Who has upgraded from RV-2 to Sanden?

Polara_500

Polara_500

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And what's the verdict now that you've driven it that way? How much of the system did you change besides the compressor? Considering going that route since the parts for the old RV-2's seem to be getting harder to find and some folks are claiming issues with R-134 compatibility. Don't know that deviating from original is all that big a deal to me, sure not building it for resale.

The last long road trip I did the compressor failed, took two days to get a rebuilt and then I had to swap it out myself with minimal road trip toolbox as all the shops were too busy. Thankfully I wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere.
 
I'm curious to see what the verdict is on this. My clutch failed last fall and I was unaware that the compressor wasn't any good either. I shreeded the belts, fortunately I was only about 5 miles from home.
 
I did a conversion. I used stuff from: ac condenser kits - Bouchillon Performance Engineering

Call them to purchase and you'll get some tips on the install... and buy the double pulley that eliminates the idler if possible.

My underhood A/C stuff was completely missing, so I had to start from almost scratch, but my results were good and I'm happy.
 
When I was getting my wagon back on the road, after I purchased it with no motor and trans, I also upgraded the A/C system to the Sanden compressor. I too used the bracket kit from Bouchillon, and there under hood kit...with an extra foot or so of each hose. I also upgraded the condensor to a more modern parallel flow unit...universal unit I made work.

So other then the HVAC box inside the vehicle, my complete system was new.....this was probably 5-6 years ago now? Been working great ever since.
 
You can piece it together for a lot less then that. All these prices are from 5-6 years ago....I got a new Sanden compressor for $75...careful shopping on E-bay. New bracket for motor from Bouchillon was about $100, I also paid under $75 for the universal condenser, then the hoses and fitting with drier and cycling switch for another $150 or so. I was probably into the whole system for about $300-350.

Just quickly looking on E-bay...

Hose and drier kit...$82
Universal A/C Hose Kit W/ drier streetrod-hotrod

Condenser....12"x26" for $38 (your size requirement might be different)
UAC New Universal Condenser 12'' X 26'' Parallel Flow Oring No.6 No.8 | eBay

Sanden compressor dual V-belt....$112
New SD508 Sanden Style AC Compressor V-Belt 2 Groove Pulley 3/4" 7/8" A/C Ports | eBay

Engine bracket off E-bay for $100...or the ones from Bouchillion for $119
1967-76 Mopar A/B/E Body Big Block Fctry AC Sanden Sd508/Sd7H Compressor Bracket | eBay

And that should be about it....so for about $350 you could be good to go. ;)
 
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I did the Sanden conversion on my 66 New Yorker. Ordered a Sanden style compressor from eBay, got the brackets from Classic Auto Air. The compressor is located in the same place the RV2 uses the same belts, used dryer and expansion valve from the local parts store. Flush your system have new hoses made, add proper oil and charge it. Keeps my car cool on the gulf coast in the summer time.
 
Thanks for all of the input guys. I honestly wasn't planning to even repair my AC not alone upgrading it. The problem is that I cannot seem to find new clutch to put on my compressor. I've found it listed numerous places, but every time I go to order it - it is out of stock. This looks as though it wouldn't cost much more than buying the RV-2 Compressor and clutch.

It's really giving me something to think about.
 
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Polara_500 said:
And what's the verdict now that you've driven it that way? How much of the system did you change besides the compressor? Considering going that route since the parts for the old RV-2's seem to be getting harder to find and some folks are claiming issues with R-134 compatibility. Don't know that deviating from original is all that big a deal to me, sure not building it for resale.

The last long road trip I did the compressor failed, took two days to get a rebuilt and then I had to swap it out myself with minimal road trip toolbox as all the shops were too busy. Thankfully I wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere.
Click to expand...
I've gone both wayz and been successful with both134 conversionz. Converted my 300 Hurst RV-2 to R-134 by just changing out all the O-ringz to the "Green" ones plus 6oz of the 134 oil + 3 canz of R-134. Converted my Batwagon to an NOS Ford Sanden(they mount horizontally rather then vertically like the Mopar onez) I tucked it under the alternator and had to make a few other adjustmentz, but it kept all the "SNAKES" off the top of the engine when completed which waz my goal, Jer
 
live4theking said:
Thanks for all of the input guys. I honestly wasn't planning to even repair my AC not alone upgrading it. The problem is that I cannot seem to find new clutch to put on my compressor. I've found it listed numerous places, but every time I go to order it - it is out of stock. This looks as though it wouldn't cost much more than buying the RV-2 Compressor and clutch.

It's really giving me something to think about.
Click to expand...
Grab THIS now while still available.
 
I paid a "shop" really good money to have my A/C brought back to like new condition using original style components. They did a halfway R134a conversion and didn't use the proper seals or replace my condenser coil. Using RTV to seal the compressor flanges, pinching the seals they did install and charging the system based on "feel" led to failure of the re-man RV-2. This was at a time when I wasn't physically able to work on the car. Now that I'm back on my feet, I wish I had waited and done it myself. I also wish I had ordered the kit from classic auto air up front. I paid those hacks 3200 to restore my A/C to original working condition and all I ended up with was a Chinese knockoff of my original Chrysler compressor. I recently ordered the kit with the Sanden compressor so I'm hoping it pays off.
IMG_3834.JPG
IMG_3837.JPG
IMG_3838.JPG
 
live4theking said:
Thanks for all of the input guys. I honestly wasn't planning to even repair my AC not alone upgrading it. The problem is that I cannot seem to find new clutch to put on my compressor. I've found it listed numerous places, but every time I go to order it - it is out of stock. This looks as though it wouldn't cost much more than buying the RV-2 Compressor and clutch.

It's really giving me something to think about.
Click to expand...
I think I have a used clutch that you can have. Let me look around.
 
I converted the Admiral to Sanden with a kit from Vintage air..... I think the kit was $500.00 and free shipping.
I have vent temps as low as 32 degrees, which is good for all the glass in a wagon.
DSC03124.JPG
DSC03125.JPG

The kit includes a Sanden "type" compressor, hi and lo pressure hoses, a receiver dryer, new expansion valve and a Bouchillon bracket set. It's a 318 but the kits can be had for all engines.
Very easy to install. My only complant is a slight belt misalignment on the compressor. But after 12K miles it's doing well.
 
Fuel mileage didn't suffer as it did with the original V type compressor, less vibration also a weight advantage.
Parts can be found anywhere, which is important if you tour as much as we do.
 
I do think that's the way I'm going to go with mine and all you folks with good experiences are cementing the idea. I do have several of the RV compressors laying around so if we never went more than a few miles, parts and failures wouldn't be an issue but it's not getting built to just putz around town.
 
bluefury361 said:
I converted the Admiral to Sanden with a kit from Vintage air..... I think the kit was $500.00 and free shipping.
I have vent temps as low as 32 degrees, which is good for all the glass in a wagon. View attachment 117174 View attachment 117175
The kit includes a Sanden "type" compressor, hi and lo pressure hoses, a receiver dryer, new expansion valve and a Bouchillon bracket set. It's a 318 but the kits can be had for all engines.
Very easy to install. My only complant is a slight belt misalignment on the compressor. But after 12K miles it's doing well.
Click to expand...
That's ah Phord Sanden Will, the horizontal holez on the body endz of the compressor give it away. You run out of pulley grovez on the crank or what? lol...See youz twoz in July My Friend, Jer
 
IMG_0070.JPG


I did mine in 2015 works great! Bought the compressor off eBay, brackets came from Classic Auto Air, had the hoses made, expansion valve and drier came from local parts store.
 
Wellknowngundam said:
I paid a "shop" really good money to have my A/C brought back to like new condition using original style components. They did a halfway R134a conversion and didn't use the proper seals or replace my condenser coil. Using RTV to seal the compressor flanges, pinching the seals they did install and charging the system based on "feel" led to failure of the re-man RV-2. This was at a time when I wasn't physically able to work on the car. Now that I'm back on my feet, I wish I had waited and done it myself. I also wish I had ordered the kit from classic auto air up front. I paid those hacks 3200 to restore my A/C to original working condition and all I ended up with was a Chinese knockoff of my original Chrysler compressor. I recently ordered the kit with the Sanden compressor so I'm hoping it pays off. View attachment 117160 View attachment 117161 View attachment 117162
Click to expand...
:wtf:
Where'd you take it GMG? Looks almost as butchered as their other work I saw on TV.
bluefury361 said:
I converted the Admiral to Sanden with a kit from Vintage air..... I think the kit was $500.00 and free shipping.
I have vent temps as low as 32 degrees, which is good for all the glass in a wagon. View attachment 117174 View attachment 117175
The kit includes a Sanden "type" compressor, hi and lo pressure hoses, a receiver dryer, new expansion valve and a Bouchillon bracket set. It's a 318 but the kits can be had for all engines.
Very easy to install. My only complant is a slight belt misalignment on the compressor. But after 12K miles it's doing well.
Click to expand...
If anybody here is going to give a proper stress test and analysis... I am happy to take your results as gospel.
 
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