Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Was wondering if anyone has an air-conditioning compressor bracket like the one displayed in the pic below, I would be interested in one if the price is reasonable

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If Jack Vines doesn't see the post send him a PM and see if he might still have one.

That photo shows the original Lehigh V-4 compressor on a Packard V-8 engine, but it's on the wrong side of the engine, and the bracket appears to be home made. The original bracket is cast iron and quite heavy. It mounts on the driver's side of the engine.

It could be a home made bracket but some independent companies also used the V4 compressor and had it on the passenger side. Here is one such install.

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FWIW, I've never had an example of the OEM cast iron bracket. All those I've had, including the one I have on the shelf, have been fabricated steel, quite well made.

It seems most aftermarket suppliers decided the right side was better than the OEM left. Wonder why?

jack vines

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I have also wondered why Packard chose the left as it took some engineering work to relocate the oil filter. ARA also copied the factory and had their compressor on the left. ARA made another bracket for the oil filter and mounted it using the water pump manifold bolts rather than mount the filter on the compressor bracket so at least that was a sort of improvement.

My theory is because of the heater Packard just decided to run all the AC plumbing into the car on the less congested left side. To keep it simple and avoid hoses needing to cross over the engine they mounted the compressor on that side too. Not sure what ARA's reasoning was because their hoses do cross over.

My gripe with the factory mount is it really limits access to the thermostat. You need to unbolt the filter and remove the compressor and bracket to reach the silly thing but the short AC hose to the firewall doesn't allow much movement of the bracket.

My big question is: why didn't they buy GM Harrison systems? They bought Delco generators, Voltage regulators, distributors, Guide lighting units--why not GM Harrison A/C systems?

That looks like the bracket I used on my '55.
Had to change the Fuel Pump over to the dual used on the Hudsons that used the Packard V-8 to use it though.

I just realized that they did something odd with the oil fill on that Pivot air install with the Lehigh compressor. It looks like the tube may be bent to go under and behind the compressor.

The 56 is a Clardy install.

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