A/C on 170 Slant 6

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That looks like the same poorly-designed compressor mount kit as can be bought everywhere else: guaranteed frustration and money-waste. Talk to Charrlie_S about it; he knows more than just about anyone on the subject of mounting Sanden A/C compressors to Slant-6 engines.

As for that radiator and fan setup: not a prayer it'll fit in your '62 car. Way too wide and way too thick; you'd need to delete the centre chunk of your car's face with a Sawzall for it to fit.

(Is there an echo in here…?)
 
slantsixdan said:
That looks like the same poorly-designed compressor mount kit as can be bought everywhere else: guaranteed frustration and money-waste. Talk to Charrlie_S about it; he knows more than just about anyone on the subject of mounting Sanden A/C compressors to Slant-6 engines.

As for that radiator and fan setup: not a prayer it'll fit in your '62 car. Way too wide and way too thick; you'd need to delete the centre chunk of your car's face with a Sawzall for it to fit.
Thanks...I wish Charrlie_s would reply to my pleas for advice and parts...I just get crickets....
(Is there an echo in here…?)
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Can a 170 slant do 60 mph with the AC on with 2.76 gears? Reason I ask is my sisters diesel rabbit had AC and when you hit that button, the speed dropped to 55 mph on the nose. No amount of pedal could get you any more. Wonder if it was designed like that or it was truly that gutless (52 hp?) pushing a brick at 55 mph on a 1.6 or whatever that coal fired plant was.
 
In at least some of the years the 170 was available—possibly all of them—A/C was not offered with that motor; you had to have the 225 at minimum.

A 170 with 2.76 gears in a lightweight '62 Valiant wouldn't be diesel-Wabbit slow (0-60 maybe sometime later this month) but it would be very slow. Add the weight of the A/C system and turn it on, and…well…0-60 maybe sometime later this week.
 
slantsixdan said:
In at least some of the years the 170 was available—possibly all of them—A/C was not offered with that motor; you had to have the 225 at minimum.

A 170 with 2.76 gears in a lightweight '62 Valiant wouldn't be diesel-Wabbit slow (0-60 maybe sometime later this month) but it would be very slow. Add the weight of the A/C system and turn it on, and…well…0-60 maybe sometime later this week.
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But...if you're in SC, and not interested in going more than 45, comfort matters...So SlantsixDan, if it's not a viable alteration, why did you sell me the evaporator, and walk me through all I needed to achieve it? I would have appreciated a "just don't do it" advice instead....
 
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It is so close on that car, I don't think you will be happy if you get it to fit. I had a new re-cored radiator in my 62 Lancer. It did ok with everything brand new. I don't think it could stand the heat load from an AC. And on the pully clearance, I don't even know if it would fit. Here is a stock fan, only one that would fit, and the crank bolt. Close. You are going to have to bolt the second pully behind the stock damper.
IMG_8028.JPG
 
They just don't make one. If you look at your radiator support you will see the rad splits the support, so they have already moved it half way forward. The 60-62 is very narrow, so unless you want to do some cutting and fab work, you don't have many options.
 
Hyper_pak said:
They just don't make one. If you look at your radiator support you will see the rad splits the support, so they have already moved it half way forward. The 60-62 is very narrow, so unless you want to do some cutting and fab work, you don't have many options.
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Thanks...I am figuring on cutting / fab work...no biggy...
 
The compressor mount refered to in the original post will not work on a 60-62 "A" body. What I would reccommend, is to fab up a compressor mount, that will locate the compressor where PS pump would normally be located. (I have never checked for clearance at that location on a 60-62). Use something similar to this. Google Image Result for https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DIcAAOSwMvNdepPi/s-l300.jpg
Then use a factory AC crank pulley. You are on your own, as far as a condenser, and radiator
 
Charrlie_S said:
The compressor mount refered to in the original post will not work on a 60-62 "A" body. What I would reccommend, is to fab up a compressor mount, that will locate the compressor where PS pump would normally be located. (I have never checked for clearance at that location on a 60-62). Use something similar to this. Google Image Result for https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DIcAAOSwMvNdepPi/s-l300.jpg
Then use a factory AC crank pulley. You are on your own, as far as a condenser, and radiator
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OK. Thanks for your input.
 
gsoco said:
So SlantsixDan, if it's not a viable alteration, why did you sell me the evaporator, and walk me through all I needed to achieve it? I would have appreciated a "just don't do it" advice instead....
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I give solid advice when I can, regardless of whether I would make the same decision, build the same car, pick the same powertrain or the same brakes, etc.

Anyhow, if I think someone's about to do something damn-fool, I tend to squawk about it.

Unless you deliberately swapped in a 2.76 rear axle, your '62 with a 170 has 3.23s or 3.55s, more compatible with that engine in terms of acceleration. And plenty of people added aftermarket A/C to A-bodies with 170 engines; you won't be the first. If you listen to the good advice you've been given, you'll wind up with a fine result.
 
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slantsixdan said:
I give solid advice when I can, regardless of whether I would make the same decision, build the same car, pick the same powertrain or the same brakes, etc.

Anyhow, if I think someone's about to do something damn-fool, I tend to squawk about it.

Unless you deliberately swapped in a 2.76 rear axle, your '62 with a 170 has 3.23s or 3.55s, more compatible with that engine in terms of acceleration. And plenty of people added aftermarket A/C to A-bodies with 170 engines; you won't be the first. If you listen to the good advice you've been given, you'll wind up with a fine result.
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OK. THANKS!
 
No experience with the BPE brackets shown.
Search for the long post on AC compressor options for a slant six. I show a bracket I fabbed, using the roll-your-own Sanden brackets which Charrlie_S linked. You will need to weld. I cut them on my milling machine. I mounted it where the p.s. pump normally sits (have manual steering) as Charrlie_S suggested. I bought the special AC pulley from a member here which fits (barely) between the crankshafter damper-pulley and timing cover. I also have factory Sanden brackets from a ~1978 Volare slant I ran across in the junkyard. It also mounts a Saginaw p.s. pump (if needed). Problem is only 1" clearance to the battery even after I whacked off a sharp corner, so risks punching a hole if the engine shakes too much. That is because Early-A's have a narrower engine bay, as mentioned. But, I'm hoping for future batteries which are narrower. There are already half-sized batteries in some cars (esp. hybrids).

Don't ask me to sell you the Sanden brackets. First, I might use them someday, like if my homemade bracket cracks or I switch to power steering. More importantly, it recalls a bad ebay experience. At the junkyard, I was walking by a 1978 Chevy truck and noticed a Sanden compressor on its straight-six engine. I thought "can't scrap that", so took it and cleaned up, thinking somebody would appreciate my effort. Spent much time researching those engines and what it might fit. Some have the alternator on that side so no-go. I saw it had sold, then some guy from Dothan, AL e-mails asking for photos. I said the listing had ~10 photos and a detailed description, but it had already sold. He said "I bought it" (now he asks for photos!). I asked about his vehicle and engine, but no response. Later, he leaves bad feedback, just saying "doesn't fit". The idiot never even told me what vehicle and engine he has. I saw he similarly left bad feedback to others w/ similar responses of "you never even asked". Thanks for letting me vent. After seeing you fuss at slantsixdan for what he sold you, you are on my "bad customer" list. At least you apologized. I'm guessing still a kid who needs to mature. My boys were rude when they were 13 and played video games.
 
There have been a lot of people simply re-drill the stock slant six AC bracket for the Sanden compressor and space it accordingly to line the pulleys up. If you do a good job, it will work very well. I've seen one such conversion before and was impressed. I have all the brackets to put a compressor on and a Sanden compressor. I plan on looking into it myself.
 
BillGrissom said:
No experience with the BPE brackets shown.
Search for the long post on AC compressor options for a slant six. I show a bracket I fabbed, using the roll-your-own Sanden brackets which Charrlie_S linked. You will need to weld. I cut them on my milling machine. I mounted it where the p.s. pump normally sits (have manual steering) as Charrlie_S suggested. I bought the special AC pulley from a member here which fits (barely) between the crankshafter damper-pulley and timing cover. I also have factory Sanden brackets from a ~1978 Volare slant I ran across in the junkyard. It also mounts a Saginaw p.s. pump (if needed). Problem is only 1" clearance to the battery even after I whacked off a sharp corner, so risks punching a hole if the engine shakes too much. That is because Early-A's have a narrower engine bay, as mentioned. But, I'm hoping for future batteries which are narrower. There are already half-sized batteries in some cars (esp. hybrids).

Don't ask me to sell you the Sanden brackets. First, I might use them someday, like if my homemade bracket cracks or I switch to power steering. More importantly, it recalls a bad ebay experience. At the junkyard, I was walking by a 1978 Chevy truck and noticed a Sanden compressor on its straight-six engine. I thought "can't scrap that", so took it and cleaned up, thinking somebody would appreciate my effort. Spent much time researching those engines and what it might fit. Some have the alternator on that side so no-go. I saw it had sold, then some guy from Dothan, AL e-mails asking for photos. I said the listing had ~10 photos and a detailed description, but it had already sold. He said "I bought it" (now he asks for photos!). I asked about his vehicle and engine, but no response. Later, he leaves bad feedback, just saying "doesn't fit". The idiot never even told me what vehicle and engine he has. I saw he similarly left bad feedback to others w/ similar responses of "you never even asked". Thanks for letting me vent. After seeing you fuss at slantsixdan for what he sold you, you are on my "bad customer" list. At least you apologized. I'm guessing still a kid who needs to mature. My boys were rude when they were 13 and played video games.
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I am sorry to be on your bad customer list...but frankly, think how you might feel if you placed your trust in an expert, bought expensive parts at his recommendation, and after months / years of taking the advice on your effort, he then tells you it won't work. I was flabbergasted because he does have a wealth of knowledge. So to sell me parts, and give me advice on how to set up something that won't work was a shock. I did apologize. But never heard anything back. Anyways, I guess I'm just a sucker who's out a grand because I trusted an expert on the internet...
 
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