Want to convert to just PS.
 
Ben Drinkin said:
Tell me about the pulley changes on a sbm when doing the switch. If im remebering correctly, the 2 inside belts (closest to the engine) run from crankshaft to AC compressor to alternator. Outside belt (nearest radiator) goes crankshaft to water pump to PS pump. On a non-AC engine, the inside belt goes crankshaft to waterpump to inside groove on alternator, outside belt from crank to PS pump. Big question is the WP pulley. The ones i see for sale say it fits with or without AC and with or without PS. I cant imagine how that can possibly line up with the alternator. Have i been drinkin too much or is there some big obvious thing I'm overlooking?
Click to expand...


On sb a/c cars, they have a double pulley for the alt, a/c compressor, and wp.

You have to get a single groove alternator, a single groove wp pulley, and the proper alt brackets, and the proper crank pulley.

I have posted pictures of my son's 360 that we converted to non a/c for his 71 Valiant. If you need to see them, I can post them again for you...
 
Rainy Day Auto said:
when you compare the 73 a/c to 73 non a/c boxes, its ridiculous. If the a/c is not going to be used then its pointless leaving this whale under the dash. :???:
Click to expand...
So who has a 72 non air box and controls they want to get rid of? ill have a complete air conditioning set up to get rid of.
 
Ben Drinkin said:
Thanks Karl. Is that a different water pump pulley than for a AC setup?
Click to expand...

the A/C water pump pulley is shallower then the non A/C so that it lines up with the 3rd groove on the crankshaft pulley (counting from the timing cover outwards)

the non A/C water pump pulley is deeper, lining the belt up with the first groove on the crank shaft pulley

I think I have a non A/C water pump pulley laying around if you need one, aswell as the correct brackets (thought one bracket is slightly modified)



(not my motors, but a good example)

non A/C



A/C

 
Ben Drinkin said:
Thanks Karl. Is that a different water pump pulley than for a AC setup?
Click to expand...

Yes, the a/c set up uses a double pulley with the double belt going from crank-alt-a/c-wp...

You need single pulleys for the non a/c stuff to line up properly...

Mancini sells the pulleys new..
 
krazykuda said:
Yes, the a/c set up uses a double pulley with the double belt going from crank-alt-a/c-wp...

You need single pulleys for the non a/c stuff to line up properly...

Mancini sells the pulleys new..
Click to expand...

Looking good mr. Karl sir ( your engine lol) ..... thanks for the pics. A lot prettier than the brackets I have and I am running slow today
 
Werent slanty 6 water pump pulleys the same as a V8 without A/C. Im not sure, but i think they are. Can anybody verify this?

I got my pulleys n brackets for Non A/C
 
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