The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-22-2023, 10:44 PM   #1
ThreeQuarter
Senior Member
 
ThreeQuarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Texan in Iowa
Posts: 2,522
SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

As I’m getting ready to get the A/C working in my ‘68, what do I need to know about using 67-68 A/C compressor brackets vs. the later model set of brackets? Are the 67-68 brackets better or worse in any way? I don’t see much discussion about these on the board.

Here’s what I think I know so far:
  • I have a ‘68 that I’m restoring mostly to the original look & feel, but I’m making reasonable compromises when original-ness is hard to implement.
  • It’s a factory A/C pickup and the original A/C brackets came with it, but the big bracket has been broken and repaired by welding an engine hoist eye to it. It would take some work to make it look original again.
  • Based on what I (don’t) see on the board, finding a new 67-68 A/C compressor brackets would be a challenge.
  • I also have a later-model set of brackets if I want to use them.

What’s your experience with these brackets?
__________________
Ben
'68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner
'16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3
ThreeQuarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 02:08 AM   #2
FirstOwner69
Senior Member
 
FirstOwner69's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
Posts: 4,852
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

My early December 69 came with the old style brackets. I'm not sure if that style bracket lasted through the model year.

I hated those brackets. It is virtually impossible to remove the right valve cover without removing all the A/C crap. When I restored the truck, I used the new style brackets. I would never go back.
__________________
Jim

Last edited by FirstOwner69; 03-23-2023 at 02:13 AM.
FirstOwner69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 02:36 AM   #3
Accelo
Senior Member
 
Accelo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: washington
Posts: 2,295
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

More of the old stuff out there than I ever imagined.
I wasn't aware the AC bracket were different between the 67-68 and the 1969-72.
Some pictures below of a couple AC brackets. Maybe someone can explain the differences. I am not even sure the pictured brackets are correct for our trucks. Fodder to start the conversation.
I have a bunch of AC brackets. Some SBC and other are BBC.
Cheers
Attached Images
   
Accelo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 06:10 AM   #4
ThreeQuarter
Senior Member
 
ThreeQuarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Texan in Iowa
Posts: 2,522
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

That’s the kind of review I was looking for, Jim—thanks. Usually there are good reasons why brackets get changed after only 1-2 years, so I suspected the later I ones were better in some way.

Good call on the pics. I’m on the road and can’t take pics of the two sets I have, but here are a couple of pics of the 67-68/9 brackets in situ that I found here on the forum. These two pics appear to be different from each other and I do t know the explanation of the difference. Is the close-up pic not a small block, maybe?
Attached Images
  
__________________
Ben
'68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner
'16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3
ThreeQuarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 06:13 AM   #5
ThreeQuarter
Senior Member
 
ThreeQuarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Texan in Iowa
Posts: 2,522
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

Another related question: Is there a difference in the type of compressor each bracket type will mount? Do they put the compressor in a different place and require a different belt?
__________________
Ben
'68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner
'16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3
ThreeQuarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 08:55 AM   #6
chewychevy67
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 5,551
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThreeQuarter View Post
Another related question: Is there a difference in the type of compressor each bracket type will mount? Do they put the compressor in a different place and require a different belt?
They both use the same compressor but I think the early style might push the compressor out to the front a but more. My 67 327 has a 3 groove water pump pulley and ac uses the first one to the front. As to the second style you are referring to it is just a few added brackets to support the pump.
Attached Images
  
chewychevy67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 09:13 AM   #7
Accelo
Senior Member
 
Accelo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: washington
Posts: 2,295
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

Wow, what an over complicated POS.
I understand why GM changed it. I have a 64 Chevelle, with air, and it looks nothing like this. I don't recall ever seeing an thermostat extension like the one in the picture.

Manufacturing has come a long way. No way this bracket would even be considered in the modern world. Pictured below is a modern Silverado Air-condition bracket. Name:  Silverado compressor bracket.JPG
Views: 359
Size:  29.7 KB
It has one other piece a spring loaded idler, that's it.
Accelo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 10:11 AM   #8
ThreeQuarter
Senior Member
 
ThreeQuarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Texan in Iowa
Posts: 2,522
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

Thanks, chewy—excellent pics and good info.

Accelo—it is definitely over complicated. The big bracket was made with two pieces welded together, which in 1967 I’m guessing must have been done by hand. GM was probably very motivated to replace this design!
__________________
Ben
'68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner
'16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3
ThreeQuarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 11:36 AM   #9
HotWheelsFan
Registered User
 
HotWheelsFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 189
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

Remember, long nose water pump uses different brackets than short nose...

Bob
HotWheelsFan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2023, 11:45 PM   #10
FirstOwner69
Senior Member
 
FirstOwner69's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
Posts: 4,852
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

The second picture in post 4 above is mine. Here are a few more pics that show the early style in more detail.
Attached Images
    
__________________
Jim
FirstOwner69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2023, 02:04 PM   #11
NGN
Registered User
 
NGN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Old Bridge,NJ
Posts: 838
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

I'm not positively sure but would the brackets be different on a 67 compared to 68 do to no mounting holes in the front of the heads. Not much familiar with AC bracket. I do know I would like to have AC in my truck ��.
NGN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2023, 02:22 PM   #12
ThreeQuarter
Senior Member
 
ThreeQuarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Texan in Iowa
Posts: 2,522
Re: SBC A/C Compressor Brackets

I think both ‘67 and ‘68 lacked threaded holes in the front of the heads, which is part of the reason for the early brackets’ complex design—they probably had to reach out real far to find enough existing anchor points to brace a very heavy compressor.
__________________
Ben
'68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner
'16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3
ThreeQuarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com