im getting closer (financially) to putting AC into my duster. so im really starting my research.

all the compressor options i see on the internetm are either factory (monster cast iron piece), or a smaller sanden compressor mounted smack dab in the middle top of the engine. am i missing any?

ive gone to a lot of trouble to make this car very clean and subtle, and REALLY dont like that look of the engine bay with the compressor mounted up high like that. i really LOVE the look of the big block low mount compressors from bouchillon, but as far as i know there is not a production small block setup.

im not above making my own brackets so dont let the lack of availible options fool you.

ive considered a harrison r4 compressor as i think it would be short enough to mount low and clear the K frame and header, but cannot seem to find one with a dual groove pulley. im planning to copy the belt layout of the big block bouchillon pretty closely of i can manage to fit it all in there, which would be to drive the alternator opff the second belt groove in the compressor.


so, before i spend more time and gas money on trips to pull-a-part, anyone have any other production or known working options that hide or clean up an AC compressor on a small block?

thanks
Michael

If you are willing to delete the mechanical fuel pump, you can mount the A/C pump below the alternator as you have seen on Big Blocks. The brackets could certainly be fabbed easily by anyone with some imagination using a sawzall and a drill.
I agree that A/C is nice to have and that a concealed unit helps maintain a cleaner looking engine bay. Good luck.

mechanical pump is already gone.

do you think i could cram a sanden 508 down there?

Here is a picture of what I came up with for my 408. I am forced to use an underdrive pulley to fit the engine into my 56 Dodge so the standard Bouchillon brackets wont work. I have to fabricate my own. I don't see how the compressor will fit on the passenger side because the length from the back of the compressor to the pulley will be too long. (I have the "shorty" Sanden compressor here) Also the water pump outlet will get in the way. You could posssibly switch to an older style front cover and pump that will put the water outlet on the drivers side but that will involve swapping out the PS pump and brackets, and they are not easy to find.

This pic shows the engine set up for a GM alternator, there could be enought room with the stock MOPAR Alt up high where it belongs.

Good Luck.

A friend of mine used a compressor for a Geo Metro on his Model A rat rod. He's running a flat head and mounted the compessor down low next to the frame rail. That was the smallest unit he could come up with.

Ok I confirmed that you can fit a 7312 Sanden SD7H Compressor. (you can get it from Bouchillon Performance at a good price). You can see from my prior pics that I fabricated a bracket in the top center of the engine but not may try to move it lower and more out of the way.

The problem is you will have to eliminate the mechanical fuel pump. I think i can be done with power streering using only 2 belts but you will need to relocate the alternator to a lower position. In the stock position you will have interference running the belts.



This pic is a bad angle but trust me the inside AC pulley groove will line up with the front groove of the crank pulley.





Here is how I would set it up and once I verify that I have clearance for the alternator to hang off the engine without hitting the fender I will explore this further. the inside groove will run the alt from the crank, to WP, to alt. The outer groove will run from the crank to the PS pump then to the AC. With them laid out like this the belt are a bit longer than I would like but everything will clear.



BTW the brackets are pretty easy to fabricate using a cardboard cutout and the transferring to 3/8 plywood. After you get it right its a matter of having it cut from steel or aluminum.

Good luck!

thankls so much.

how did it look for lower radiator hose and compressor hose clearance?

my mechanical pump is long gone, so thats not a problem. and im already using a smaller GM alternator, so i should have some more wiggle rrom there as well.

what were you thinking as far as mounting points withe the lowmount?

Michael

I dont see any issues with the hoses with the way I laid it out. Here is what I came up with for the alternator.


For the AC I was going to extend he plywood bracket that you see in the picture to grab the front of the compressor. For the rear mount I will somehow tie it in to one of the unused bolt holes in the front of the hear of the front right intake manifold mounting bolt.