Alternative To The A6 A/C Compressor

[Cadillac Kid 1]

Typically seals go out hen they are not properly installed, primed, or the compressor runs out of oil from a leak else where. The seal itself depends upon a film of oil and if you remove that oil for any reason (especially on initial start up) the ceramic to ceramic abrasion nearly instantaneousl destroys the abilioty of the seal to function properly,

Greg Surfas

 

[Bruce Roe]

I noted the A6 and its brackets were a huge, heavy item on my non
Cad engines, and I never saw them as especially reliable. Now
far lighter and compact units are in use, would be happy to
convert over. But I plan on staying with R12 or its propane/butane
equivalent. Bruce Roe

 

[Cadillac Kid 1]

Bruce,
FWIW refrigeration compressors of all kinds are typically made "extra" heavyurpose. The mass helps dampen out the harmonics and noises of things like swish plates and reed valves as well as discharge gas pulsations.
Greg Surfas

 

[Bruce Roe]

So are the newer lighter weight compressors grossly inferior? Bruce Roe

 

[Cadillac Kid 1]

Not necessarily
Greg Surfas

 

[5one9]

So are the newer lighter weight compressors grossly inferior? Bruce Roe

I doubt it.

I looked at Sanden compressors on cars at a show this weekend. Nice pieces. The lower capacity 5 and 7 series will definitely fit with my MTS intake. The higher capacity 5 and 7 series would be close. I think my Malibu passenger compartment is small enough that the shorter/lower capacity compressors should perform just fine.

This thread has been instrumental in helping me through this part of my build.

 

[Cadillac Kid 1]

Just like breaking in a cam and lifters, the A6 shaft seal must be pre-lubed correctly or the compressor life will be drastically shortened. As a verification you might note that the original compressor on all cars using the A^ typically go for decades while the replacements livers are much shorter. What they have done with the Sanden and most modern compressors is changed the shaft seal mechanism making installation of replacement compressors immune to this issue. Even the larger Sanden has a slightly smaller displacement (read capacity per revolution) so they spin them a little bit faster.
I did not design the A6 nor do I have any vested interest in their success or failure. They are 70 year old technology designed to be manufactured on 70 year old production equipment and installed by mechanics highly skilled in their design and requirements.
Greg Surfas