Help Identify Corvair A/C Components

[Rotary FP46]

I recall the "washer bottle" frame is the same as non-A/C cars, but is mounted to a special bracket (3858767) to move it to the drivers side on A/C cars. So that part is of value to someone who needs it. BTW this bracket is why the Clark's dual MC kit won't fit at it routes the brake line through were the A/C washer bottle brake is mounted. The Clark's dual MC kit is not a great design in my opinion as I learned with my A/C cars. I used a better routing many others have used and very similar to the 67 dual MC line routing. Sadly Clark's has never fixed this issue with their kit.

Is this circled part the special bracket you're talking about, or is it something on the other side of the firewall / whatever panel that provides this assembly something to bolt to?

AZDave Washer Fluid Bracket.jpg (26.75 KiB) Viewed 101 times

They're not nicely plated like what you have photographed, but I've found these two in a crate of otherwise random parts. Will put them with the A/C parts if it is warranted.

[66vairguy]

That is the bracket. I have NEVER seen them plated, just painted black. That said ---- I have not seen many either and some may have been plated, or someone made a copy.

I found most of my LM A/C parts a couple decades ago when folks were parting out the FEW A/C Corvairs. I had to buy up three different lots just to get one complete unit built. Most were lots were missing parts. This was at Corvair swap meets. Now A/C parts seem to end up on online sites and rarely do you see a complete LM factory unit.

The trunk tire hold down in the trunk, and the rain deflector shield in the cowl under the windshield, the dash brace near the controller (easy to make), were usually missing. Finding a good center vent housing (the plastic bezel is reproduced) and controller (usually missing switches or chrome is beyond repair) are also difficult to find.

Good luck with you sale.

[Rotary FP46]

I will do my best to consolidate all of the A/C parts into one section of the property. At some point, I may ask for help in-person with building complete systems. I have no shortage of compressors or condensers. I suspect the things that are really going to kick my butt are the ductwork, control cabling, wiring harnesses, and engine tin (if there is even a difference there).

[66vairguy]

I will do my best to consolidate all of the A/C parts into one section of the property. At some point, I may ask for help in-person with building complete systems. I have no shortage of compressors or condensers. I suspect the things that are really going to kick my butt are the ductwork, control cabling, wiring harnesses, and engine tin (if there is even a difference there).

The Corvair Frigidair A6 was UNIQUE since it is made to rotate reverse rotation (and some claim the compression ratio/or volume was reduced for the Corvair), BUT the are not in demand as they are heavy and at one time you could not run them with R134a due to lubricant (that has now been solved). Hard to find a rebuilder since most rebuilders DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE REVERSE ROTATION PARTS. They are durable and usually only need a front seal.

R134a has an issue giving up heat. Clark's sells a revised 66 style bulkhead condenser (made by Rusty's Corvair A/C parts years ago) that is same size, but is parallel and serial to work better with R134a vs. original serial condenser for R12. The original condenser will work with R134a, but is mostly in demand for folk that still use R12 (or propane, or R152a).

Don't worry about wiring. Decades old wiring is useless. Clark's or M&H Electrical Fabricators makes A/C wiring harness (new wiring, connetors, sockets/plugs) - EVEN for the one year only 1966 A/C Corsa! I know as I ordered one and it took two months as it was special order and M&H had only made five others at the time - all for Clark's to sell (Clark's was out when I needed mine). I'll add M&H was great to deal with and made a custom harness for me also.

[Frank DuVal]

at one time you could not run them with R134a due to lubricant (that has now been solved)

I was in the collision repair business when the factories changed from R12 to R134 for new cars and R-12 went up in price. R134a conversions started because of the high price/predicted unavailability of R-12. I never heard the A-6 could not be converted, since I saw lots of A-6 compressors running R134a. Sure you had to drain the mineral oil and add POE oil. Just charge up to 60% of R-12 fill and start checking pressures. R134a will ramp up in pressure quick, and then you have poor cooling.

I'm still running R-12, as I have some....

[66vairguy]

at one time you could not run them with R134a due to lubricant (that has now been solved)

I was in the collision repair business when the factories changed from R12 to R134 for new cars and R-12 went up in price. R134a conversions started because of the high price/predicted unavailability of R-12. I never heard the A-6 could not be converted, since I saw lots of A-6 compressors running R134a. Sure you had to drain the mineral oil and add POE oil. Just charge up to 60% of R-12 fill and start checking pressures. R134a will ramp up in pressure quick, and then you have poor cooling.

I'm still running R-12, as I have some....

Yes Frank the POE lubricant (sometimes called Ester oil) will work in the A6 with R134a, but early on that was not common knowledge and all you read said "Mineral oil used for R12 is not compatible with R134a (must use PAG) and the A6 won't work with PAG." I can't remember when it became common knowledge that POE worked fine in the A6 with R134a

Good comment about the amount of R134a to use. YES you are correct you have to use about HALF the R134a weight compared to the a systems R12 weight (not volume) requirement. The A/C books say R134a weights about 85% of R12 (saturated as a liquid). The 66 Corvair A/C was 4.5 lbs. of R12, but you only use about 2 - 2.5 lbs of R134a after converting the system!!!! Some make the mistake of using 85% or 3.85 lbs of R134a and that will overcharge the system and it will DAMAGE a Sanden compressor!! I've seen this issue a few times over the years.

[Rotary FP46]

12) This Thing

Showed up in another crate alongside another compressor. Looks like a vent register, but not sure where it would live, or what kind of Corvair it might belong to.

13) Refrigerant Hose Clamps

The clamps I've found so far have a little tab hanging off of them. Is this feature a must-have for hanging onto the hoses in this application?

[Dennis66]

The tabs are to space the clamps the proper distance from the end of the hose so that it correctly engages the barbs on the tube. I remember those vents, but don't remember what they were on.

[Wagon Master]

That is the vent register that goes in the evaporator housing. Swivels to direct air mostly to the passenger area.

[66vairguy]

That is the vent register that goes in the evaporator housing. Swivels to direct air mostly to the passenger area.

Correct. Last week I was talking to a fellow about the LM Corvair A/C. That vent goes in a hole in the LM evaporator plastic housing the hangs under the glove box. That circular vent was NOT in all the evaporator cases!! Not sure when it was used.

That vent goes missing as the flimsy wire spring that holds it in rusts away and the vent falls out. It directed air to the "lower" body parts of the passenger. The industry calls it a "crotch cooler". See picture of original A/C, but only half of the circular vent is in the upper right side of picture.

[junkman]

#5 is an idle solenoid for a 1962/1963 Corvair air conditioning unit, and the larger part that it is attached to is the leg that holds the condenser onto the engine.