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Redoing the big block in my 69 GMC flatbed. Putting in a semi-built 454. Nothing radical, but should be a clean 350+ hp. Anyways, while the engine was out I pulled the evaporator box apart, cleaned it out and installed a newer unit where the receiver/drier hangs with thoughts of upgrading the unit to a cycling system and 134a. Already have the new condensor mounted. Where I am at now is getting a compressor and getting it mounted while the engine is on the stand for mock up purposes.
An R4 would be the easiest for placement along with not needing an extensively long belt, but I know it's a so-so compressor. I was also looking at the Sanden style, but that would require the unit hanging over the valve cover and maybe require an idler pulley to stop the belt from flopping under load.

Any bracket kits available? What say you? Of course this is V belt driven

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I have had good success with the R4 on cars and trucks.

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Yeah, I haven't had too many problems with the newer rebuilds like I used to in the past. A serpentine system would be sweet with the short water pump system. I looked into that, but it would require quite a bit of fabrication that I just don't have the time for at the moment.

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Bumping this to the top for the Monday crew

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Wow, nobody?

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I did something similar with my old 68 BBC truck. Used square body a/c parts and a Sanden compressor on Alan Grove brackets. It put the compressor over the valve cover, but I was ok with that. No pics handy right now since PB changed their game.

The belt did fine, it was long but not any longer than the factory setup as I recall. No problems with slipping or anything.

I got and re-sold a factory serp setup for that truck, it was from a 90s 454. I contemplated moving the engine back to get it to work, and I'm not sure what kind of valve cover clearance that would have allowed. Probably none.

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There are alternatives to this.

Several compianes are making these this is just one.
Brackets put everything up front below the valve covers. :chevy:

http://www.vintageair.com/Front%20Ru...y/bbcfrpol.jpg

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Maybe just install a 90s factory serpentine belt system?

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The long water pump is too long. It's almost "feeler gauge" distance between the pulley and radiator. There's not a lot of clearance with the factory setup short pump. I had to offset mount the Lincoln MK8 fan I used on mine for the motor on the fan to clear. That's after I trimmed the MK8 fan shroud a fair amount.
I would have loved to have used that serp setup I had.