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gift for my A6 compressor

mhamilton on Thu December 27, 2007 7:33 PM User is offlineView users profile

My AirPro compressor has a spash of color! Have a shiny new Delco Air decal for it. Was surprised to find these, elcaminostore.com has tons of GM Restoration Parts like this, even back to the '60s Frigidair decals. Slightly different than my OE compressor sticker... that one has warnings about metric threads and such, but the oil and R12 charge amount are correct.

Also got a friendly reminder to not try aftermarket parts anymore LOL



TRB on Thu December 27, 2007 7:41 PM User is offlineView users profile

What is an aftermarket part these days? Since many aftermarket companies supply the "big" guys these days. I see if the label says delco its OEM and not Compressor Works.

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mhamilton on Thu December 27, 2007 9:00 PM User is offlineView users profile

It is definitely hard to get parts with the same quality as GM used 30 years ago... but no more Napa brand EGR valves, speedo cables, air pumps, or spark plugs. Certainly no Soffseal rubber parts, learned that the hard way. BTW, I didn't mean to imply the AirPro compressor was worse than a Delco... by no means, it has performed flawlessly. But I'm done with the junky aftermarket parts that don't fit or work like they should.

Sooner or later I'm going to convert this a/c system back to R12... the R134 conversion has worked well enough, but idle cooling suffers with the old condenser, doesn't have that "instant cold" like it should. Of course with this global warming I'm going to need all the cooling I can get

Edited: Thu December 27, 2007 at 9:35 PM by mhamilton

CorvairGeek on Fri December 28, 2007 12:15 AM User is offline

I can't hardly believe you've got those aluminium crimp fittings still holding on the hoses! I had extra clamps on mine years ago to stop them from leaking before I replaced the assy with an improved OEM one a few years ago.

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Jerry

mhamilton on Fri December 28, 2007 11:42 AM User is offlineView users profile

Oh yes, my original hose had a screw clamp on the low pressure line. Those lines got crushed, so I got this set from a friend who has a few junk Malibu taxi cabs. In fact, you can see how the low side crimp was replaced with a different style on this hose set. So far it's holding... knock on wood.

Your Impala had the same problem with those hoses? What year did GM end up changing the design?

CorvairGeek on Fri December 28, 2007 8:21 PM User is offline

My Caprice originally had that style but with smooth hoses, rather than with the little ridges. I've read that GM switched to the Goodyear Galaxy hoses mid '84 (my car is a very early '84), and in fact my folks '85 Caprice did have the Goodyear Galaxy A/C hoses. We had an '86 Cavalier and it had the same leaky hoses/crimps as my Caprice.

My '78 Chevy C20 pickup with the 292 6 cyl and factory air has the good crimps and even a non-aluminum (steel?) line and muffler mounted at the R4 compressor. I guess there is a chance it was replaced when the truck was wrecked when it was pretty new (aftermarket back then?), I've never seen anything like it. Never seen another truck like this one to compare it to. It still holds refrigerant (R12) amazingly well after I put a double lip seal in the original compressor. I'd like to get a new "Delco Air" sticker for the compressor too.

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Jerry

mhamilton on Fri December 28, 2007 9:23 PM User is offlineView users profile

Here is a '77-'78 R4 sticker-- is 3.75lbs the same charge as your truck system? There's another R4 on the decal page, but some reason none for the '81+ A/G bodies.
http://www.elcaminostore.com/onlinestore/product00-2120.htm

Hmmm... I never noticed that the B body used smooth hoses. All the Malibu types have those ribbed hoses. When I took apart my old hose set, it looked like that was added on top of regular hose to act as a scuff guard or something. You can kind of see it in my picture of the compressor, you can see the fiber between the thin outer layer and the hose.

I did notice how the Caprice had a padded loop holding the line to the alternator bracket. My Malibu just uses a thin metal band. Still added some split loom to mine, no need to rub through now :-) I know that the R4 hose sets are still available new and aftermarket, but the A6 hoses are pretty hard to find. A few years ago GM still had a part number for the A6 hoses, but with a $200 price, and no info on whether those were barrier hose or just old stock.

Oh, along with the decals I got a new hood-to-cowl seal. A repop piece, but indistinguishable from the original part. And for only $24! I know the seal is the same on the B body, but not sure if the A body had a shorter length... they don't give any slack on this one.




Edited: Fri December 28, 2007 at 9:30 PM by mhamilton

CorvairGeek on Fri December 28, 2007 10:12 PM User is offline

That sticker looks right, I just can't recall if it was 3.25, 3.5, or 3.75. It's been a few years since I put the system back together.

I did part out a B-Body that had the older ribbed hoses, but you have me wondering now if mine were too? Maybe I have gotten used to looking at the newer ones, but it seems like mine were different. I might have to look when I am in the attic next time (pack rat). I know the Cavalier had the smooth hoses.

I do have the padded loop on the alternator bracket, with loom over the hose too. The OD of the new hoses are less than the originals, so it made it fit nicely.

That's an awfully nice hood to cowl seal for that price! The materials in it could make quite a few of the over priced door/window weatherstrips.

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Jerry

mhamilton on Sat December 29, 2007 11:01 AM User is offlineView users profile

I've been under the hood of only a couple B bodies, never really noticed the a/c hoses...

I don't know why the aftermarket can't repop a decent weatherstrip for these cars. They can make the sponge-rubber trunk seals for the Camaro, but can't do the same for A body door seals. They make those in a cheap bubble profile, and the ones I tried weren't even the correct profile. Ended up getting 2 NOS GM door weatherstrips @ $70 each. Still need to do my rear doors, but I'm holding off on those.

Speaking of weatherstrips, how is your Caprice with wind noise on the highway? Even with all my new door and window seals on the Malibu, get it over 55-60 mph and it has a very loud "roar." Not road noise, this is like wind rushing around the doors or A pillar... maybe engine noise? Of course, my only similar car is the '96 Imp--but with flush glass and triple door seals it's not really an accurate comparison.

Too bad I didn't think to take my Aunt's '89 Caprice on the highway before she got rid of it. I do remember my Grandfather's Lincolns from the '70s and early '80s, those were just as boxy, but were very silent inside.

CorvairGeek on Sun December 30, 2007 8:47 PM User is offline

I've always thought my Caprice was decent as far as wind noise, but newer designs are better. I've always enjoyed quiet cars.

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Jerry

2005Equinox on Sun December 30, 2007 10:03 PM User is offline

My 1985 Caprice has the smooth hoses. I think the 1981 Bonneville has the ribbed. And both my B-bodies are quiet cars on the highway.

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2008 Chevrolet Impala LS
1981 Pontiac Bonneville


2007 Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor


1985 Chevrolet Caprice


1986 John Deere 165 lawn tractor

mhamilton on Mon December 31, 2007 10:57 AM User is offlineView users profile

I'm not sure why my Malibu is so noisy... probably a mix of wind and engine noise. I know the engine is noisier than it should be, though I can't figure out why I have wind noise. Sounds like I am hearing wind rushing by the side of the car, but no wind is actually leaking in.

Does anyone notice traffic/ambient noise in the B body? I was getting in my car in the parking lot, some people walked by and I could hear them talking like I was standing outside. Have no idea how sound is coming through so clearly... have the door panel insulators, rear firewall insulation, etc.

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