Air conditioner compressor mounting

Tiny
JTEE
  • MEMBER
  • 1982 FORD BRONCO
  • 5.8L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
Hello, I am just wondering if the A/C compressor has a particular direction that is meant to be pointing up. The previous owner has put a home made bracket on the compressor and it looks the compressor has been moved from the top of the engine to the side. Could the way it is mounted affect its performance? Looking at the front of the engine, it is like it was mounted in front of the right hand rocker cover but now it is like the bracket has been rolled clockwise in line with the exhaust manifold.
Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 2:06 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,058 POSTS
The location is not important to its function, but it must be oriented correctly with the top up. Compressors have an oil sump on the bottom, and it needs to be where gravity keeps most of the oil there.

As for relocating the compressor, be aware its job is to squeeze the refrigerant, and that makes that refrigerant get real hot. That is one half of the requirements for the efficiency of the system. If it is too close to a hot exhaust manifold or heat from the radiator, the refrigerant will be too hot, it will expand, and the compressor will not be able to effectively raise its pressure and temperature as much as it needs to.

If you look at a dozen GM cars from the 1970's, you will find they have the A/C compressor in a different location between years, models, and engine sizes. The designers for different models couldn't agree on anything, yet the A/C systems worked just fine.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 2:23 PM
Tiny
JTEE
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Thank you for that Cardiodoc, in saying there is an orientation of which way is up, I take it the top of the compressor is where the suction and discharge hoses are? The engine in the Bronco is out of an 81 Fairlane and has a Motorcraft D50H-2875-A2B compressor.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Yup, if your compressor looks like a small air compressor pump, the hoses on that style are on top. Those usually had a heavy flywheel as part of the pulley/clutch.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 3:09 PM
Tiny
JTEE
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Just to be certain, it must be mounted this way up. Sorry about the angle, not sure why it did that but its meant to be spun clockwise 1/4 turn.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 3:35 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Now that you mention it, I do believe I have seen some mounted on their side. There is a flapper on the crankshaft that dips into the oil to splash it onto the cylinder walls. I do not know if there are any internal differences related to that.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 3:41 PM
Tiny
JTEE
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Ah, okay, I will remount it and get someone to recharge it again, I had it done twelve months back and it is certainly not cold now. It must be leaking somewhere. Thanks very much for your help.
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
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Different Guy,

Your picture is a 1/4 turn off.

Looking at the air cleaner and the hood opening (and ribbing) for orientation. In and out on the compressor look correct. That is, if that picture is of the unit you are referring to. I do realize it is just sort of sitting up there, unmounted, near the radiator.

Your horn seems to be mounted like I mounted mine. The instructions said 'for off road use only', sounded sort of stupid to me too, so I mounted mine about three foot off the road too.

The Medic
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Sunday, January 8th, 2017 AT 3:58 PM

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