ok...i'm going to be able to get a compressor off of a v-6 firebird with the serpentine pulley...i have v-belts on my car...can i do a pulley swap from the old one to the new...also...how does this sound...brand new cooper cobra tires on a set of 15 in trans am rims in near mint shape for 275...plus...i could have the 2.8 for free or any engine parts i wanted...some feedback would be nice...

 

pulley change shouldn't be a problem. for the wheels, sounds good. Igot a set 15" T/A wheels for $100. has tires on them, but they leak so I'll have new ones. In the mean time, the stock rims will go on as the winter wheels.
Anything for free is good, especially free beer

 

yes...free beer would be good...maybe i'll find some sittin inside the engine...wouldn't that be a score...but another question...since i can do the pulley change...would the compressor have changed from 85 to 89...just a thought...oh well...but yea...maybe i'll pull the motor...but i have no where to put it...however...would it be a good idea to take pretty much the top of the motor...like all the intake and the heads...because i could have everything ported and polished and just do a transfer because come spring time...i'm puttin a new timing chain and camshaft in...so while some stuff is out...might as well bolt some new stuff on...

 

maybe get one of those engine stroker kits, and for head & cam, check out this thread: this thread

 

Don't know about the pulley swap, I'm 99% sure you need a special tool to remove it. Make sure the compressor fits your mounting brackets, too; something tells me the unit's different? Can't remember. But you might want to get a compressor from an 85-86 junkyard car, or, possibly buy a rebuilt one. Check the "splash shield" first; this is the little rectangle of metal that's directly above the a/c pulley. It keeps any oil from the compressor from getting flung all over the engine compartment. So if the splash shield on the compressor you're getting is covered in oil, you might want to skip it and look for another one.

 

Oh, stupid me, you meant putting the serpentine system on your car? Only problem you'll have is the alternator. The alternator on the '87-up serpentine models is smaller. The mounting bracket, with the belt tensioner on it, will only take the smaller alternator. Not too much of a problem if you can get the alternator, too, but something to think about. Also, you'll need a puller to remove the p/s pump pulley and put the serpentine belt pulley on.

But as a bonus, you'd be able to get underdrive pulleys for a few extra HP.

 

The 85 and 89 compressors are completely different. I tried to put an 85 pulley and clutch on an 89 compressor when my 85's crapped out (bad bearing) and it was a completely different setup. Best bet (if you want a serpentine system) is to get all of the components off a serpentine motor.

 

ok...well...i've also thought of this...since i don't use my ac at all...i mean i think i've used it 5 times in 3 summers...i think i'll just take the compressor out and everything that goes with it...might as well not even deal with it...and here's another thought in my head...how bout if i pull the condensor out right...and i could put a tranny cooler in there...does that sound like a decent idea...i mean they're cheap and helpful...because i would like to keep this tranny going as long as possible...the car is on its third...and the new one only has about 10k on it...and i've not beaten up on it...but yea...i'm still debating wheter to pull the whole motor or not...i mean it runs good...has 150k on it where as mine has 135k...but i know mine is well maintained...that one i'm not so sure about...and the other thing is where to store it...i can't keep it at my house cause we have too much sh*t in the garage already...oh well...i'll think about it...but yea...the ac is going...ill have to take it out when i get a free moment...

 

trans cooler would definitely be a step in the right direction. If I were you, I'd take the other motor and disassemble it. Then, as time and $$$ permits, have the major components of the short block rebuilt. That way you end up with a rebuilt motor when your current engine dies.

 

sounds like a good idea...only thing...i could probably keep it outside at my granmothers yard and all...i could cover it...what would be most likely to happen to it...cause it will have to face winter extremes...plus...i need an engine puller...and a stand to put it on...but disassembling it would only take a couple days at the most for me...and if stored some stuff inside...and just the block outside...that wouldn't be too bad...oh well...we'll see how things go when i go pick up my tires from the kid...

 

"i mean i think i've used it 5 times in 3 summers...i think i'll just take the compressor out and everything that goes with it"

I removed al the ac stuff from my car about a month ago, But I removed it all right so it could be used again. and man does it run cool now. the temp gauge never goes but a tad over 100, I have not heard my fan come on once since then.

I just did it yesterday to my wagon. I had to dust her off as my bird is down for a while till I get a pivot pin puller to fix my tilt slop.

 

I pulled the a/c stuff out of mine too, wasn't working according to previous owner, & system was discharged when I hacked into it. I'm leaving the condensor on though, help protect radiator from rocks, rodents, birds & small children that may get caught up in there.

 

Your a sick man sir. A sick man

 

LOL! Yep, my a/c system is pulled, too. I never used it when I had it (firm believer in "windows down!" driving), and after my accident, the evaporator (in the box against the firewall) was bent to hell and I couldn't straighten it. So I took out the a/c compressor, accumulator can, and all the hard/soft lines- and left the condensor & a junkyard evaporator in. (I was worried about rocks, too.)

But then I heard from people who pulled the condensor, and never had any rock damage. So I pulled the condensor- and the car ran a few degrees cooler!! Nice bonus! I found the infamous "heater-only" box in a junkyard, got that in the garage, gotta find time to put it on. But when I do, then I can get rid of the evaporator from the firewall. Interesting thing; the evaporator/heater box (for a/c) is made of some kind of fiberglass. The heater-only box is steel! Didn't expect that when I was taking it off. The black paint is still decent on it, but I can't leave well enough alone, and will probably sand it down and repaint it again (still using black).

So I've been safe from rock damage for the past few years, if a testimonial helps. Also, I've had a trans cooler on since '97. It was originally attached in front of the condensor; now it's attached directly to the radiator. (Summit Racing sells a trans cooler re-mount kit that I used.) Yep, I used the plastic zip-tie style mounts, poked 'em thru the radiator. The B&M Supercooler I bought came with steel mounts, but I know tons of people use the zip-mounts with no problems to their radiator.. and looks like they're right.

 

It would have to be a 1 and a billion chance of a rock being able to get up in there on a thirdgen fast enough to do any damage.That would be one hell of a bank shot.

That is an old misguided fear that only applies to older cars/trucks with big open grills.

It just makes no sense to keep it there, unless you got crazy and use it as a heater core return line radiator. which is low flow not important part of the cooling system, so it would only help by cooling more.

 

who you calling misguided :nono: