So what would the pitfalls be?  Crazy idea and I should just forget it?  I have a 1990 Burb as a parts rig for my '91 Burb.  I mostly wanted it for the seats and other interior stuff since they were in a lot nicer condition than those in the '91.  Up until a few weeks ago I had a deal with a guy to sell him the entire rig for parts for his 80's pickup but he appears to be backing out on me.  Hmmmm.....always been on my bucket list to get the A/C going in the Vette, and now I have a complete, more modern system and I'd get a serpentine belt system to boot.  The system in the burb was not working, but it appears to be complete and I think it was just completely discharged.  And I'm thinking the early 90's systems worked with both R12 or R134a?  I'd swap in all accessories from the burb: A/C comp, fan pulley, alt, p/s.  No smog pump on either vehicle.  Let me know if this idea is workable.  I will try to sell the serpentine system if not. 

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Dave, while it might be possible to do what you describe, I'm thinking it might be way more trouble than it's worth. You'll also prolly have to replace the water pump at least, since the one on your car, and the the one used on the 'Burb are prolly different lengths. Not 100% sure on that, but my bet is they are different.
Also, most serpentine systems have some components running backwards from "normal".....including the water pump. That's definitely something to check into before considering/committing to do this swap. Might be able to sell the stuff you had for enough to make a good down-payment on an aftermarket serp set-up.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

The water pump is definitely reverse rotation along with the cooling fan. 

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

Thanks guys. Was not thinking of the reverse rotation aspect so that tells me to scrap the serp swap plan. I would probably prefer to stay original there anyway. But my next question and the real reason for the proposal is: can I swap just the a/c system, including the compressor? The most obvious problem is my early 76 has an A-6 compressor (didn't they switch to radial in late 76 or was it 77) - what does it take to switch an axial with a radial? Does the radial from my Burb have the same mounting setup as the first radials in the 70s? Assuming I could get that working then I'd have to get the pulley and clutch for a v-belt setup and hope that I can get things to line up. And then, finally, I'd have to get the rest of the system moved over. Probably too much trouble but I may just try it and see where it takes me. Always up for a good challenge I guess!

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Oh and Sarge, I am a member at Squarebody.  Great group and have gotten lots of good info over there, but nowhere near as good a group as this one.  

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Depends on what side of the engine your Burb compressor is mounted. If it's on the pass side, you would need the Corvette mounting brackets, and hoses(hoses/lines are totally different A6 to radial) to make the swap, assuming the inlet/outlet on the compressor wound up in the correct location . If it's on the driver side(on the Burb), chances are it wouldn't work even with the Corvette brackets.
As far as the rest of the "system", NONE of the other components would swap...evaporator, condenser, etc.
Hate to say it, but again, it sounds like waaaaay more trouble than it's worth to even try. Why not fix the system you already have? Prolly be cheaper(and more effective) in the long run....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I should have mentioned this at the start, but I think it's just the compressor that's bad on the vette - if I could make the burb's comp and hoses work with the rest of the vette's components that would work for me. Was thinking of swapping the entire system to gain some modernity and maybe simplicity and maybe it would work better with r134a. As for compressor, it seems like there are not a lot of good options to replace a bad A-6? I've heard on here multiple times how bad the remans are.... I could try rebuilding it myself - there is a company that does sell the kits, I believe, but I may be more interested in converting to the radial design than going thru that. Even if I can't make the burb's work! Burb's comp is on the pass side so that's good. Could I get a 77 corvette bracket for a radial, as well as pulley/clutch and make this work? And I have vested interest now - I am sitting in a waiting room so I can get x-Rays of the pinky finger I probably busted last night taking apart one of the burb's a/c fittings!

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Reman compressors are a crap shoot. I haven't had any luck at all with them. You CAN still buy a NEW A6 compressor, tho. Check your local parts place. It won't be cheap, but you won't have to do it 3 times to get one that works, either. I think the last new one I bought was around $300.
I need one for my '74, but I am going to buy a reman compressor, and swap all the guts out of it and install them in my original housing, so it will still be ...eh-hem..."original"....
Not a job for the novice, but it can be done, if you want to do it. I'm sure the local reman place can get you the parts you would need to rebuild yours. Whether or not they WILL is a different story.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks for the info, Joel.  Yes, I've been thinking about rebuilding the A-6.  Some time ago I watched some you tubes about it.  IIRC there was a company that sells kits online along with the tool that may be required to disassemble or reassemble.  There's also the option of going with an aftermarket replacement - not for someone that wants to stay stock obviously, but could be a good option.  And last I looked on ebay and there were a lot of options for new A-6s.  Most started around $350, but there were some as high as $500.  

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There are a couple of direct drop in replacements for the A6 compressor.  CoolPro has the S6, and there is another one called a Pro6ten compressor.

You can contact Coolpro (coolpro.com) and ask them about the S6.


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