Vintage Air In A '63

[Douglas G.]

I rceently installed Vintage air in my '63 and I notice the belt driving the compressor running very close to the lower radiator hose. So close, that it has actually created a worn spot on the hose.I have the belt as tight as possible.I installed a protective piece of metal on the hose but it does not look great.Has anyone else noticed this and what other solutions are possible? Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Doug

[Louis T.]

Re: Vintage Air In A '63

Hi Doug,







Good luck!

Louis

[D S.]

Re: Vintage Air In A '63

Assuming the upper and lower hoses are the same size try a '70-'72 454 upper radiator hose, cut it to length, and flip the "crook neck" down away from the belt. My Corvette mechanic had the same problem with vintage air that he installed on a '57 Chevrolet with the belt hitting the upper radiator hose. I had an extra 454 upper radiator hose and after cutting off some of the hose it worked perfectly.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Vintage Air In A '63

I rceently installed Vintage air in my '63 and I notice the belt driving the compressor running very close to the lower radiator hose. So close, that it has actually created a worn spot on the hose.I have the belt as tight as possible.I installed a protective piece of metal on the hose but it does not look great.Has anyone else noticed this and what other solutions are possible? Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Doug

Doug,

I have Vintage Air on my 67 327/300 and have a reproduction lower hose which is identical to the original. I have about 1" clearance of the belt from the lower hose with a 57" belt but with aluminum water pump and crank pulleys (which I got from Vintage Air when I got the system).

I have had no problem with the belt rubbing on the lower radiator hose, although it looks pretty close, and at the location where the belt slacks up under load.

Maybe tighten the belt up a bit and take a look at the location with the compressor under load, or go to a shorter belt (which would move the belt further away from the hose a bit.

[Bob R.]

Re: Vintage Air In A '63

You might want to check and see if the hose was installed backwards. Radiator end on engine and engine end on radiator. I did that once and didn't notice the problem until I installed the alternator belt.

[Jack H.]

Re: Vintage Air In A '63

In addition to the advice others have given you, there IS some degree of adjustment/alignment of the lower rad hose...

With the system drained of coolant and the hose attached LOOSELY, it's possible to re-orient it slightly by rotating both ends at the same time. When you get the orientation you want, torque down the clamps and re-fill the coolant.