Running AC on a 302 V-belt engine

[Waverous]

In an attempt to evaluate all my options prior to purchasing and installing an aftermarket AC system on my current project, I am looking for opinions and advice on using my current 302 V8 V-belt engine with an aftermarket AC system (I also have a 3G on the engine as well).

I am looking for information on things like:

• Belts
• Overheating
• Performance issues

Now I know a better option would be a serp setup on a FI 5.0 or 5.8 (been there - done that) but this is a low mileage (less than 5000 miles on complete rebuild) engine that I removed from my last conversion and I don't want to build another monster off roader cause I am getting too old and my bones don't like the bouncing! ;D We are just looking for a decent cruiser we can drive around in during the summer and on a mild trail occasionally.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, I put a Vintage Air kit on my 66 Mustang 289. The kit was complete, and we are very happy with the way it turned out. But some parts needed tweaking (inside and out. Some of the instructions seemed to be for a different car. The compressor mount needed holes to be enlarged and I had to figure out how to shim it to get the belt to line up. Nothing major, just time consuming. It took longer than I thought it would. It is also much colder than I ever expected. Good luck

 

[bronconut73]

BC's VA unit works great and you can keep your glove box.

VA's own unit (Stage 4?) has a bigger fan box and a different vent system but you lose most of your glove box.

Both work fine with v-belt.

Are there over heating issues?....not for me but it does run a bit hotter....and I do not like it (225° in pm heat) but have not "had" to address it. Explorer serp is prolly the direction I will go but it isn't necessary.

My BC unit does fine and I have zero insulation, none, nada. So with insulation it should be great.

 

[BroncoChicken]

You can add the front dress and serpentine drive without converting to fuel injection. That's how I have mine setup right now, you can swing by if you want to take a look, only about a mile from you.

 

[bronconut73]

You can add the front dress and serpentine drive without converting to fuel injection. That's how I have mine setup right now, you can swing by if you want to take a look, only about a mile from you.

/\/\/\ it don't get no betta than that!/\/\/\

EB brother reaching out to another EB brother "and" they are neighbors.


Love me some classicbroncos.com

 

[Waverous]

You can add the front dress and serpentine drive without converting to fuel injection. That's how I have mine setup right now, you can swing by if you want to take a look, only about a mile from you.

That I will. PM me your address and/or cell

 

[bronconut73]

If you look at various Broncos with AC, you'll notice some compressors are mounted on the driver side and some on the passenger side. Most of those on the passenger side are driven by a its own belt. Those on the driver side will share the power steering/water pump belt.
Each type has an advantage over the other.
A two belt system fits better, since it uses a shorter two groove crank pulley.
But...
It's best not to share the compressor belt with other accessories. The compressor likes a belt that is tighter than the power steering and water pump can tolerate.
I even saw one yesterday at Octoberfest that shared the alternator belt.%)

Blu is correct. And for this and other reasons I will eventually go to the Explorer Serp.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Blu is correct. And for this and other reasons I will eventually go to the Explorer Serp.

If you look at various Broncos with AC, you'll notice some compressors are mounted on the driver side and some on the passenger side. Most of those on the passenger side are driven by a its own belt. Those on the driver side will share the power steering/water pump belt.
Each type has an advantage over the other.
A two belt system fits better, since it uses a shorter two groove crank pulley.
But...
It's best not to share the compressor belt with other accessories. The compressor likes a belt that is tighter than the power steering and water pump can tolerate.
I even saw one yesterday at Octoberfest that shared the alternator belt. That would really concern me.

 

[Waverous]

If you look at various Broncos with AC, you'll notice some compressors are mounted on the driver side and some on the passenger side. Most of those on the passenger side are driven by a its own belt. Those on the driver side will share the power steering/water pump belt.
Each type has an advantage over the other.
A two belt system fits better, since it uses a shorter two groove crank pulley.
But...
It's best not to share the compressor belt with other accessories. The compressor likes a belt that is tighter than the power steering and water pump can tolerate.
I even saw one yesterday at Octoberfest that shared the alternator belt. That would really concern me.

Good to know - May have to consider the serp setup in order to run AC, PS, and 3G.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Good to know - May have to consider the serp setup in order to run AC, PS, and 3G.

I'm using the triple pulley on mine with the compressor above the alternator. Mine has worked great for about six years now.
Like I said earlier, you need to use a small spacer on the fan to move it forward of the longer pulley.

 

[Waverous]

I'm using the triple pulley on mine with the compressor above the alternator. Mine has worked great for about six years now.
Like I said earlier, you need to use a small spacer on the fan to move it forward of the longer pulley.

Are you using double pulleys as well?

 

[Lhofkamp]

In an attempt to evaluate all my options prior to purchasing and installing an aftermarket AC system on my current project, I am looking for opinions and advice on using my current 302 V8 V-belt engine with an aftermarket AC system (I also have a 3G on the engine as well).

I am looking for information on things like:

• Belts
• Overheating
• Performance issues

Now I know a better option would be a serp setup on a FI 5.0 or 5.8 (been there - done that) but this is a low mileage (less than 5000 miles on complete rebuild) engine that I removed from my last conversion and I don't want to build another monster off roader cause I am getting too old and my bones don't like the bouncing! ;D We are just looking for a decent cruiser we can drive around in during the summer and on a mild trail occasionally.

I just had the vintage air installed and while it makes it a lot more bearable to drive it will overheat if you are sitting in traffic or it's a hot day. Every bit helps but I strongly recommend you cut the fenders out and add the mesh in, especially if you have headers. Additionally is recommend upgrading the nozzles as they are pretty cheap and crappy looking when you actually see them.

 

[Waverous]

I just had the vintage air installed and while it makes it a lot more bearable to drive it will overheat if you are sitting in traffic or it's a hot day. Every bit helps but I strongly recommend you cut the fenders out and add the mesh in, especially if you have headers. Additionally is recommend upgrading the nozzles as they are pretty cheap and crappy looking when you actually see them.

Nozzles? I'm not following you

 

[bronconut73]

My BC unit puts the compressor over the ps pump. By sharing belts it negates the need for The three sheeve pulley.

 

[FordFarmer]

I bought the VA GEN 4 unit. I think you can get it directly from VA but I wanted to support a Bronco vendor so I ordered it from Tom's. Drop shipped a few weeks later from VA. When I bought my truck it still had a driver side York setup but the knee knocker and condenser had been removed....all that to say I already had a three groove crank pulley. I wanted to avoid the compressor sharing it's belt with anything else so with the help of VA tech support we found a SB Ford bracket that incorporates a small tensioner pulley. This allowed me to run a single belt to the crank. The bracket required the enlarging of some holes and some shimming. Also required a fan spacer that I had to have machined down by another Bronco dude in town. Time consuming install with all the fussy bits but it performs well.

 

[Waverous]

I bought the VA GEN 4 unit. I think you can get it directly from VA but I wanted to support a Bronco vendor so I ordered it from Tom's. Drop shipped a few weeks later from VA. When I bought my truck it still had a driver side York setup but the knee knocker and condenser had been removed....all that to say I already had a three groove crank pulley. I wanted to avoid the compressor sharing it's belt with anything else so with the help of VA tech support we found a SB Ford bracket that incorporates a small tensioner pulley. This allowed me to run a single belt to the crank. The bracket required the enlarging of some holes and some shimming. Also required a fan spacer that I had to have machined down by another Bronco dude in town. Time consuming install with all the fussy bits but it performs well.

Wow! Nice! More info please! Got any pics? Pulley part numbers? Pulley application?

 

[FordFarmer]

I've got nothing at the moment. I moved to Hong Kong last summer and put the Bronco in storage. It's late here but I'll see if I can't at least find some pictures on the computer tomorrow. If you decide to go that route shoot me a pm and I'll give you a breakdown of the challenges I had with the install. I don't think I have a digital copy of my order but if I do I can get that bracket part number for you too, just might take a while to dig up.

 

[FordFarmer]

Well now you've got me curious and if I'm curious I can't sleep. Vintage Air part number 131110. That's the bracket with the idler pulley. Here's a link to the instruction manual with the diagram. They substituted it for the standard Bronco bracket at no extra charge of I recall correctly.

http://www.vintageair.com/Instructions2013/901102.pdf

 

[Waverous]

Well now you've got me curious and if I'm curious I can't sleep. Vintage Air part number 131110. That's the bracket with the idler pulley. Here's a link to the instruction manual with the diagram. They substituted it for the standard Bronco bracket at no extra charge of I recall correctly.

http://www.vintageair.com/Instructions2013/901102.pdf

Thanks! This helps