Vintage Air AC setup
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2021
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Vintage Air AC setup
Does anyone have experience installing their system? I'm struggling with pulley alignment. I've shimmed it as much as I can and it still does not align with the middle pulley on the WP. If I take the shims out it won't align with the PS pulley. Getting worn out trying to make it work.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2021
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 821
Likes: 292
From: Pelham Alabama
Hey Fog,
Well, I will say a couple months ago I helped in a custom build project that included installation of a Vintage Air system.
The custom build was a LS engine on S10 frame and 53 chev 5 window truck body.
The Vintage unit was the best, all parts were quality and fit well. Looks great and works like factory.
Now to the reason for my reply,,
Even on the LS we had the same problem with the pullies lining up. these are well engineered systems and small things like this can happen.
We kept slipping washers into the bracket until the compressor pully lined up.
THEN miked the stack of washers, got a solid aluminum rod 3/4 dia. I THINK cut to the measured length drilled the hole in center for the bolt, polished it up a little with Scotch brite pad and WD40.
Looks nice, worked great. You surely did not think I would leave the stack of washere in there did you...LOL
Installed correctly,, You should be very happy with your Vintage Air system.
Well, I will say a couple months ago I helped in a custom build project that included installation of a Vintage Air system.
The custom build was a LS engine on S10 frame and 53 chev 5 window truck body.
The Vintage unit was the best, all parts were quality and fit well. Looks great and works like factory.
Now to the reason for my reply,,
Even on the LS we had the same problem with the pullies lining up. these are well engineered systems and small things like this can happen.
We kept slipping washers into the bracket until the compressor pully lined up.
THEN miked the stack of washers, got a solid aluminum rod 3/4 dia. I THINK cut to the measured length drilled the hole in center for the bolt, polished it up a little with Scotch brite pad and WD40.
Looks nice, worked great. You surely did not think I would leave the stack of washere in there did you...LOL
Installed correctly,, You should be very happy with your Vintage Air system.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2021
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I'll have to go look at the size I ended up with. It was a lot of trial and error and probably should get a slightly larger one. I'm now looking at trying to find one that will go over the PS, WP and AC.
The other guy said shim it. The biggest problem with doing that is the way the PS pump fits. If I shim it more, it will be impossible to tighten up the PS bolts and the vintage air bracket bolts through the PS bracket.
The other guy said shim it. The biggest problem with doing that is the way the PS pump fits. If I shim it more, it will be impossible to tighten up the PS bolts and the vintage air bracket bolts through the PS bracket.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2023
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when you measure a belt, you measure the outside diameter. if you put a cloth tape measure around the edge (not the inside) of the pulleys , that's what you need. I collapse the adjustment all the way in first and add an inch personally.
you can wrap them around multiple accessories, but it would be better to set it up so you can run these independent of one another not just because you can limit what you lose if you break or toss a belt, but also because it increases belt wrap so it's more likely you won't have fight belt squeal or worse not enough grip to turn the accessory.
you can wrap them around multiple accessories, but it would be better to set it up so you can run these independent of one another not just because you can limit what you lose if you break or toss a belt, but also because it increases belt wrap so it's more likely you won't have fight belt squeal or worse not enough grip to turn the accessory.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Central Florida
Does anyone have experience installing their system? I'm struggling with pulley alignment. I've shimmed it as much as I can and it still does not align with the middle pulley on the WP. If I take the shims out it won't align with the PS pulley. Getting worn out trying to make it work.
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Cross-Country
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Yes. The did not supply the belts. The AC compressor has two belt positions and neither line up. I've spoken with Vintage air in the past and they were not helpful.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 324
From: Central Florida
I had the same set-up on my FE. There are three groves on my crank and WP pulleys that are assigned as follows:
I am using the Vintage Air EZ Sanden compressor bracket as well as the Borgeson PS adaptor. The compressor has two grooves. These two brackets used to be incompatible with one another but based on user feedback from people like me they modified the EZ bracket to be compatible. They sent me the new version gratis so my experience is that they are very helpful.
I will be experimenting with a new bracket that moves the compressor to the passenger side and raises the ALT above that. If that doesn't work out I have a good fall back option.
- pulley #1: alternator and water pump
- pulley #2: Saginaw power steering pump
- pulley #3: Sanden air compressor
I am using the Vintage Air EZ Sanden compressor bracket as well as the Borgeson PS adaptor. The compressor has two grooves. These two brackets used to be incompatible with one another but based on user feedback from people like me they modified the EZ bracket to be compatible. They sent me the new version gratis so my experience is that they are very helpful.
I will be experimenting with a new bracket that moves the compressor to the passenger side and raises the ALT above that. If that doesn't work out I have a good fall back option.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,216
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From: Central Florida
Take a look at this post. It shows the error I made in designing the initial FE/Sanden belt set-up. I was using one belt to drive both the power steering pump and the A/C compressor. This error was corrected by adding a third belt dedicated to the A/C compressor and swapping out the PS pump belt to a smaller one dedicated to that accessory. On the compressor I used the second, furthest forward groove.
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Cross-Country
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Take a look at this post. It shows the error I made in designing the initial FE/Sanden belt set-up. I was using one belt to drive both the power steering pump and the A/C compressor. This error was corrected by adding a third belt dedicated to the A/C compressor and swapping out the PS pump belt to a smaller one dedicated to that accessory. On the compressor I used the second, furthest forward groove.
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