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.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/oldbracket.jpg)
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.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/newbracket.jpg)
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.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/86bracket.jpg)
You can see here why the standard bolt hole will not mount on the 86TC lower bracket.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/oldcutaway.jpg)
Here is a cutaway of the old compressor from where the bracket was removed.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/Comp1.jpg)
Angled view of the old compressor with the pulley wheels removed.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/Comp2.jpg)
Top view of the old compressor with the pulley wheels removed.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/Comp3.jpg)
The ring on the base can be removed.
![](http://www.mikewalsted.com/Comp4.jpg)
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