Need advice on A/C compressor

[adoldfield]

I need a new or re-built A/C compressor for '75 LeSabre, but want it to look factory original. Who do you recommend to supply the right unit that looks right?

Thank you!

Alan Oldfield

[TxBuicks]

Alan, try Old Air Products in Ft. Worth, TX. Old Air Products. I bet they have rebuilt compressors that are identical to yours.

Edited September 16, 2011 by TxBuicks (see edit history)

[JohnD1956]

I bought a new A6 style compressor for my 69 Buick from my local NAPA. It came with directions saying the compressor is built for the 4 Seasons Company. But it is new, not rebuilt.

[adoldfield]

Thanks to Roy and John!

Alan

[NTX5467]

The GM A-6 compressors are still available from different vendors . . . at highly varying prices, so shop around. New or reman, either way.

The compressors will be the same as your existing one, but will not have the various OEM inspection stamps or an identical foil tag noting the gas charge and such on it. Those things will need to come from somebody in the restoration parts side of things, if that matters. The gloss of the black satin paint might be different too, but that can be taken care of easily. Key thing is to make sure the type and viscosity of the oil you use matches the refrigerant of choice for your system.

In some cases, if you can get what you want from a local NAPA or similar, it might be better to do that rather than from "a distance", just in case some problems arise. ALSO note that many vendors will not cover the warranty on the compressor you purchase from them UNLESS you also change other components in the system (accumulator/drier, orifice) and/or install an inline filter (of which varying styles can be sourced from ACDelco and others), plus documenting such replacements. IF there might be any debris in the system, for any reason, they don't want it contaminating and causing a failure in the newly-replaced compressor.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[JohnD1956]

My NAPA also got me a tube style high pressure line filter with an optional orifice tube, which we snuck into the line down low. In the 69's case I left the orifice tube out and did replace the reciever/drier.

[old-tank]

The newer A-6 compressors have an improved front shaft seal that will not slobber oil all over your restored project and less likely to run dry. There was a thread awhile back over on one of the AACA forums describing how to remove the guts from a new compressor and put in your old case.

Willie