I am wondering what AC compressors some of you have (retro)fitted to your Slant 6 engines to replace the dinosaur RV2?

Where did you get the mounting brackets from? Please send or post pictures of your installation.

I need to repair the old RV2 system on my 1976 Valiant and an trying to decide whether to give the old RV2 another go or to retrofit a modern compressor to it.

I am a machinist and there are is also a major metal fab shop in town that can do bending and laser cutting so there is also that possibility of designing a mount system for a modern AC compressor and have them mass produced if there is enough interest.

I made a couple of simple adapter plates so I could use the Sanden compressor with the original slant mounts for a York, but it would be nice to have a piece designed for modern hardware.

You can see what I devised in the article I wrote for this website about installing a Vintage Air unit in my '64.

One of my suppliers has a new "mount and drive" available for the slant six, to mount a Sanden compressor. Includes all brackets and pullys.
www.nostalgicairparts.com.
Please refer to me, when/if you contact them.
I corrected spelling of link

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I tried the link and it didn't work.

Just misspelled, try www.nostalgicairparts.com

My 225 has an OEM Sanden 508. It is an '80s hydraulic cam motor. I see these A/C brackets now and then in salvage yards.

Yep, they'll work, on any slant. But they are getting harder to find, as cars are being crushed. I was just trying to see if the aftermarket still had them available, for the people that could not find them in a salvage yard, or didn't want to take the time.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Tim, do you have a digital camera to get some pictures of this setup?
I did not know Chrysler used any Sanden compressors. They had a C-171 of thier own make.

Anyone have a picture of what this Sanden 508 looks like?

Chrysler used the Sanden compressor on Dealer installed A/C, starting in the late 70's. I don't have my book handy to check exactly what year.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

There are two major companies that produce modern AC for older cars. The one in Florida, which I think is called Classic Air, has an adapter plate to install a standard, modern rotory compressor on the slant. I used their kit, and it works fine. If you talk to them, you will find them very knowledgable, helpfull, and a fan of the old Mopar's A/C system. Their first choice is to restore the old Mopar system, and put a new compressor and condensor on it. But, they like the rest of the system, and do not recomend taking out an old system and simply throwing it away in favor of a new unit. The avantage of the new compressor and condensor is it is designed to work with 134, and it does so well.

Agreed, but neither Classic Air, in Florida, or Vintage Air in Texas, have a compressor mount for a slant six, that does not already have air. They do have compressor mount and drives for the V-8 engines. Those were the first two places I called about compressor mounts.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Our 73 Duster has air. I am not sure if it is factory or dealer but I suspect the latter. Anyway, I still have not reinstalled the compressor and am wondering if there is a way to check to see if it even works before mounting it. I think I have all the brackets but I would rather not install it only to have to get a different one. Any ideas? Thanks everyone for the always great advice.

Mike

Our 73 Duster has air. I am not sure if it is factory or dealer but I suspect the latter. Anyway, I still have not reinstalled the compressor and am wondering if there is a way to check to see if it even works before mounting it. I think I have all the brackets but I would rather not install it only to have to get a different one. Any ideas? Thanks everyone for the always great advice.

Mike

That "dinosaur V2" is one of the best auto A/C compressors ever made. It's heavy, sure, but it is also extremely durable and has its own oil sump and pump -- very much better than relying on refrigerant miscibility to transport the oil, especially if you convert to R134a.

It is a very common misconception that axial compressors (e.g. the Sanden, Seltec, or Nippondenso) are "more efficient" than the reciprocating V2. Internal friction in the axial compressors is much higher than in the V2 due to the greater piston/cylinder total surface area (5 or 6 or 7 pistons instead of 2) and the losses due to the swash plate. The V2 requires lower overall torque for a given head pressure, though its torque profile is very "peaky" (torque input required spikes sharply as each piston hits its compression stroke). This makes belt setup and tension more crucial than with an axial compressor. The axial compressors are also lighter weight, but *shrug*.

The best thing you can do at this point is remove the EPR valve from the suction fitting of your V2, repair it as necessary (shaft seal, valve plates, etc. are all still available) and spend your extra $$ instead on a parallel-flow condenser. This will make an enormous improvement in the efficiency and performance of your system regardless of which compressor and what refrigerant you use.

Reference: parallel-flow condensers
and comparative refrigerant tests under standardized conditions -- look at the difference in performance between a serpentine condenser like you have now, and a parallel condenser...with ANY refrigerant.

Also note you do not have an RV2 in your Valiant from the factory, and though everyone says "V2/RV2", they are NOT the same. V2 is a 9.45 cubic inch compressor; RV2 is a 10.5 cubic inch compressor.

The RV2(V2 or whatever you call it) on my Duster is fairly new and won't stop squealing the belt even after I tightened it. Had it recharged and converted to R-134 and it squeals and chirps the belt every time I idle it down. My Ram has a centrifugal compressor on it and I like it very much. Does'nt seem to put as much of a load on the engine either. Crank up the air on the Duster and the whole car slows down and has a huge impact on gas mileage too.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2