compressor bracket source

[pauldridge]

I have two Pagodas, both have the 3-groove crank damper pulley, one already has a Sanden-mounted compressor, with a bracket that looks to have been hacked into shape from perhaps an old original York bracket.

I want to put A/C on both cars (a requirement here in Texas).  I'm confident I can fabricate a bracket for my second car, using the first as a basic pattern, but without a CNC plasma cutter, it will be crude looking.

Wondering if anyone knows of a source for a bracket that would accommodate a standard Sanden compressor?

Sweltering in Austin

[ctaylor738]

Sent you a PM.

[ptooner]

I would be curious to hear how this turns out.  My 65 has a complete AC system but it hasn't had freon in probably 20 years.  SInce I'm in Florida it would be nice but the fact is that my cooling system can just about handle the ambient temperature without the AC.  I'm pretty sure it couldn't cool the engine and the inside of the car.  If you get yours to work perhaps I'll try it.

Gerry

[ja17]

Hello,

I just finished converting one to a Sanden compressor and a original Mercedes sedan bracket of the era with a Sanden adapter. Much kinder, simpler and user friendly.  Less power loss, and a lot less vibration.  It is easy to remove and install, and covers up very little on the engine. I will do a new thread on it soon.

Here is a pic

[George Des]

Joe,

You and I passed notes about using one of the sedan brackets some time ago. It looks like it worked out ok. I have two of these hanging around in the garage and may replace the custom bracket I made several years ago from a flat piece of steel like the Bud's Benz bracket--it works but I just don't particularly like how it looks. Did you have any interference issues fitting the sedan bracket?

George Desiderio

[George Des]

Paul--with a little ingenuity you can cut the bracket out of flat steel w/o a plasma cutter and still have it look good cosmetically. I did mine by drilling a series of holes around the perimeter of the outline I traced on to flat steel and did a "connect the dots" with a sabre saw with a metal cutting balde and cutting oil. After getting a rough cut, I used a grinder to clean up the edges. It took some time, but it worked and it looks ok. As I mention in my post to Joe though, I may replace with the sedan bracket. The design of the sedan bracket is different and looks more stock than the flat Bud's style bracket. Either way, these brackets are vast improvements over that"monster" bracket that was originally used with the piston compressors on the 113s.

George Desiderio

[ja17]

Hello George,

Here is a picture of the standard and common MB sedan bracket. The reason they never used this bracket on the W113 cars is that the SLs did not have enough hood clearance for the old "upright" compressors.  The Sanden compressors give plenty of hood room !  The sedan bracket is the one in the front of the picture.  Three easy to get to bolts hold it on. One belt works on these "low drag" compressors just fine. The belt adjustment is easy to get to. Very little else is covered up on the engine.  The alternator returns to its original lower postition as from the factory.

I had to use some other original sedan parts from the same parts car which include the pulleys on the crankshaft, the alternator bracket and the upper thermostat housing with a "higher neck" it was well worth the effort. We also used the stock Sanden compressor with the rear inlet and exhaust instead of the side inlet and exhaust.

The only clearance that was close but worked out, was the distance from the compressor to the side of the air cleaner.


The second picture are all the sedan parts used (rear of picture) compared to the old (front of picture) except for the alternator bracket which is standard sedan also. Notice that the thermostat housing top has a higher neck allowing the upper radiator hose to clear the AC bracket easily.  In additon, I moved the air idle screw to the back of the intake manifold to give more room for the compressor. No parts needed. It is meant to be positioned in eitther location and is at the rear on some era sedan applications


The third picture is the new position of the air idle adjusment screw (easily changed no parts needed except alonger rubber hose).

[George Des]

Joe,

Thanks for the pictures. That is exactly the sedan bracket I have sitting on my shelf. My current set up with the flat steel bracket has the Sanden 508 with the inlet outlet same as yours.

George

[ja17]

Hello George,

I also changed all the crank pulleys.  This allowed me to use the sedan belt configuration of three belts. One for the alternator, one for the power steering and one for the AC. A stock  alternator bracket was used. There was some pulley alignment issues if  the W113 pulleys were to be used. The set up also allowed me to get rid of the three groove W113 water pump pulley and replace it with a simple one or two  groove pulley (see photo). The second groove can be used if a 55 amp two groove pulley alternator is used.

[ja17]

Hello George,

Another  simplification can be  made...... early W113 engines have a metal water tube attached to the lower thermostat housing and going to the intake venturi.  Later W113 engines no longer use this configuration, but simply have a "y"pipe connecting the lower heater hose to the intake venturi.  This allows the  metal water tube and banjo fitting to be elliminated giving you even more room for your compressor mounting.

[ja17]

Hello,

All these stock MB parts are fairly plentiful used since they were used on most six cylinder MB sedans of the era. The Sanden 508 compressor  can be purchased new for a decent price.   I am sure Dan C. and some others have these kind of used parts in their own MB bone yards. Otherwise watch your local boneyards for a 1967 through 1971 Mercedes six cylinder sedan to show up.

You will also need a Sanden compressor adapter. These are also available inexpensively from several suppliers.