[mwritter]

I've currently got the common aluminum '64-5 compressor mount installed on my '64 and I'm having lots of issues with the belt alignment, etc. I was shown the following diagram with steel plate support instead of the aluminum mount. I don't think I've ever seen one, although a search of UltimateGTO did reveal a few '64s with the steel mount. Was this a mid-year changeover?

[BOB VIDAN]

Are you meaning the steel plate on the front of the compressor? You have to have that to adjust belt tension. What's wrong with your belt alignment? Is your AC car a factory tripower car or did you add it?

[ron cozzo]

Matt, I've got mine together with the aluminum bracket and my alignment is good. What seems to be your problem? Need pictures of your set up. My understanding is '64 full size and '65 All used the aluminum bracket. '64 GTO should use the stamped bracket. The cast iron bracket that mounts with the head bolts is different between the aluminum and stamped setups also. Do you have the two spacers between the front of the head and the aluminum brkt? Let me know how I can help, my front clip is still off so everything is easily accessible.

[mwritter]

Thanks for the replies. This is a factory AC/factory tripower car. I currently have an aluminum mount with spacers of a '64 big car installed and alignment is off about the width of the belt - 1/2" or so. I've got interference with the rad hose in front and the dipstick in the back. It also seems like the belt is about 1" too short, which Ames confirmed is a common problem with no solution. I just double-checked the cast bracket and the # comes back as a '65, I was told it was '64 but never double checked. I have a line on a correct cast bracket, but I guess I need to hunt down a stamped compressor mount.

Ron - I'm confused, your post says aluminum mount is big car but you're having no trouble with it on your GTO?

[Andre]

Are you certain you have the correct cast bracket that attaches to the head bolts? I have the setup on my '64 4bbl car with a/c and can take some pictures and make some measurements.
I have a single belt on crank, water pump, power steering and alternator, and a second belt on crank, water pump and a/c compressor.

[mwritter]

Andre - I ran the number yesterday and I have a '65 cast bracket, but I have a line on a correct '64. Not really worried about that. Just surprised I've never run into the stamped front compressor mount before. I have a Crank-WP-Compressor belt, and a second belt that runs the WP-Alt-PS-Crank. 99% sure all that stuff is indeed correct.

[BOB VIDAN]

There are 2 brackets that bolt to the head, only one is GTO, think it ends in 4770. It's at the shop and I'll get some pictures in the next couple of days of both types. Also you need to make sure the rear bracket that bolts to the intake is correct, should be if you have a factory TP car with factory AC. The 2 and 4 barrel bracket will make the belt ride too high and be very close to the upper radiator hose. If you can remove the rear bracket, place the bolt down area on a flat surface and measure to the highest point in the adjustment curve and let us know that number, then I can tell if you have the right bracket or not.

[ron cozzo]

Originally Posted by mwritter

Thanks for the replies. This is a factory AC/factory tripower car. I currently have an aluminum mount with spacers of a '64 big car installed and alignment is off about the width of the belt - 1/2" or so. I've got interference with the rad hose in front and the dipstick in the back. It also seems like the belt is about 1" too short, which Ames confirmed is a common problem with no solution. I just double-checked the cast bracket and the # comes back as a '65, I was told it was '64 but never double checked. I have a line on a correct cast bracket, but I guess I need to hunt down a stamped compressor mount.

Ron - I'm confused, your post says aluminum mount is big car but you're having no trouble with it on your GTO?

Yes, no trouble, once I realised I needed to also use the '64 big car/'65 all, cast head mount. My belt was also very tight to get on, it's a little easier if you loosen up the water pump pulley when installing it. This was not orignally a tri-power car.

[ron cozzo]

I'll try to post some pictures from my parts book which helped me figure this out:

First, and this was the most helpful clue to me, is the listing for the aluminum front compressor mounts:

That shows that the '64 P/8 and '65 P/8 T/8 use the same front bracket. Not the '64 T/8.

[ron cozzo]

Here's the diagram:

[ron cozzo]

And the list:

[ron cozzo]

Here's the listings for the front plate, and the cast bracket:

[ron cozzo]

A couple of things to note from the cast bracket listings:

The '64 P/8 apparently used both versions, with a change over to the aluminum front bracket system at some time. The '64 T/8 always used the stamped front bracket. My car was an original A/C car. When we built the engine, we reused the original 9774770, 8" long cast bracket. When I tried to install the aluminum front bracket, I realised something was wrong. I switched to the 9776460 6-7/8" and everything lined up. I do see that for some reason, the '65 cast bracket changed to 9779015, even though it uses the same front aluminum bracket. What part numbers do you have?

[mwritter]

Ron - do you still have the 4770 bracket? I may need one.

The car is in the shop at the moment but I believe I have a '65 cast bracket that I thought would work with the aluminum bracket. Not sure if its the early or late PN, I'll try to find out. Wonder why the big cars needed a different setup than the Tempests?

[ron cozzo]

Matt, yes, I've still got the bracket. If you find the other pieces for the stamped setup and need this one, I'll let it go. Otherwise I'll just leave it on the shelf hoping to find the other pieces myself some day. Not a high priority for me now, I just want to get the car together at this point. I believe there's another small bracket used on the stamped setup, it appears to be aluminum on pics of an A/C '64 GTO I took a few years ago. I can find those pics if you'd like.

[mwritter]

I have a line on all of the pieces except that aluminum spacer which has no part number. I'm afraid that will be a needle in a haystack unless I can find a complete setup.

[ron cozzo]

Matt, here's the best picture I could find of that spacer. Good luck with the search. If you end up needing that bracket, or end up with any extras, let me know.

[ron cozzo]

Found another picture, from above:

[Andre]

Never saw one of those setups before, but gald you took some pictures.

[mwritter]

Thanks for those pics Ron, I will keep you posted on the search.