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I’ve got an ‘83 bronco and the PO removed to old compressor and would like to get it up and running before the summer. This thread confirmed which mounting bracket I have:
I’ve got an ‘83 bronco and the PO removed to old compressor
Welcome to the forum. I see you have already mastered the art of blaming the previous owner. Well played!
Originally Posted by Gimmea250swb
i'm missing the tube part that goes on the long bolt the guy points to in the thread. Is there a place to get one (I know I can make my own)?
I doubt you could find that part for sale anywhere. A piece of common pipe cut to length would work just fine.
Originally Posted by Gimmea250swb
the hoses and accumulator are still in the truck, but I figure I should replace them. I’ll buy a new FS6 compressor.
Does your Bronco have factory or dealer-installed AC? If unsure, post a pic of the firewall area on the passenger side and we can tell you. You'll want to know when ordering parts.
If you have factory AC and need a new condenser, please see this thread:
Welcome to the forum. I see you have already mastered the art of blaming the previous owner. Well played!
Hee hee!! 😜 In this case, perfectly honest. I installed a Classic Auto Air key in my 65 mustang. It’s frigid. I’d like the same results. For my time, I think replacing everything is the way to go. I’m just not familiar with the “new” 83 set up
I doubt you could find that part for sale anywhere. A piece of common pipe cut to length would work just fine.
That’s what I figured - I’ll do it
Does your Bronco have factory or dealer-installed AC? If unsure, post a pic of the firewall area on the passenger side and we can tell you. You'll want to know when ordering parts.
perfect. I’ll be home on Friday and will take pics. I’m pretty sure it’s factory, but appreciate the confirmation.
If you have factory AC and need a new condenser, please see this thread:
Does your Bronco have factory or dealer-installed AC? If unsure, post a pic of the firewall area on the passenger side and we can tell you. You'll want to know when ordering parts.
okay, here’s a pic of the firewall. What do you think?
okay, here’s a pic of the firewall. What do you think?
That's definitely factory AC, so parts will be a lot easier to source.
These trucks are very prone to collecting leaves and other debris between the fan and evaporator. It's bad enough this reduces airflow, but the resistor pack for the fan motor is located there and it gets red hot in use, creating a fire hazard:
It's easy to pull the fan and resistor pack for a quick inspection. You can clean out the area to some extent through those openings, to at least eliminate the fire hazard.
The face of the evaporator is prone to blockage, too. All air passes through the evaporator, even when AC is off. It's a little more work to access, but not too bad:
The evap is not hard to replace, just remove 1 half of the housing and it comes out.
Being the system is open, no compressor, I would pull the evap coil for a good cleaning.
Unless you see signs of it leaking, oily spot, I would just clean it and housing the reuse it.
I moved the box from 1 truck to another and thought I cleaned it good before the swap.
Well a few years later when I changed out the evap coil I could see I did not get it as clean as I thought
Oh I can tell you the truck was not outside to get the dirt I found.
While we are talking of cleaning clean out the cowl area just in front of the glass of leaves and other junk.
Then inside remove the 2 kick panels at your feet and then the 4 screws holding the metal plates in place.
Now dig out all the mudd and dirt in there to the bottom. This is what rots out that area of the floor and cab as it is always wet.
There are "duck bills" on the drains, 1 each side, make sure they are clean. You may want to run water down the cowl on each side to flush it clean and make sure the drains are open.
If you have access to a non-AC truck the kick panels have air flow vents that you can install on your truck. Just leave the metal plates off and install the panels.
My truck was a non-factory AC truck and I kept the air flow vents as I did not get the factory AC working right away, and fails each year so wanted to have the air flow.
Dave ----
I’ve got an ‘83 bronco and the PO removed to old compressor and would like to get it up and running before the summer. This thread confirmed which mounting bracket I have:
im missing the tube part that goes on the long bolt the guy points to in the thread. Is there a place to get one (I know I can make my own)?
the hoses and accumulator are still in the truck, but I figure I should replace them. I’ll buy a new FS6 compressor.
will the original evaporator work with 134?
can anyone suggest a good kit for me to buy?
alternatively, do I ditch the bracket and go a different route?
I sure hope so, my compressor is tagged for R12, but the collector is tagged R 134. I have not run it to see if it works yet. But it was charged when i took it apart. Ive got another month or so before i can start reassembly.
@kr98664 , I'm having trouble completing my shopping list from ackits (83 bronco link). Here's what I put together. Forgive my ignorance, but using the LMC Trucks diagram, are parts 2 and 3 the same as part 4? It doesn't look like ackits offers part 4. Part 4 from LMC doesn't come in an '83 version.
Looking at the LMC link I would say #2 & #3 replace #4 depending on factory air with or without shut off valves, at least for my 81 F100.
#4 looks to have the compressor manifold as part of the hose assy. mine did not have that option then again 81 used a York compressor and I changed it to the newer style.
That then changed the hoses as thread size were different at the drier and evap it was fun ........... NOT.
Also my compressor, first was used never again, did not come with the hose manifolds, so I had to come up with them.
My new replacement also did not come with hose manifolds, had to re-use off the old compressor so you may want to see what your compressor comes with.
I think I ordered the hoses local parts store and good thing as I had to exchange them because of thread size of a mix / match system.
Dave ----
Again it is "what I think" looking at the picture.
If you look at #2 and the left side of #4, they have the insulation on it that runs back to the cowl and over to the evap area and the hose ends look the same at the evap area.
If you look at hose end #2 by hose #7 and hose end #3 by hose #4 they would go to the compressor.
The way they have #2 & #7 in the picture it looks like they go to the evap but I cant see how that could be.
I see from your pictures the evap / drier area and lines. What do you have over by where the compressor would be of the 2 lines there?
Dave ----
FYI they now say there is no need to replace hoses and the R12 has filled any leaks they may have with 134a.
It was age why I replaced mine and if I did not need to replace the condenser, crushed when owner pulled motor to sell, I would of rock the system as it held PSI.
If reusing the evap and condenser I would flush them out before hooking hoses up if the been left open for a long time.
I added too much oil on the first charge so I bought a flush kit and flushed before a fix and recharge.
Dave ----
@kr98664 , I'm having trouble completing my shopping list from ackits (83 bronco link). Here's what I put together. Forgive my ignorance, but using the LMC Trucks diagram, are parts 2 and 3 the same as part 4? It doesn't look like ackits offers part 4. Part 4 from LMC doesn't come in an '83 version.
Hmm, I've never seen anything like #4. Yes, it appears to be two hoses on a common manifold. Not sure how it would attach to the barrel-shaped Sanden compressor. That had the ports on its side, or actually top as installed.
Could #4 have been for a York compressor? Never dealt with one, but it looks more like a lawnmower engine. Did that have ports on the aft side?
One issue you may encounter is the manifolds for the Sanden compressor. They basically last forever and typically aren't included with the new compressor, as you'd normally just swap them over from the old. Not sure if anybody makes new ones. You may have to get a used set from eBay or similar.
I have the old York off my 81 and if I make it out to the my garage I will take a look.
Also the York can be mounted a bunch of different ways, straight u or on its side as it has mounting holes in different locations.
I would also think LMC would list in the description what the hoses fit?
Dave ----
@kr98664 I installed everything and realize I need to get an adaptor for the high side which I'll got buy today. I forgot that I need to add oil (I assume) to the compressor. The box had absolutely no documentation. Any guess on how much I need to add? This is what I got:
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so wanted to have the air flow.
