Looking for the rolls royce of AC compressors
 

Hi Guys,

What's the best AC compressor (that will fit my 90' k5) that money can buy?

Sanden Compressors are great. (Not Sanden Style either) I converted my 89 S15 Jimmy from the Pancake style (OEM) to actual Sanden (Axial). AC blows much colder. Runs quitter. Pulls less of a load when it kicks on. The key is having brackets to mount the compressor and new hoses made up. https://blazerforum.com/forum/genera...upgrade-92117/

Summit Racing sells actual Sanden Compressors.

This is the 2nd time i hear Sanden compressors are great, thank you very much!
Is there any chance you can refer me to the specific compressor & bracket kit on Summit?

Also, i noticed in your upgrade thread that you replaced the switch and orifice. i know the orifice needs to be replaced every time you open the A/C system but can you explain why you had to replace the switch?

Any help would be much appreciated!

I would purchase everything indidually. Sanden 508 with the correct pulley for your truck. Search for Sanden 508 brackets for your truck. Once mounted you can have an A/C shop make custom hoses for you and charge the system. Optional would be pressure switch, Receiver/Dryer and orfice tube. I installed a Variable Orfice tube that operates well at Idle and at speed.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/v...-vma/overview/
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vta-141805

You will have to get the correct Sanden compressor with your pulley configuration.
I have attached the links.

Note: This is the exact compressor I purchased. My serpentine belt is 6 groove. I just have the belt not using the last groove. Works Great. I did have to buy a longer belt to fit right.

The switch came with a kit and was calibrated for R134. (Not sure if it made a difference or not) Get a Variable orfice tube and you will not regret it.

Do a google search on Variable Orfice Tubes. I purchased mine from Rock Auto.

More Information for ACDELCO 1550120

Thank you very much man!!
This is super helpful.. i'm adding all of this to my purchase list :)

Really, thanks alot! :)

I did my Conversion last year and I live in Biloxi, MS and the summer heat is here and the AC system is performing flawlessly. This will be the 2nd summer with the conversion. The conversion cost me way more than it should have as I bought a kit that I thought I could make it work for my Jimmy but ended buying individual pieces. I ended up making my own hoses, buying a different Accumulator, Orfice Tube and Compressor. The only parts I used from the kit was the pressure switch and the mounting brackets. I purchased hose material and fittings and a hose crimper on Ebay. When I was finished I sold the Hose Crimper on ebay. On my Jimmy the hood clearance is limited so I found out that you can get "Short Drop Fittings" for the compressor end which allowed me to mount the compressor with the oil plug facing up.

This is the link for the short drop fittings I purchased on ebay which allows for a very tight 90 degree turn from the top of the compressor. I would purchase these and provide them to the AC shop for the hoses and these are not the most common fittings.

BEADLOCK FITTINGS, 'SHORT DROP' CRIMP ON, FEMALE O RING, 90 DEGREE #8 | eBay
BEADLOCK FITTINGS, 'SHORT DROP' CRIMP ON,FEMALE O RING, 90 DEGREE #10 SB1323SD

I was going to ask you about the hoses and fittings, but you beat me to it :) thanks for the info!!
I'm planning to replace every single component in the system except the evaporator which is just a few years old - the thing is i'm not sure which components are limited to the old R12 gas and for which it doesn't matter, from the research you did and knowledge you've gained, any idea if this should be replaced to? (since i'm planning to use R134a).

Also, in my current system i don't have an expansion value. do you know if this should be purchased and fitted as well?

My condenser and evaporator are original 1989 R12 components that now run R134. New is Accumulator, High & Low side fittings for R134. Custom hoses, New Variable Orifice Tube, New Sandon Compressor & a longer serpentine belt. (Continental Gatorback, Does not squeak), New Pressure Switch. The electrical connector is a single connector for +12V from the pressure switch to the Compressor Clutch. (Cut off the factory connector and crimp on a bullet connector to mate with the clutch) As long as the AC system is flushed clean prior to conversion to R134 you should be ok.

AC FITTING PORT ADAPTERS,RETROFIT R12 to ACCEPT R134 3/16"(HIGH) & 1/4"(LOW

I added the parts list and picture of the parts that came with the kit you can use as a general reference. Like I said before I ended up not using a lot of the parts that came with the kit for various reasons. The hose ends would not mate up with my condenser because I needed straight fittings and not 90 degree fitting. The Accumulator did not have enough ports so I bought a GM one from Rock Auto. I replaced the orfice tube with a variable orfice tube. The hose sizes and fitting sizes are all correct I just needed the short drop fittings at the compressor end so I did not have to mount the compressor with the ports on their side. I needed straight fittings into the Accumulator and the Condenser. I did not need high or low ports on the hoses. I really went down a rabbit hole on money spent. I am very happy with end result and only if I knew than what I know now. The kit was meant for 1991-1993 Chevy GMC Truck and not my 89 S15 Jimmy. The compressor was dead and was warranted but I sold the replacement one on ebay and purchased a genuine Sanden from Summit. If I can help someone else out, I am glad to do it.

This is great man! thank you for the list and all the details - you literally saved me hours of research :) :)
At any point - did you consider going for the SD709 instead of the 508?

I did not. Because initially I bought a kit that included a Sanded Style 508, the brackets that came with the kit were for a Sanden 508, so I just stuck with the SD508. The SD709 could be a better choice but I do not have an opinion one way or another. As long as you have brackets to mount it and there is no fitment issues with the SD709 it could be a better choice for you.

Hi,

Just got around to buying everything we discussed in this thread.
Can you please advise which serpentine belt do i need? do you happen to have the model number or something?

Thanks, Yarin.

This is the belt I purchased. I believe it is about an inch longer. Your factory belt may work but this has been working perfectly.


My AC system is still performing great. I have not had a single issue. Blows cold even on the hottest days in Mississippi.

Note: Make sure you remove the shrader valves from the R12 High and Low side fittings before installing the R134 adapters. (The adapters have their own shrader valves)