hey all, I had a question about A/C compressors...years back the compressor on my 87 F150 locked up and my uncle (before I owned truck) had his local mechanic Just remove it. well, I don't really have the money for a new one right now and its pretty hot...so I was going to get one out of the local scrapyard for now just to get me going.

my question is this...do I HAVE to get one off an inline 6 or will a V8 compressor work too? I know they both have the same size belt (rib-wise) but I'm wondering about mounting...thanks in advance guys!

 

I'd goto a parts store\website\something like that and look up the compressor for both versions, if they have the same model number then your golden.

 

also quick question. before you go wasting your money do you have all the tools to do this and were your lines sealed close? if they weren't you would most likely be looking at replacing the entire system.

 

the lines were sealed off with caps and tape...i have the tools to remove and install the compressor, i'll have to get a shop to vacuum and charge the system though.

booba, thanks for the tip on the compressors!

edit...looks like i'll have to find one for a 300...the parts website shows a different one for a 302 and then yet another for the 351. oh well, we'll see what i can find!

edit2...i looked at the lines again, and looking at the discharge hose, there seems to be a piece screwed into the end of it...what is that? i've never seen it on a A/C system before...i can take a picture if need be...it's silver, metal and about 2" long...

 

Good luck then. I bought a new pump from harbor freight for $100 but I seen them on sale for $64. My old pump was driven by my compressor and just didn't do the job well at all. good luck.

 

thanks man, i'll have to look at Harbor Freight...

 

Find a sealed system in a junkyard & lift it out of the truck complete.

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oh wow! i had no idea i could pull the entire system out without discharging. i'll have to see how much the yard would charge me to remove the entire system, i might go that route...thanks Steve!

 

5speed, you have a pull-a-part or pick and pull close by? those places seem to be the cheapest places for doing that. ya, looks like the evaporator is on the engine side of the firewall so it can be done, but looks like it would be at least a two man job. A lot of vehicles have the evaporator located cabin side so I would have never thought to do it that way. Once again, Steve is thinking outside the box. Man where do you get so many great ideas? lol

 

yea man, we got a pull-a-part right down the road...that's where i was planning on going...and yea, i think it would be a two man job too, so you don't break off one of the lines...

 

I pulled the one in those pics alone, and several others alone - it's not as hard as you think. I doubt a junkyard employee could comprehend what you mean if you describe this, and I've never seen one willing to use real tools (just sawzall, torch, prybar, & bolt cutters), so I think if you want a complete system, you'll be doing the work yourself.

 

yea i'll be going to the local pull a part and doing it if i decide to undertake this

 

Beware... U-Pull-Its are usually among the FEW junkyards who actually do what they're supposed to & remove all the fluids before putting a vehicle on the yard. They punch the fuel tanks, trans pans, diff covers, & often recover the refrigerant. You'll still be better off buying a sealed system, but it may not be fully charged.