C-2 A/C compressor ID code

[Domenic T.]

I am rebuilding the A/C compressors for both my vettes and a extra one while I'm at it.
I noticed that the back plates have a year date code. These back plates do not have (for lack of better words) the thermal switch as on the newer back plates.
Here is what I have on the 3 that I chose to rebuild.
B 03 3
k 9 5
A 6 9
Seems to follow the norm. Is the first one Feb 03 1963? And the others
Nov 9 1965 and the last Jan 6 1969?

Parts are getting hard to find for these now and I see that they may be replacing the front ceramic seal with a lip seal now. I got one of each in my hunt for parts along with 2 sets of rings.
I couldn't find any of my info I had that I used in the past for the specs on the ring gap but came up with what they actually are with new rings in a un- worn cylinder. .008 on all of the new rings. Interesting enough the old rings were not worn enough to replace at .010, about what it would take to break in.
whats the verdict on the dates?

DOM

[William C.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

'64 thru '65 compressors also had a different case than mid-66 and later models, the early case has a "swedged" area in the front of the cars to obtain a reduction in diameter, the later cases are welded with a distinct weld mark resulting.

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

'64 thru '65 compressors also had a different case than mid-66 and later models, the early case has a "swedged" area in the front of the cars to obtain a reduction in diameter, the later cases are welded with a distinct weld mark resulting.

William,
Thanks, I went to the shop and looked at the case I finished for my 67 and it was not swedged. I was lucky in cleaning a swedged case for my 63.
New question. Did the high performance engines have a larger pulley on the A/C? If so what was the OD on the pulley. As I said my 67 was not offered with A/C with the 435 HP and I converted it in the early 70's. I am using the pulleys that were on the 67 big block with A/C. I can't believe I looked at all my cases and didn't see the swedged vs the non swedged.

Thank's
DOM

[Wayne M.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

'64 thru '65 compressors also had a different case than mid-66 and later models, the early case has a "swedged" area in the front of the cars to obtain a reduction in diameter, the later cases are welded with a distinct weld mark resulting.

In addition to Bill's identification features, here's another for the '63 thru at least '65 and [I'll count on you others to say] through part of '66 but maybe not '67. The early design clutch is at the top, with the 6 small holes in the hub around the center bolt; they're about 7/32nds" in diameter. Later "window" design is below

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

Thats going to be hard to find in good shape.

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

'64 thru '65 compressors also had a different case than mid-66 and later models, the early case has a "swedged" area in the front of the cars to obtain a reduction in diameter, the later cases are welded with a distinct weld mark resulting.

William,
Was this what you meant by swaged VS welded. The lower is a 67 compressor, what is the other?

DOM

[William C.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

63-65, possibly very early '66

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

'64 thru '65 compressors also had a different case than mid-66 and later models, the early case has a "swedged" area in the front of the cars to obtain a reduction in diameter, the later cases are welded with a distinct weld mark resulting.

William,
This is what threw me off, Here it says that the early case had the swedged case. In my picture the smooth case on top doesn't have a swedge.

DOM

[William C.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

The reduction in diameter at the outer end (last 1 inch or so) is obtained by a process known as swedging. The later versions use a weld between the front and rear areas of the case. Apparently a cost reduction (or the "Very Large" swedging press broke.)

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

William,
Thanks,
Now I think I've got it. In the picture I posted, the smooth case on top is the later and the one on the bottom the earlier.

DOM

[William C.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

Backwards, the one on the bottom is late, the one used 63-4-5 (and early '66) is the one on the top. Swedging is a method of changing the diameter of a tube by extruding it under pressure, as opposed to the later versions witn the band showing two sections welded together.

[Domenic T.]

Re: C-2 A/C compressor ID code

I've got it now.
I have a swadger that squeezes Hydraulic fittings andcable ends and they look much like the one that was around the early cases.
Thats what threw me off, I thought the squeezed band around the early case was a swadge.

DOM