Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

I'm putting a 5.3 LS from a 2003 Silverado into a '37 Chevrolet. I have a sanden compressor and no room to mount it low so I'm going to have to mount it up top. I have seen mount kits from Street and Performance and Vintage Air and these kits are extremely expensive. All I really need to do is mount my compressor, however I'm afraid there may be things I need to know before I attempt to make my own brackets.

I know I'll need a tensioner. Is there a company that makes generic tensioners I can use? Are there certain tension strengths I need to consider? I have looked on the internet and have found people make low mounts, but no high mounts.

Here's a picture of my setup before I put the body on. Could someone inform me of some basics I need to know before I start.



Thanks,
Brandon

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

You are at the perfect point to do you own accessory drive because the sheet metal is out of the way.

Keep belt wrap in mind. The first one I designed didn't have enough belt wrap and the pulleys would spin against the belt at WOT.

Keep hoses and other stuff in mind also - how will you change the belt in nowhere-ville if you have to drain the radiator first? Don't paint yourself in a corner.

There is a logic to where the tensioner goes and I think it's on the coast side but can't remember. Look at OEM systems in the yard to see what works.

I also did a google search a long time ago and came up with a white paper on belt wrap and other interesting stuff that makes the OEM systems so reliable.

Last, try to keep the belt length between the pulleys short and the pulley alignment tight - again something the OEM's do.

74modified

If you want to build your own, you could copy this one. It is for F body accessories. I am guessing you are using truck, so it would need to be 3/4 inch forward.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Camaro-a-c-S...sories&vxp=mtr
Or this truck model
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-sanden...item2573861e16

roadrunner69

iTrader: (8)

This is what I did on mine. Used truck accessories and made brackets for the ac. I used a water pump and tensioner from a 2010 camaro. I bought a couple of idler pulleys and mounted them to help guide the belt.
Mike

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to look into that. Good to have keywords to help do a google search, too.

74modified, that looks like a good setup but I'm not sure how the compressor would mount in relation to that. Unless you meant that was just an option for the tensioner to use in conjunction with my own compressor bracket.

Roadrunner, that would work great, in fact I would probably just buy one from Kwik-performance, but I'm so limited on horizontally on how far I can go that I have to go up instead of out, which eliminates any of the mounts I've seen so far. Well, except maybe for the vintage air, which is $2500 friggen dollars!!

Brandon

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

I cut out some cardboard today. Of course it's not finished out as far as smoothing the edges, just a rough cut.

Any opinions so far on what might be good or bad about it?



Thanks,
Brandon

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

I just skimmed through your pictures from another thread and it looks good. Looks like you are taking time and thinking it through.

I don't know if you have access to a plasma cutter, but I've found it is the easiest way to cut the complex shapes required in one-off brackets.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

I built my forst one, link below.
On the second I went with Kwik, about $200 from Kwik, but only $100 when purchased with my classic auto air setup.
Home made:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...rive-done.html

74modified

The one I posted mounts to the compressor with the two bolts at the bottom, same as Gary's. Just my opinion, but your mockup looks a little high. A really long belt and might need another idler to minimize belt flopping. 1/4 inch plywood is good for making mockups, you can actually bolt it together.

oldtimelt1

iTrader: (1)

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/i...tions/141R.pdf

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

Oh, OK, I see. Thanks for the diagram.

I shortened my mount today because I was finally able to use a non-metal hammer and get the upper water neck off of the pump and move it around to face straight forward, which gave me room to move the compressor down.

I went and got a tensioner from a 96 Trans Am today. This is for an LT1, but the tensioner on the LT1 pushes on the outside of the belt rather than the inside like the LS1s. I'm also going to need to get an idler pulley to get the belt away from where the upper radiator hose will go.

74modified

Another idea is to swap in a 2010+ Camaro water pump. Same spacing as the truck, and the outlet is on the other side.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200782806425...84.m1423.l2649
It might interfere with you alternator mount.

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

That's a very interesting option. Thanks for that, I didn't know the 2010 Camaro pump was anything like that.

Brandon

roadrunner69

iTrader: (8)

If you look at the pictures in my earlier post I used the 2010 Camaro pump. You have to cut the alternater mount by the throttle body. It's a tight fit but it works.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Is the 2010 camaro water pump for both the LS3 and L99 spaced correctly for the truck accessories?

74modified

5th gen Camaro VVT, 6.2 w/ automatic PN 19207665 will line up with the truck crank pulley. The VVT moves the pump out. I am pretty sure the LS3 is short but you can buy/make spacers.
Vettman's alt bracket, to me, still looks like it will be too tight.

Vetteman 61 - Zipster93's photobucket shows the low buck truck WP modification like you started (page 5)
http://s392.photobucket.com/albums/p...cpZZ5QQtppZZ24

alexus6798

iTrader: (24)

Check out Kwik performance. I was researching this myself and it seems they have a hot rod kit that looks like it would fit you build perfectly. Don't know how much you are trying to spend though.

roadrunner69

iTrader: (8)

I used the L99 part #19207665 out of 2010 camero as stated above. It has the same spcacing as truck accessories.

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

OK, I made some progress today. I borrowed a jigsaw and transferred my rough templates over to some plywood. I have a question but first I'll post the bracket.

It's not finished of course. I'm going to run one of the bolts all the way through both brackets and I'm missing a couple of spacers, but it's getting there.

My question is this: I've made this drawing of how my belt set up will be (RED). After I install the tensioner the belt will move inward (BLUE). How do I know how far in to mount the tensioner, or where to mount it, to make sure I get the correct amount of tension on the belt, not too little or too much.





Thanks,
Brandon

LS1MCSS

iTrader: (18)

Just get the Kwik brackets and end up with this. You already have a Sanden compressor.