Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

Trans Am Information => Trans Am Tech => Electrical => Topic started by: Nodak T/A on January 21, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Nodak T/A on January 21, 2007, 01:03:47 PM: I've been looking at pictures of various engine compartments trying to figure out if I need the "L" shaped compressor bracket. Seems that some have it and some don't. When it is there it looks like it goes from the intake manifold to the back of the compressor.

Here's a picture (borrowed from eBay) showing the bracket I'm talking about..

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o294/Nodaknova/c873_1.jpg)

I believe this set is from an early 70's 400
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Rick on January 21, 2007, 01:07:32 PM: That's the setup that was on my 75 400. After the top end swap one of the bolt holes wouldn't line up with anything, but it's lasted 44,000 miles without a problem.
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: brian c on January 21, 2007, 06:40:02 PM: Here's my setup on a 78 w/ Pontiac 455 using all my brackets from the 400:

(http://home.rochester.rr.com/cdjmcarter/1978-ta/images/9-18-06-2.jpg)

(http://home.rochester.rr.com/cdjmcarter/1978-ta/images/9-18-06-3.jpg)

Its difficult to see (I'm really going to need to update my photos) but the L shaped bracket is there and definitely stablizes the AC compressor. And yes it mounts to 2 points on the intake manifold and then on 1 bolt hole on the rear of the compressor.
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Eagle 1 on January 21, 2007, 08:24:43 PM: Dont take any short cuts when it comes to brackets. That one helps stabilize the rear of the compressor.
I had a hard time finding that bracket too on ebay, but as soon as I purchased one, three more show up for sale on ebay. :roll:
Good luck finding one.
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: MalteseFalcon on January 21, 2007, 09:18:31 PM: That L-shaped bracket is also different pre- and post EGR, so if you are running a 1978 manifold, make sure you get one from 1973 - up.
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Grand73Am on January 21, 2007, 11:06:10 PM: Anybody know if the a/c brackets on firebirds/TA pontiac engines are specific to them or can brackets from pontiac A and G bodies be used?
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: MalteseFalcon on January 22, 2007, 08:51:51 PM: I picked up a set of brackets off of a 400 in a '76 GP, and they appeared to be the same.
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Grand73Am on January 22, 2007, 09:45:47 PM: Good to know that they won't be hard to find. Thanks!
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: Nodak T/A on January 22, 2007, 09:49:47 PM: definitely good to hear, gives a lot bigger pool of parts to gather from. Plus I think I may be able to get a set from a guy here locally at a very reasonable price..
Title: air conditioning brackets
Post by: MalteseFalcon on January 23, 2007, 02:07:43 AM: I'll try and dig them up and post some pics. Some of them have part numbers on them - and maybe we can confirm. Like I said, they look exactly the same to me. Its just been so long since I did that research, its fading a bit.

All the cars I looked at in the junkyards with the A6 (long) compressors seemed to be the same for the 400's and 455's if they were from the mid to late 70's. Some of the 301's have the R4 (more shallow) compressors and of course those won't fit on the earlier A6 compressors. I don't think they had the L-shaped bracket.