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Topic: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner  (Read 365 times) previous topic - next topic
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'83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
I'm posting in regards to my 1983 Chevy Lazy Daze 22ft that I've been bringing back to life over the past 6 months. The last thing on my To Do list before we hit the road is getting the van cab A/C unit running again. Arizona heat is no joke ha. The previous owner had removed the belt running to the Air Compressor (usually to bypass a bad compressor) and after doing heavy online research I cannot find any reference photos of the original belt routing. I have found some general belt diagrams for Chevy G30 350 motors but because this A/C is not a factory option but installed by a dealer/or possibly LD I'm a little lost. I found one diagram that is a 4 belt system ( I'll attach below) but after looking closely at my system I notice the A/C sticks out considerably further than any other pulley and because of this I'm lost to what someone may have changed for these not to line up. A lot can happen in 40 years so I hope someone can share some knowledge of the routing etc. Ill attach some photos below..

Questions -
Does anyone with an early/mid 80s Chevy lazy daze have a A/C? If so can you send me some detailed photos of your setup?
If you don't and someone you knows has one of this era can you steer me their direction?
Has anyone knowledge of this belt routing system?

Thanks in advance everyone!
Mark F. Kirkland
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #1 –
You might be short a pully on the crank shaft. It looks like you have the compressor and an idler but no bottom pully they were part of
the add on A/C kit. I would guess your only option is the junk yard for parts.

Jon
1994 MB
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #2 –
In '83 the A/C was installed by LD, not Chevy. It is an aftermarket unit which involved a replacement of the stock radiator with one that included the condenser coils at the bottom. Check to make sure all the radiator plumbing is intact - if the PO needed to replace the radiator, that might explain disabling the A/C. In any event, you may have more luck searching in the aftermarket kits department than for Chevy parts.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #3 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
You might be short a pully on the crank shaft. It looks like you have the compressor and an idler but no bottom pully they were part of
the add on A/C kit. I would guess your only option is the junk yard for parts.

Jon
Hey Jon,
Thanks for the response! You were actually spot on the nose with the missing pulley that goes to the crank. After going back through old boxes from the previous owner(mostly moldy trash) a pulley was hiding in the bottom. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to attach an image but if added to the outside of the crank pulley it lines right up with the upper idler and AC pump. Life saver Jon. Now to install. Sometimes you just need a second set of eyes.
Mark F. Kirkland
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #4 –
Our 1983 LD definitely had the four-belt setup. It had a combination condenser-transmission oil cooler added.
Wish I had taken more pictures but even if I had, you really can't see much without removing the radiator.
The four belts are a pain to deal with and can break with no notice, usually getting tangled up with the other three belts, requiring the whole mess to be cut out (hopefully not damaging any of the pulleys) and the belts replaced. I always carried a full set of replacements belt, along with a spare fan clutch.

1983 22' FL Lazy Daze | Flickr

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #5 –
Quote from: Steve  - 
In '83 the A/C was installed by LD, not Chevy. It is an aftermarket unit which involved a replacement of the stock radiator with one that included the condenser coils at the bottom. Check to make sure all the radiator plumbing is intact - if the PO needed to replace the radiator, that might explain disabling the A/C. In any event, you may have more luck searching in the aftermarket kits department than for Chevy parts.

Steve
Thanks for the response steve.
Exactly, when I mentioned the dealer installed not factory, I was referring to LD not Chevy. I actually just double checked all hoses/lines you mentioned and everything is connected as it should be. Although they aren't stock lines they are all intact. It may be a different radiator than stock but everything there.
Jon actually solved my problem above once he looked over the images. I was missing a pulley that would bolt onto the crank to where the belt would run up to the idler and ac compressor. I found the missing pulley luckily in a moldy box removed from the camper when I purchased it last year. Im installing a new compressor and recharging the system. Fingers crossed I'm golden after that. Thank you for the response on this!
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Our 1983 LD definitely had the four-belt setup. It had a combination condenser-transmission oil cooler added.
Wish I had taken more pictures but even if I had, you really see much without removing the radiator.
The four belts are a pain to deal with and can break with no notice, usually getting tangled up with the other three belts, requiring the whole mess to be cut out (hopefully not damaging any of the pulleys) and the belts replaced. I always carried a full set of replacements belt, along with a spare fan clutch.

1983 22' FL Lazy Daze | Flickr

Larry
Morning Larry,
Thanks for responding. Jon actually figured out my missing link which is a pulley that attaches to the outside of the crank and runs up to the AC comp and idler pulley. Luckily I found it in an old moldy box from previous owner. Next up is to measure to see what belt I need. That being said, thank you for the info on the belt situation. I'll be sure to replace all these belts and grab a spare to have while on the road. I always replace them but usually never carry a spare so that's good input. Im also replacing the fan clutch so I'll keep the one I'm removing as a known good spare.
Mark F. Kirkland
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #6 –
Hi Mark; Glad you are getting things sorted out.  How are you dealing with the change in refrigerant?  Your old system used R-12.  I converted my Tracker to R134 years ago, and now that's gone.  So everything is changing to R-1234YF. Incompatible fittings again.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #7 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Hi Mark; Glad you are getting things sorted out.  How are you dealing with the change in refrigerant?  Your old system used R-12.  I converted my Tracker to R134 years ago, and now that's gone.  So everything is changing to R-1234YF. Incompatible fittings again.  RonB

My system was actually converted to R134 previously which is helpful. I'm assuming because the belt and pulley were taken off someone just didn't want to deal with it or spending money for new compressor. I'll find out soon enough when I hook the belt up. Im not aware of the change from 134 to 134YF so I'll need to do some digging on that to see if R134 is still available for me somewhere. fingers crossed!
Mark F. Kirkland
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #8 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
I converted my Tracker to R134 years ago, and now that's gone.

134A is still available in California, it has been taken off the shelves in other states so I expect it to soon disappear here, so stock up while it is still available.
Amazon.com: Diesly ZeroR® R134a Refrigerant for MVAC use in a 12oz Self-Seali...
Amazon.com: Chemours Brand R134a Refrigerant Freon for MVAC use in a...

Be sure to keep the alternator belt tight, it is a small belt under a lot of stress.
The A/C compressor uses two belts, try to get a ‘matched’ set of belts to increase their life span. Matched belts come from the same production batch and have the batch number imprinted on the belt. Matched belts are exactly the same length, each belt carries the same load.

Larry


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Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #9 –
Like Larry said match the belts if possible, on a side note, the A/C belt also needs to be TIGHT. They'll slip under load. It looked like your Idler was a single belt pulley so you may only be able to use one belt.

No more 134A hum, the best refrigerant for auto A/C was R 12. That's long gone.

Jon
1994 MB
Re: '83 Chevy Cab Air Conditioner
Reply #10 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
Like Larry said match the belts if possible, on a side note, the A/C belt also needs to be TIGHT. They'll slip under load. It looked like your Idler was a single belt pulley so you may only be able to use one belt.

No more 134A hum, the best refrigerant for auto A/C was R 12. That's long gone.

Jon

I'll be sure to adjust the belt tight, thanks for the tip. The idler has a little bent area that I'll bring back straight while also making sure I don't throw the pulley out of true. The AC pump has 2 slots for belts but one 1 that line up with the idler and crank pulley so 1 strong belt it'll have to be.
Mark F. Kirkland