Search... I know. I just need a "non conflicting" answer. Will the 95-96 caprice/impala ss LT1 AC hoses from the compressor work for a LT1 swap with the lt1 fbody acc brackets?

Kevin

 

I am pretty sure the ports are in different places on the Caprice/Impala compressor. Fbody has them side by side near the top of the compressor and The Caprice has them stacked on the framerail side. Maybe if you had the compressor as well.

 

I have the compressor off of a impala ss. They are the same as the LT1 fbody compressors. Part numbers are the same. I couldnt get the hoses from the impala though. Advance Auto and Autozone both sell the complete ac hoses new for $80...

I dont have the LT1 in the car yet to see if there will be room for the caprice/imp hoses or if the fittings are even the same size or not...

 

When I looked up the Caprice compressors it showed a different one from the F body.

 

I found this on ebay. It is from a 96 Impala SS. I don't know if it will work or not. The ends of the hose are a different thread pitch.

 

I saw the same compressor and it got me thinking about the caprice hoses. I didn't know if the sizes and thread pitch of the fittings were the same or not, hence, this post....

I have four different sets of ac hoses from various mid-90s GM cars and it seems like none have the extra large #12 fitting the connects to the accumulator. From that picture, it looked like the caprice/impala hoses had the large fitting, but I dont have access to one to find out.
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Also, you can tell that the hose block that attaches to the compressor is the same as the fbody compressor.

The GM part numbers are the same for the B-body and the F-body for the R134 HR6 Compressors.

 

The fittings in the pic are the metric variety. They have a different look to them than the standard ones. I tried to find some type of factory hose assembly to use on my car. I was unsuccessful. I switched to vette accessories for this purpose.

 

wont work 1st because of the aforementioned thread differences, but also because of a) the direction the hoses exit the hose block and b) the direct of the bend where the hose would connect to the evap canister. more than likely those hoses would hit the crossmember and if not, they would surely be rubbing against or running into the exhaust. secondly, the hose needs to bend the opposite direction to connect to the evap canister.

 

I struggled with fittings and adapters for two years before I switched accessory styles. The A/C was the only part of the swap I found difficult.

 

oh trust me, I know the feeling. I've only had working a/c for about a year out of the 5+ years I've had the LT1 in now. mainly because I never have driven it enough to worry about it. I've been saying for the past year I was going to finally get it working, yet here I am :/

 

Any word on getting the A\C working with the LT1 F body acc's or should I start to invest in the vette setup?

 

Anyone?? Please?? lol

 

I'm to the point now of just getting the hoses made up, I have the 4th gen condenser in place and was waiting for spring to try and finish it up.

 

Awesome! Can you get some pics and a parts list when you get it running this spring??

Thanks!

 

This summer when I pull the engine for some work I'll be getting the a/c operational. I've got a set of hoses already as well as a hose block, but the hoses are too long and the fittings at the wrong angle. going to have them remade when I do everything else. I'm using a 3rd gen condensor and evaporator.

 

Ok, its spring / summer... anyone get this working at all??

 

in the process of building my engine right now. planning on working on the a/c when I get it back in the car

 

I'm looking to have some custom a/c lines made. Anyone know who would make them? Or anyone have some tips on having them made like should the lines exit directly from the back of the hose block, etc.?

 

what I'm planning on mine is having the hose come out the top of the hose block, then a 90* fitting for the hose that goes to the condensor, and a straight fitting for the hose going to the evap canister and have the hose loop up and over the exhaust to clear it. should be putting it all back together in 2-3 weeks. will update then.

as far as having the lines made, there is a parts store here in town that makes them. I believe O'Reillys will make them as well, I know they'll do hydrualic hoses. if you can, just take your old hoses and new hose block in so they can get the right size fittings. then you just need to know how long to make them and you're set.


*edit* now that I think about it, I think I was also going to have a 90* fitting on the hose going to the evap canister as well so that it would go forward first to clear the exhaust then loop back up and over.

 

for what it's worth- I used caprice style stuff for my AC setup. The long pipes coming out of the compressor bend easily. The fittings are a different thread, but a little anti seize and some big wrenches took care of that. Working leak free for a few years now

 

Can you take some pics? Just want to see how it all fits... thanks!

 

If the LT1 caprice lines can fit with bending but are different sizes, then it might be possible to get some bigger tap & dies and tap/die either the lines or what the lines hook up to. Just so that they are easier to put on and take off. However, that would cost a little bit.

 

I am curious to see how this turned out.

 

I'd also like to see pics of the LT1 caprice lines installed in a thirdgen

 

I got the caprice lines and they are going to require some bending. If you can get pics of how you bent your lines, it would be appreciated.