The AC Swap Lessons Learned Pictures

Below are a few pictures from when I changed out AC compressors. Not knowing any better, I thought that the 87-88 TC compressor (and pretty much every other mid 80s Ford product) was a direct swap with the 83-86 compressor. I was wrong.

This picture is of the 83-86 compressor with the 87-88 serpentine wheel installed. The bracket at the bottom in the red circle is the one that is unique to the 83-86 TurboCoupe.


The bolt hole in the red circle is at the same point as the bracket in the first picture, on an 87-88 compressor with the 83-86 wheel already installed.


You can see here why the standard bolt hole will not mount on the 86TC lower bracket.


Here is a cutaway of the old compressor from where the bracket was removed.


Angled view of the old compressor with the pulley wheels removed.


Top view of the old compressor with the pulley wheels removed.


The ring on the base can be removed.


Removing the metal seal at the top reveals a snap-ring.





I hope this helps someone. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at mike@mikewalsted.com