C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

[Jimmy B.]

I am having trouble getting all my ac associated parts to line up in my engine compartment. I know it once did as I removed it for a rebuild of the entire system including the compressor.

I removed all brackets and repainted them along with having my original L46 350 engine rebuilt.

When I reinstalled the compressor lower mounting bracket it would not line up properly (when i tried to align the 2 holes to put a bolt through) with the compressor adjustor bracket that mounts on the lower front and this uses rh 2 waterpump bolt holes as part of its mount. Finally I had to remove the spacerwasher behind my french lock and now I can get the 2 bolt holes to align properly. Now between these 2 flanges (the lower mount bracket and front adjustor bracket) I have approx a 1/4 to 3/8 in. gap there. Is there a spacer that goes in there? This just doesn't seem right.

Also at the rear of my compressor where the 3 hole mounting bracket goes there is about a 3/8 in. gap so now do I put shims there? This car never had any before and I am using the same compressor over again.

Does anyone have any pictures of a a/c compressor installed and bolted up they could send me a couple of photos of: especially the lower bracket from a side view and the front bracket and how everything is supposed to mate up?

Jack, I have looked at the AIM but these poor reproduction drawings are confusing me even more. I do have the special stud in the exhaust manifold with the lower bracket and then the lw & nut.

Thanks for any and all help.

Jim Blakely

[Jeff G.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

Don't know if this will help but here's a couple pics of the original compressor in my 69 L36.
Jeff

[Jimmy B.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

Thanks for the pictures, unfortunately you have a big block I am working with a smallblock and the brackets are different.

Maybe someone else will post some pics to help me out.

Jim

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

Jeff:
Could you take a good picture of your A/C label? I am interested in getting a good look at the date code stamped near the upper middle section of the label. Thanks!
Jeff

[Jeff G.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

Jeff, Not the best shot, see if this helps...

[Jimmy B.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

I finally got it figured out. Once I oriented the front and rear compressor mounting brackets in place all slid together and mounted perfectly. Man that compressor gets heavy lying on your leg. anyway after some more help from my wife I was able to get it mojnted on the car and the mysterios gap between the side mounting bracket and front mounting bracket disappeared.

Thanks to those who responded.

Jim

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

Jeff;
Thanks for the picture. It's just fine.
Jeff

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

In looking at Jeff Grover's posted picture of his compressor it appears that the aligment shims are missing from the front control arm.

[Jeff G.]

Re: C3 69 Air conditioning sage L46 350

YOUR RIGHT! To my surprise this winter I found a shim lying loose and wedged next to the lower radiator hose. Then I looked at the other side, same thing. Some of the shims were aftermarket so I pulled them all so I can replace with original and have realigned. Here's another test for you. There is another problem in those pictures, can you tell me or guess what it is?
Jeff