Hi all
I have an 85 camaro 305 vin h with A/C and all emissions removed, alternator on pass side. Saw a trans am or firebird with pass side a/c mount which is a much better design than the 85 camaro goofy/ugly design/routing with the compressor on the drivers side and hoses running around and over radiator to firewall on pass side.
Looking for guidance on what I need to do, what year camaro’s may have had this pass mount, brackets fitment with 85 305, etc to convert to the pass side mount
Thanks in advance for your help

 

Search for threads with the word serpentine. Lots to read.

The 88-92 V8 third gens and 88-93 B-bodies and D-bodies used the brackets and accessories which work.

There is a bolt hole or two that doesn't exist on 86-down heads. Because of this, get BOTH braces that connect the DS alt. to the exhaust and the PS compressor boot to the exhaust.

I got my setup from a salvage yard. GM lists the parts as a kit too.

 

You can easily drill and tap the necessary hole in the passenger head. It does go into a coolant passage though so you must use thread sealer when you install the bolt. This isn't terribly unusual though for these types of bracket bolts to be open to coolant or crankcase. I too swapped my 86 to serpentine. It's very easy. You also need to swap the water pump - with the serpentine it rotates in the opposite direction. You may need fuel lines, and you will definitely need the AC hoses, and the wiring connector for the newer style alternator. As well as all accessories of course.

Rick

 

Thanks for your input! - I think you assumed much too much knowledge on my part, I reviewed lots of the "serpentine" threads/issues and am even more confused, Note that the car I saw was a few years ago so I didn't study the components, just noticed the better look Pls help

Did the stock GM setup in 88-93 f-bodies have a serpentine system? with the alt & PS on the drivers and the A/C comp on the pass side?
If so, I did not know this and my simple thought (and what my $ will allow) was to somehow mount my existing a/c comp on the pass side where the smog pump was (as I recall) and get the proper hoses and brackets from a junk yard, and leave everything else as is.
The "serp" system & $ is not an option, but maybe modifying brackets and creative mounting is. but maybe I would need to start with a different a/c comp due to the current hose config ? and can also see maybe the need to move alt to drivers side for clearance reasons
thanks again
tom

 

http://sethirdgen.org/serpentine.htm

 

Yes

Well that wasn't done by GM as far as I know. It may be possible but since GM did the serpentine system everyone just swaps to that so you would be in uncharted territory. While I'm sure it's probably possible, it may not actually be cheaper since I doubt you will find a way to do it with "junkyard" parts. It would probably need some custom hoses. The AC compressor is much larger than the alternator..... yeah. The Junkyard will yield the parts to do the complete serpentine setup though. Get a new water pump though - they are really cheap.

Rick

 

WOW
Looks like alot of work and money! one I don't have and the other I try to avoid
thanks for the link
tom
ps-here's a b4 and aft so far and my SS Lemans (engine compartments were much simpler then)-looks like I'll probably go without a/c (cruise only car) or see if there's any room down where the smog pump was
thanks again to all

 

Was there ever a year where the A/C compressor was on the pass side using v-belts?

 

It's not much work at all really. I spent more time doing the timing chain, chain cover, and pan gasket than doing the serpentine conversion. You can get all the parts from the junk yard for pretty cheap really. It would definitely benefit your nice engine bay there. I think you should collect the parts as you find them cheap and do it. It's a million times better than the V belts. It just plain works. You can remove and install the belt in about 10 minutes. Water pump changes become a 20 minutes job rather than several hours. It's infinitely better in more ways than I can count.

GD