Hey fella's and ladies. my baby is showing her age. the A/C clutch went pop. bearings gone. has anyone changed their A/C clutch or A/C compressor? since it is an 85 is there an updated Compressor that I can install that is set up for 134A or do I go ahead and just replace with R12 compressor and retro the freon? Just wondered if anyone has had this issue. Thanks in advance for any help.

I purchased a compressor from NAPA and went to install it and ran into a snag. the bolts that hold the compressor in place go in from the back of the brackets. so needless to say one of the bolts will not come out of the bracket to release the comp. because the valve cover is in the way. nice engineering job there. so i now have to remove valve cover to replace it. LOL.

I don't think you can get the bolt out even with the valve cover off. I wound up taking the whole dang compressor bracket loose to get it out on mine, just to change the water pump.

Whatever compressor you get, don't try to save a few bucks on a reman..get NEW. This is one job you do NOT wanna hafta do twice. Reman compressors are a crap shoot. Get a new GM/Delco from a major parts house....you'll be glad you did. You can run 134 in the system as is, as long as your hoses are in good shape. If they are questionable, replace them. Also replace the dryer/accumulator....they will not warranty the compressor if you don't. Take the orifice tube out of the high pressure line and clean, or replace it. The orifiace tube on the '85 is in the tube just in front of the evaporator box/case, in the tube going down to the bottom of the case.

My FSM shows two of the bolts coming in from the rear, and one from the front. I changed my compressor on my 85 five times in 24 months. I know I didn't remove the valve cover. You're missing something, or the bolt was installed 'backwards' while the valve cover was off for other purposes during the compressor change.


And why did I "change" the compressor 4 times in 2 years? My original compressor leaks refrigerant. During my NCRS campaign, I would charge the system prior to an event so it would pass Ops check, and then suck it out afterwards to preserve the refrigerant. It was also noisy, so I installed a new delco replacement for my PV. Then took it off and showed the car with the original for my McClellan. Put the replacement back on for my Founder's campaign (drove the car 3,500 miles in 5 months), then took it off for my Crossed Flags. Then put the replacement back on for good. Now the replacement has been on for 5 years, and it still blows cold with R12. It helps to own, and know how to use, a refrigerant recovery machine.

I KNOW I don't have to remove the valve cover.

I am going to try to tackle this today. So I will see if I can just take the bracket loose. Thanks guy's every little bit helps.

Found this.

well how it go I got a comp. from advance auto it came with the 134 orface along with P.O.E. comp. oil and accumulator/drier evac the system and weighed in the charge  I think it was a grand total of 250 and here I go with the top off and didnt use the A/C all last summer LOL as I sit here and its 10 degrees out side and its 70 in ft.lauderdale