A/C operating on the Gladiator

Discussion in 'Jeeps with the Buick Heartbeat' started by swampedge, Apr 9, 2011.

  1. swampedge

    swampedge Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Apr 10, 2011
  2. BlueSky

    BlueSky Gold Level Contributor

    So that's what a Glad looks like w/ AC..... never seen one!

    Nice work, fits nicely.
     
  3. swampedge

    swampedge Well-Known Member

    Normally the compressor is mounted on the drivers side. I bought this one off of a truck in Oregon and had it shipped here. Feels even nicer!
    Jim
     
  4. gschlachter

    gschlachter New Member

    Looks nice really. This is the 350 V8? Can you tell me what pulleys you used? Probably from 1970 or early buick so 3V crank and 2V short water pump pulley? I want to do this on a 225V6 which should be the same everthing.
     
  5. swampedge

    swampedge Well-Known Member

    You're right. The bracket is from some sort of add on air for the Buick.
     
  6. Macjeeper

    Macjeeper MAC

    I converted my ex-Wagoneer Air Conditioning to OBA.

    Separate Air Tank under the bed of the truck for a constant 100 psi of air with engine running.
    Max pressure cutoff of 140 psi with 2 outlets,
    1 under the hood and 2nd outlet in the rear bumper near the license plate.
    Pressure cutoff switch, oil/water separator,
    1 way check valve and 2 sets of hoses along the drivers side frame rail.

    Also have 2 On/Off switches for the clutch engagement,
    in cab and another backup on the pressure cutoff switch.
    Instead of using the gas pedal or setting the carb to the choke cam,
    I installed a weed wacker cable control connected to the carb throttle linkage.

    I use it to inflate tires on the trails and to rescue people that insist on trying to fill a tire,
    with a cigarette lighter plug air compressor filling 33" - 35" tires.

    I can fill 2 tires at the same time to 35 psi in 5 minutes or less, have 2 plastic air coils to inflate my tires.
    It can't run air tools very well, I have an old truck air brakes tank bolted to the underside of the bed.

    I will eventually convert the Buick mounted bracket to the Passenger side Exh. manifold,
    use the axial flow compressor version for OBA, then use the original Jeep dealership added
    Air Compressor setup and have my Air conditioning operating again.

    I can use all 4 crankshaft pulleys to operate both, currently only use 3 now.

    You wonder about the 4th pulley?

    Jeep cast an additional pulley to bolt to the Harmonic Balancer for the Air Conditioning modification.

    Plus they mounted a tensioner pulley for the belts, mine is connected to the pass. side bracket,
    it holds the ignition coil and mounts fwd. of the water pump and also connects to the intake manifold
    and also to the alternator bracket. I've seen the tensioner also on the drivers side next to the bracket
    that holds the power steering pump and mounts the York style compressor.

    I'll get my OBA connected and maybe post it this weekend,
    I currently remove the belt to save wear and tear when I need it for 4 wheeling in the Sierra's
    or pulling my boat to the water to inflate tubes, etc.

    Mac
     
  7. swampedge

    swampedge Well-Known Member

    I've done that on my Cherokee. Buick 350 pass side mount York for OBA and drivers side for my a/c. Those cast pulleys were also cast in two different lengths that I'm aware of.
     
  8. randyre

    randyre Member

    Here's a pic of my factory A/C on a 69 Glad. Not easy to see, but if anyone is interested I can take more.

    [​IMG]
     

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