Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

[Wayne M.]

Finally got around to cleaning the mud off my Pomona mid-January $40 purchase; decided to post some pics. It's from an early-ish '64 Chev passenger car (going by the style of muffler/manifold), but, other than that, should be no different than a Corvette compressor.

Back head cast "302" dated J_18_3 (October 18th 1963) Relief valve is slot opening with "440#" stamping.

Front pulley is the standard 5_3/4" diameter; the clutch hub has the six small holes in the center, and the coil electrical connector is clocked to the outboard passenger side. Separate CAUTION label in orange lettering (to mid-'65).

This thing still had its original Goodyear hoses "GY" code, and date imprint is December '63 for both. IMO, this is a wide time span from the head cast date, and I'm sure that Chev Passenger was pumping out way more compressors than St.Louis Corvette.

Hate to nag, but in the last thumbnail, the close-up is of the serial number ['64 (and '63 ?), up to mid-'65 style tag], and I'll ask again if anybody has been able to decode the stamped numbers, 85_NC_1885 on this one. Notice that the "NC" is printed as part of the rest of the label, and not stamped.

Got two more pics to go, so I'll add separate post in 15 minutes.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Here's two more pics -- first is close-up of "OK Final Test, Chev" yellow paint stamp; note it's applied over a corner of the caution decal.

Last pic is of the clamps that were on the manifold/muffler fitting. Stamped Ideal Corp, Hy Gear, Brooklyn 7, N.Y. Now this is not what's considered TFP, at least in the '65 TIM&JG, where it says: (clamps stamped) Murray Corporation of Towson 4, Maryland. What does the '63-4 guide have to say ?

[Mike G.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Wayne:

Good stuff! And a great price. Hope you had a wagon though.

What attracts my attention is the Caution label. The Judging guide describes this as being on a "clear" background.
I've always been skeptical of that assertion, the welded case seam would show through. Haven't ever seen one that did.

Can you tell if its a decal vs. a black sticker with orange characters?

Interesting foil with the printed NC. First one of those I've seen.


Mike

[Wayne M.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

..... Hope you had a wagon though.

Got there late around 9am; must have been a half mile from the vendor site. No wagon; almost gave myself a heart attack. A good samaritan saw me in distress and carried it on his shoulder for part of the way.

What attracts my attention is the Caution label. The Judging guide describes this as being on a "clear" background. I've always been skeptical of that assertion, the welded case seam would show through. Haven't ever seen one that did. Can you tell if its a decal vs. a black sticker with orange characters?

Interesting question; always just assumed a clear background. I've attached another pic highlighting the weld seam. I tried picking a corner on the decal but won't lift; it's been on too long. I feel the decal has protected the black paint underneath from weathering. The weld line disappears under the (thicker) foil, so the "caution" film must be very thin. I have another compressor with I_11_4 head cast, and it's decal is the same (although the foil Frigidaire label is different -- maybe another GM division).

Interesting foil with the printed NC. First one of those I've seen.

My I_11_4 compressor's foil label is model 5910486 with serial # 65DC1812, with the "DC" stamped into the foil, like the other serial characters.


Mike[/QUOTE]

[Mike G.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

I still wonder if it's a decal, for a couple of reasons. If I'm producing these A6's in volume, why would I want to mess with a waterslide type decal? Not exactly a process for rate production. Other thing-- laying a decal on a surface with imperfections gives you milky areas where the contact isn't complete. Don't see any evidence of that.

So... who knows for sure?

I have found a vendor (Buick parts) who sells a great label on shiny black plastic material. That's what I've been using and once applied, who's to say it's not clear? And "refrigerant" is even spelled correctly!

[Wayne M.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

.....I have found a vendor (Buick parts) who sells a great label on shiny black plastic material. That's what I've been using and once applied, who's to say it's not clear? And "refrigerant" is even spelled correctly!

Yes, I got a chuckle out of that spelling on the decal shown in Noland's Vol 2, and Dobbins Vette Vues Fact Book. Were those the (then) current repops ?

Here's another CAUTION sticker variation, from an eBay A6 (February 1967); item 160748442171.
Looks like they shortened the instructions; probably to avoid having to mis-spell refrigerant .

[Domenic T.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Wayne,
The only difference I have found in the passenger car compressors is unseen in the inside and I don't think it really matters for our use.

It is the compression ratio (yes, the book says low compression and high compression pistons).

Can't really say that the vettes were the only ones to use the low compression pistons as the other hi perf cars may have used them also.

I have done 7 vette compressors that were known to be original and they had a dish 1 inch in diameter and .100 deep.

One of our members has 3 of the compressors and we had a long talk as to why the lower compression.

There are some good reasons but if they are used with respect to RPMs there should be no problems.

DOM

[Peter L.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Dom - I've talked with someone else who mentioned the different pistons but what I'm curious about is how the Frigidaire folks knew when compressors were going to be used on Corvettes or passenger cars so the "correct" pistons could be used in assembly when externally as far as I can tell, the compressors used in 1963 to 1967 and possible 1968 had both passenger car and Corvette application. An exception might be compressor used on the 64-65 L76 engine w/C60. So aside of the label on the L76 compressors, even the Frigidaire label on them was the same initially for both the Corvette and passenger car applications. St. Louis did add the label for the Freon charge designation, i.e., "CHARGE 3.00 LBS. R-12" for the 63-65 Corvette applications because the original label which would have been for the passenger car had a charge designation of 3.75 LBS. I can guess that making the compressors in batches for the different applications might allow for this but that would be a challenge in inventory. As I said, just curious. Pete

[Domenic T.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Peter,
The only thing that would make sence to me was that the pulley size and location is what determined which cars got the low compression pistons.

The low compression cores may have been in another location in the factory that installed the pulleys used on the hi-perf cars.

My best guess is that the compressors were built in lots and assembled for each application.

The pulleys would have been installed by frigidaire because of the way they have to be installed.

DOM

[Harry S.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

I'll resurect this thread.

I just got my 63 compressor back and it's a work of art. I went to attach the orange caution label that I received from LIC and it's not of the quality I want to use. It's a stick-on that will not stick and it's milky so you can't read the orange words.

Anyone have a suggested source for a crisp and sharp Caution Label, probably water soluble.

Paragon has a water soluble version but they want $11.00 to mail the $4.50 item that would fit nicely into a first class envelope.

Thanks

[Ralph S.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor

Here are the images of the Compressor on my 64 Coupe which was built in May of 64. My car has the L76 Option, so the pulley is larger than the standard pulley. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

[Ralph S.]

Re: Original Unrestored early '64 Compressor