A/C Upgrade or replace?

[EddieExpedition]

Welp, the A/C crapped out again.... I finally tracked down some Vortec brackets from a 4.3L and a compressor. They appear to be the same as the 5.7 so I'm hoping they'll work. I just need to round up the odds and ends parts and find time to swap.

Question for those that have done the swap: The new water pump has heater lines coming off of it. My old setup has them coming from the back of the manifold and radiator. How did you remedy this?

 

[ZooMad75]

They are the same 4.3 vs 5.7 for those brackets.

You don’t have to use a Vortec pump. Just get a reverse rotation pump for a 88-95 Tbi 350/305 and you’ll be fine. Make sure you got the correct rotation fan too.

 

[EddieExpedition]

They are the same 4.3 vs 5.7 for those brackets.

You don’t have to use a Vortec pump. Just get a reverse rotation pump for a 88-95 Tbi 350/305 and you’ll be fine. Make sure you got the correct rotation fan too.

Awesome! I got the fan from the same truck. It’s a composite fan. I was thinking about getting the metal version so it doesn’t look out of place in the blazer.

 

[6872xtc]

Awesome! I got the fan from the same truck. It’s a composite fan. I was thinking about getting the metal version so it doesn’t look out of place in the blazer.

How many blades on the fan? I run one for a Vortec 350. I believe that it has 11 blades. I put it on a TBI era clutch and it works well enough to use the A/C on the trail in Moab, in 98* temps.

 

[arcansawdave]

The 11 blade fan moves lots of air. It's also really quiet.

 

[EddieExpedition]

Its the S10 4.3 fan, 11 Blades.

 

[EddieExpedition]

Parts are rolling in!

 

[EddieExpedition]

I was off to a good start when I ran into unexpected issues of new and old parts not wanting to share the same space.

 

[EddieExpedition]

I thought I could run the 96+ thermostat housing and route the radiator hose behind the compressor, but no luck. I didn’t realize the orientation of the housing on the intake was different. Now to return those parts and get the 88-94 style parts.

 

[arcansawdave]

I ran down to the local parts store and picked up a generic thermostat housing that faced straight forward. The factory hose bent around the a/c compressor. I hate that it's chrome plated, but I wanted to get my truck back together that night.

 

[EddieExpedition]

I looked at some of the swivel housings, but I just don’t trust them to stay leak free. I did get the original ac lines to fit, but may look into having lines made for aesthetic purposes.