New or rebuild stock style ac compressor source

I had both cars have ac compressor fails this year. I'm looking for stock appearing replacements. Original Air rebuild quote is $660

Tim at Arizona Mobile Air has a new Atco unit for $428 or a rebuilt one at $210 on website. He says the new atco overseas built one is a very good quality item and much less warranty returns than a rebuilt unit.

The Compressor Warehouse website also offers new. Waiting for a quote.

I don't want to install the new style pro6ten style. I'm too nostalgic. Picture of my 69 wildcat compressor w 5" clutch is attached. Lots of oil is slung this year and almost no freon left. I'm pretty sure it's the seal. I would really appreciate knowledgeable members suggestions.

 

I believe I have several A6 compressors. All work. I went with the Progen6 and wont look back. Have not lost a drop of freon in 5 years

 

Not sure i want to try another 50 year old used unit. So has anyone used any of these companies stock appearing compressors and would recommend?

 

I installed a Murray branded (remanufactured) compressor from O'Reilly Auto in June, 2023 on my 1970 GS. Their part number is 57089. I transferred my old pulley, but purchased a new clutch. All the brackets transferred over just fine, but the center bolt that holds the two fittings into the back of the unit was metric while the rest of the bolt holes were SAE. I had great results, but this is just one summer so far. Their unit is not pre-filled with mineral oil, and I wanted to go with R-12, so I had to flush this compressor to get the right mineral oil for R-12. This part number does have the newer style shaft seal on the pulley side. The cost was creeping up on this project, so I went for the best deal on a compressor.

 

Briz - did the Progen6 fit the stock brackets/mount?

 

The Progen6 is a direct stock replacement.

Tom T.

 

Just wanted to mention that Alma Products in Alma MI produces brand new OE A6 compressors. They do not sell directly to consumers although, if you contact them, will indicate dealers who retail the product. GM was selling these compressors until some ten years ago. Alma still makes them. The Alma engineer indicated that the compressors have been improved including regarding sealing. I ordered a new A6 built by Alma from Omega Environmental Technologies in Texas. Hope this may help.

Jim Vesely
ROA # 7437
BCA # 39477

 

It did. Just like factory on all connections

The ones I have are like new from classic auto air. Was mounted, charged and ran for a few week before I started seeing the dreaded oil streak on the hood and fender well. Then I found out they are designed to leak to keep the shaft seal lubed. Thats when I purchased the Progen6

 

Hello Jim, How did this compressor work out for your application? Did you use the pulley that came on this new compressor, or reuse your original? I'll need to reuse my original, 5.58" diameter pulley so hopefully it'll fit! I'm about to purchase one, while they're still manufacturing them!

Thanks,
-mike

 

Mike,

Please see message I sent to you.

 

I just ordered 20-10649 from https://www.omega-usa.com/. Ray at Omega quoted me $577.44 plus shipping. You may want to mention this, as when I called back to place the order, they wanted to charge me over $700 dollars!

I swapped out the 5" pulley that this new compressor comes with for the 5.58" pulley appropriate for our GS' cars. I also reoriented the coil from 2 o'clock to 10 o'clock (as viewed from the front of the compressor).

The pulley swap was easy, thanks to the loaner tools from Auto Zone. But the coil was a bear, thanks to the beveled snap ring that holds it on. I hope there's a special place in hell for whomever invented the snap ring !

Ray at Omega says there are only a dozen of these new units left. The one that I received was built in January 2019. He said once these are gone, they're gone.

 

Please be aware that Alma Products, the company that had produced brand new A6 air conditioning compressors in its multiple variations for decades, has recently ceased production.

Some new A6 compressors are yet available in the supply chain such as from Omega Environmental Technologies in Irving, Texas. These compressors have been internally improved from the original A6 models including regarding sealing.

When they're gone, they're gone, leaving only the secondary resale market and reproduction units.

Jim Vesely
ROA # 7437
BCA # 39477

 

I've had good luck with teardown, clean and reassemble using rebuild kit (i think $30) which comes with new style seal. Don't really need special tool to disassemble with new seal same no special tools needed. If your is to far gone for rebuild you'll know right away.

 

Omega called me yesterday to tell me that they're out of the compressor that I ordered and listed above. I spoke with Alma this morning (Nov. 21, 2024), and they quit manufacturing their A6 compressors four weeks ago!

So thanks to Ron's pictures in his original post above, I found and ordered one (Alma # 51-860008A) from Arizona Mobile Air (ackits.com). This too comes with the 5" pulley, 10 o'clock plug, no Super Heat Switch, metric threads for the flange bolts (which attach our Buick compressor brackets to the compressor), R134a fill. It was $550 shipped.

I will install a 5.58" pulley, but fortunately won't have to rotate the coil and mess with the beveled retaining ring as the coil comes assembled at 10 o'clock as our Buicks were originally.

As an aside, my first GS has none of its original drive train, but it still has its original A/C compressor. The date code on that compressor is the same week as the car was assembled/built. In this case I'll rebuild this compressor when and if the time comes.

In the other two GS cars that I have, neither had their original A/C compressors, or any compressors for that matter, which is why I've gone the "new" compressor route.

 

I ended up ordering from zip corvette. Probably clocked wrong. I couldn't get ahold of omega.

 

Here's the list of distributors for new Alma A6 A/C Compressors, as of November 2024. I got this list from Alma, as a Microsoft Excel document. I've converted it to a pdf to post it here. Unfortunately, the last column has wrapped, so look to the bottom of the document for this last column which contains the all important email addresses for specific contacts at the various distributors.

 

Happen to have info/ part number for the rebuild kit you used?

 

I plan to rebuild my original compressor. I purchased the kit below. If you go to the eBay listing their are links to YouTube rebuild videos. Looks pretty straightforward.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175332808191

 

Please disassembly them first. The parts and seals internal really don't go bad. Obviously you can get dry rot or ruptured diaphragm but inspect first. Many you can simply clean and reuse everything. The lubricant used is very waxy and can't be removed, I think this is one reason they hold up so well.