Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I'm trying to find the size of the factory air conditioner belt. Does anyone have that information? Thanks

Factory A/C with the vents in the dash and a Leigh compressor?

Not sure where I got this, but try looking for ,
Plymouth valiant 1962 with AC
Dodge Dart, Lancer 1961-1962 with AC

Still looking for a number.

Yes, the factory A/C. I am using the factory vibration damper and idler pulley, but will be using a new compressor. The belt has to fit the factory components. I need the belt information to get the correct pulley for the compressor. I have not found specs for the belt, group 29.070, part number 465547.

Not sure which crankcase pulley you might have because I have seen a couple of them and they are slightly different in diameter. If you are planning to mount your new compressor anything like I did in my project an A58 belt should work. That belt is 1/2 x 60". A different mount would probably change the belt length though. The compressor is a Sanden FLX7 series #4875 and the pulley diameter is 138mm or a tad under 5.5". That compressor comes without fittings and you pick the type and orientation that works best for your hose connections.

For my bracket, I used a factory cast mount which originally formed the base of the Lehigh compressor. The compressor had been removed many years ago so the remaining mount consisted of a more or less flat piece with a circle bolt hole pattern. The mount also has provisions for the factory idler. Using the factory mount it was necessary to add an extra 1/4" plate to provide a transition for a universal York to Sanden adapter plate.

There is a possibility that you might have an ARA type mount which is a flat welded plate assy rather than a cast piece. With the ARA mount the extra plate for the transition to the York adapter would probably not be needed but the dimensions may be different. That might affect the height of the compressor above the crankcase pulley thus changing the belt length.

For comparison, using the only more or less visible and accessible stock place I could find to measure from which was the valve cover corner, the factory cast mount plus my transition plate and the York adapter plate puts the top of the York plate at 1" above the rocker cover corner. The A58 belt is suitable with that arrangement and adjustment is still available on the idler but an extra 1/2" would also work.

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A length of non-stretching clothesline or rope routed thru the pulleys should give you an estimate of overall belt length. As the rope will probably (depending on size) nest deeper in the pulleys than the belt, add an inch or two.

I an using the cast factory bracket and idler. I plan to either modify the York to Sanden adapter or redo it. What I found is that a 1/2 inch belt is not a good fit on the damper pulley and the idler so I was looking more for the width than the length.

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As mentioned I have seen a few different 55-6 AC pulleys. Factory seems to be different from aftermarket. Factory and ARA apparently were cast with AC and PS grooves in one unit. ARA looks to have a smaller AC diameter than factory and is spaced closer to the PS pulley. Others also did their own thing depending on the compressors they used.

I can't tell from your photo if there is a separation between the PS pulley and the AC pulley but if there is it almost looks to be like Jack Nordstroms single groove pulley repro. Not sure which pulley he might have used for reference but Jack's pulley looks like it might take a 5/8 belt. If yours is the same maybe that width would fit.

Here are a few pulley versions and I believe there may still be another for the Mark IV setup but don't have a photo of that one.

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There is no separation between the PS and AC pulleys. It looks like the ARA pulley in your picture.

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Packard V-8 factory air conditioning system did not use a York compressor. Only a Lehigh V-4 compressor. A York compressor would mean that the system has either been modified, or it isn't factory air.

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True, but as I am using a Packard cast Lehigh compressor bracket and will be mounting a Sanden compressor, a York compressor isn't part of the equation. I have been unable to find a Packard cast Lehigh compressor bracket to Sanden compressor adapter, I have therefore started with an available adapter which works with the new component, the Sanden compressor. Or do you know of someone making Packard cast Lehigh compressor bracket to Sanden compressor adapters?