AC to fit 350 engine from 305

[The_Lew_USA]

I recently bought a 1983 Jimmy that had the engine swapped out to a 350 from the original 305. I haven’t been able to get the exact numbers from the engine. But from the partial numbers it appears to be a 1986-1988 small block 350. The previous AC components had been removed and I am looking to buy a kit from LMC. I am assuming I need to buy an AC kit that fits the newer engine. But will there be components that won’t fit because the Jimmy is an ‘83? Do I need to buy some 83 components and other newer 86-88 components? Hopefully this makes sense.

 

[Bent77]

Is the new engine running a serpentine belt set up, or are you running the Veebelt set up?

 

[Blue85]

If you have the 1983 accessory brackets, the compressor will be on the driver's side. At some point in the late 80's when the full serpentine system came, the compressor went to the passenger's side, so the hoses are different. The block/heads from '83 to 88 would be the same, so the only concern is getting all of the brackets you need. Earlier heads were sometimes missing a hole for the later serpentine brackets, but they can be drilled and tapped (I did this once, not too bad). The evaporator, condenser, receiver/dryer, etc. are the same. Even the compressor is the same, just the front pulley/clutch changed, so you need one that matches your belt setup.

If you're running V-belts now, you might consider swapping to serpentine when you do the conversion, but some prefer V-belt. I think the A/C system makes more sense with the compressor on the same side of the engine that the rest of the A/C is on.

 

[Blue85]

The only thing I can think of that wouldn't be straightforward, would be if you had a 90's Vortec engine, which had different heads and a different intake from the 80's SBC.

 

[The_Lew_USA]

Is the new engine running a serpentine belt set up, or are you running the Veebelt set up?

It is running a v-belt setup. I’m hurrying to catch a flight but will try and upload some photos later on after I upgrade my account. Looks like the AC hose connections are on the passenger side. It also looks like the mount location is on the drivers side. I’m just not sure which components were switched out with the newer engine.

 

[The_Lew_USA]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RhRMjQRLnQQKNd5SA

I’m trying to figure best way to upload photos

 

[Bent77]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RhRMjQRLnQQKNd5SA

I’m trying to figure best way to upload photos

It’s an age old trick here. You have to have enough posts. It’s a built in spam defense
If you stick around and opt for the membership, it bypasses that and opens up the other half of the forum as well

 

[The_Lew_USA]

There we go. Upgraded the account so I’m good to go.

 

[Bent77]

There we go. Upgraded the account so I’m good to go.
View attachment 481142

I’m worthless for AC answers, but now everyone can help answer your questions

Cruise over into the Lounge and the Other Rides forums. There’s also a few forbidden and entertaining corners in the Political Forum and the Pig Pen
Don’t get banned

 

[Wes Harden]

Order the parts to fit your truck.
Virtually no difference in a 305vs350, esp on the outside

 

[Wes Harden]

I would check out rock auto since your truck is an ac truck

 

[The_Lew_USA]

Order the parts to fit your truck.
Virtually no difference in a 305vs350, esp on the outside

I was looking on LMC and the kit for 73-84 year system has condensor with hoses on driver side and the kit for 85-91 has it on passenger side. My concern is if I buy the kit for the 85-91 because it matches my current condensor and compressor can I just remove and replace any old 83 parts with the new 85-91 parts in the kit, like the accumulator etc?

 

[Wes Harden]

How did your 83 get an 85-91 condenser? Hoses will be wrong, because the compressor will be on the wrong side of the engine, if you stick with v belts

 

[The_Lew_USA]

How did your 83 get an 85-91 condenser? Hoses will be wrong, because the compressor will be on the wrong side of the engine, if you stick with v belts

Not sure. I’m guessing a previous owner put the compressor from the truck the engine came from. I see what you are saying though. I’ll just buy the kit fir the 83 and just get the right brackets to fit it to the 86-88 350 engine block.

 

[Wes Harden]

The brackets need to be for your 83. 83 blazers had 305 and 350 the brackets were the same.

 

[The_Lew_USA]

currently nothing is hooked up and there is no compressor or condensor hoses connected. The hoses that were included in the back of the truck when I bought it are totally from the 85-91 kit. Not sure what previous owner was up to.

 

[Wes Harden]

Probably wanted to use the later ac from the donor, until he realized the compressor would be on the wrong side, got discouraged and sold the truck to you

 

[Blue85]

Assuming you have the right pulleys still on the engine, you need the compressor, the mounting brackets and the hose set for your model year. The real question is whether your condenser has the fittings on the DS or PS. That determines which hose set you need. Of course you'll have to find the green-harness that plugs into the compressor clutch. It would be smart to flush the old parts before trying to use them. The drier is cheap to replace, or if you're in a pinch, it can be kind of flushed then baked dry.

Here's a shot of my old compressor brackets. You can see the line set crossed over the engine some years.



Here's another setup: