308 GT4 York AC Compressor Removal & Installation

Friends,

I couldn't find a good thread for this topic so I'm starting this new one for everything related to removal and installation of the York AC compressor for 308's but especially the GT4. Hopefully everyone can learn from my mistakes, or maybe we can share some tricks that make this hardest part of the timing belt procedure for me easier!

First off let me say I live in a climate where I don't need AC so I want to keep the system set up as stock as possible for historical purposes. Years ago I took a class in automotive AC at the local college got certified, charged my car had the AC running perfectly but discovered that because of the front windshield creating such a giant greenhouse effect even when the AC was working perfectly it never really cooled the cabin, except when the weather outside was cool! Also back when R12 was readily available and considered safe, I'm pretty sure these systems even when functioning properly, had to be recharged almost yearly for them to operate.

I'm hoping we can discuss a range of issues. For some reason I determined it to be easier to remove the studs out of the compressor and Loctite the nuts on the studs, so I or an assistant could hold the compressor from below and thread the studs on from the top like bolts. I'm sure I did this because it's so hard to get the compressor in and out because the clutch assembly hangs up on one or more of the stud sticking out of the cam belt cover. I am rethinking this because it was so hard to get the washers on, and studs threaded from the top this time! Thinking it may be easier to push the compressor with the studs up through the support and nut it from the top.

I was all excited yesterday as I somehow got the compressor in from below and sitting on a cardboard box on the shelf of the gas tank, unfortunately after I got it in place I realized that to mount it this way you have to put the rear stud in the AC support before you mount it, because of clearance issues with the firewall. When I removed the compressor it was pretty hard, and it chipped off some of my perfect paint on my gas tank!

So here's a few of my questions I would like some of your comments or suggestions on:

1. Do any of you remove any of those studs pictured below to get the compressor in. On the GT4 you have to remove several on the other cam belt cover because if you don't it won't clear the frame. Unfortunately I've never removed any of these in my only reason to be leery of doing that is that in 30 years of ownership I've never taken is out and I'm worried they may strip the block.

2. Does anyone remove the studs on the AC compressor like I did?

3. If not, does anyone have any tricks to get the compressor around the studs.

I will post some pictures below showing the GT4 set up.
As always thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions or criticism!

Rob




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Bix Tex,

That wont work. Absostone did you mean from the compressor or the block?