Author Topic: A/C Condenser for Crew Cab  (Read 2855 times)

Offline ehjorten

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A/C Condenser for Crew Cab
« on: October 20, 2017, 12:26:37 PM »
I am looking to get a replacement A/C Condenser for my 1991 V3500 Crew Cab.  My question is...does anyone know if the replacement condensers come with new mounting isolators?  I have seen some pictures that show a condenser with mounts, but some of the pictures just show the condenser.  My mounts are kinda shot!

I am looking for the ACDelco 52484151 condenser.  I guess the original ACDelco p/n was: 156960.

Anyone have insight?

Thanks,
-Erik-
1991 V3500 - Gen V TBI 454, 4L80E, NP205, 14 bolt FF, D60, 8" Lift on 35s
1977 K20 Silverado - 350, THM350, NP203, 14 bolt FF, D44, Stock Lift on 31s
1969 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe - EFI350, THM350
1968 Chevrolet Step-side Pickup - 300HP L6

Offline ehjorten

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Re: A/C Condenser for Crew Cab
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2017, 07:49:54 PM »
Well, I found some good supports at the local pick-n-pull, so now I can just buy a new A/C Condenser and call it good.
-Erik-
1991 V3500 - Gen V TBI 454, 4L80E, NP205, 14 bolt FF, D60, 8" Lift on 35s
1977 K20 Silverado - 350, THM350, NP203, 14 bolt FF, D44, Stock Lift on 31s
1969 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe - EFI350, THM350
1968 Chevrolet Step-side Pickup - 300HP L6

Offline ehjorten

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Re: A/C Condenser for Crew Cab
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2018, 09:37:20 AM »
Condenser Woes!!!

So I bought an OSC replacement condenser that is supposed to fit my truck from RockAuto.com.  It did not come with new brackets/rubber isolators, but that was no problem because I had good ones in a combination from original and ones I got from the wrecking yard.  It is a Piccolo design, so not ideal, but probably will work!  What I found with this replacement Condenser is that the lower connection between the Condenser and the Evaporator, did not line-up at all!  BUMMER!!!


Original Condenser


RH End of Original Condenser, showing Serpentine, Large Tube design - Dual pass, crosses across face of fins 17 times per pass.


LH Side of Original Condenser


OSC Replacement Condenser - P/N: 3642


OSC Piccolo Design


OSC LH side of Condenser - showing the stock plastic seal that clips on


Showing how the OSC Condenser and factory hardline does not even come close to fitting up!

So...I kept searching and found a Spectra Premium Replacement one.  P/N: 7-3642.  The pictures made it look like this one might be a better choice and possibly fit better as well!  When I picked-up the Spectra condenser and brought it home...opened up the box...to my delight, it was a true parallel pass, flat tube design!  It came with new mounting brackets and rubber isolators!  YEAH!!!  The flat tube and parallel pass is much more efficient than either the piccolo design or the OE design.  The brackets were 4 upper brackets, no lower brackets and the rubber isolators looked to be redesigned to accommodate the different end bracket design of this condenser.  No problem, I can make a hybrid application of my isolators and brackets and the new ones.  However, when I went to install the condenser, I found that it is several inches too narrow!  BUMMER AGAIN!  There are no provisions in my radiator support to accommodate so narrow of a condenser and the upper brackets would not bolt to where they need to go, despite that Spectra says this fits my 1991 V3500.

I put the Spectra Condenser back in the box, reinstalled the OSC Condenser, and returned the Spectra one.  Now I am left with figuring out what to do with the connection to the Evaporator.  I would like to keep it a hardline, but the stock one is not going to connect to the replacement condenser!  I guess I can see about making up a softline from a A/C shop to fit.


Sprectra P/N: 7-3642 - Parallel Pass, Flat Tube Design


Flat Tube Design


Spectra 7-3642 Came with new brackets and rubber isolators


Spectra Top Brackets Installed


Spectra in Front and OSC in the Back.

My guess is that the Spectra 7-3642 does fit for earlier trucks with small block engines that had narrower radiators, but it definitely does not fit to a 1991 with a big block!
« Last Edit: February 13, 2018, 09:42:15 AM by ehjorten »
-Erik-
1991 V3500 - Gen V TBI 454, 4L80E, NP205, 14 bolt FF, D60, 8" Lift on 35s
1977 K20 Silverado - 350, THM350, NP203, 14 bolt FF, D44, Stock Lift on 31s
1969 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe - EFI350, THM350
1968 Chevrolet Step-side Pickup - 300HP L6