'64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

[Verne Frantz]

Hi guys. This is my very first post, so be gentle. I'm going to be working on a gentleman's original '64 365hp roadster, 4-spd with A/C. It blows my mind that Chevy would put A/C on this high reving engine, but I noticed the compressor pulley is about 3 feet in diameter (tongue in cheek). This is a very original car built late in Jan. and first shipped to an owner in Hawaii.
Ques1: Are production numbers known for a car equipped this way?
Ques2: What would have been the "std" rear ratio for this car?
Ques3: The harmonic balancer may have been replaced. Please describe the original.
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get into the car. Thanks very much for any forthcoming help.
Verne.

[Jack H.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Welcome! If you're going to get serious about restoration/preservation, it's probably wise to invest in a support library of documentation because there will be LOTS of questions along the way and forewarned is forearmed. To your specific questions:

(1) How many built with this configuration? Factory records exist and two good sources are Noland Adams' Complete Corvette Restoration, Vol 2 and the Corvette Black Book. BUT, the records are single thread (how many with this option, that option, Etc.) and do not consider compound probability (how many with this AND that AND this other).

(2) What was the stock rear end? Standard rear axle ratio in '64 for 365 HP car was 3.70:1.

(3) What's a correct harmonic balancer? The Spl HP and FI equipped cars used a reasonably rare/expensive 8-inch balancer that was THICK (1.75 inch) and had integrally cast cooling fins on the rear. BW to see what one looks like is to look through MF Dobbins' '63-65 Corvette Fact Book or get a copy of the Paragon Reproductions catalog. Both are chock full of wonderful pictures.

[Jack H.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Welcome! If you're going to get serious about restoration/preservation, it's probably wise to invest in a support library of documentation because there will be LOTS of questions along the way and forewarned is forearmed. To your specific questions:

(1) How many built with this configuration? Factory records exist and two good sources are Noland Adams' Complete Corvette Restoration, Vol 2 and the Corvette Black Book. BUT, the records are single thread (how many with this option, that option, Etc.) and do not consider compound probability (how many with this AND that AND this other).

(2) What was the stock rear end? Standard rear axle ratio in '64 for 365 HP car was 3.70:1.

(3) What's a correct harmonic balancer? The Spl HP and FI equipped cars used a reasonably rare/expensive 8-inch balancer that was THICK (1.75 inch) and had integrally cast cooling fins on the rear. BW to see what one looks like is to look through MF Dobbins' '63-65 Corvette Fact Book or get a copy of the Paragon Reproductions catalog. Both are chock full of wonderful pictures.

[Duke W.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

There is a limit on both compressor speed and alternator speed. The max alternator speed is 18,000 RPM, but I don't have a spec for the compressor.

Both the alternator and compressor must have sufficient output at idle. Both the 250/300 HP with Powerglide idle at about 450 in Drive and the max revs are 5500, so that's a range of about 12:1.

The SHP engine idles at about 900 to 1000 and max revs are 6500, so the range is only about 7:1. It's just a matter of setting up the pulley ratios to keep the compressor in the proper speed range, and that's why the SHP engines have larger diameter pulleys for both the alternator and compressor.

The only reason they didn't offer A/C on the FI engine was there wasn't enough room for all the hardware and the FI filter and inlet duct.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

There is a limit on both compressor speed and alternator speed. The max alternator speed is 18,000 RPM, but I don't have a spec for the compressor.

Both the alternator and compressor must have sufficient output at idle. Both the 250/300 HP with Powerglide idle at about 450 in Drive and the max revs are 5500, so that's a range of about 12:1.

The SHP engine idles at about 900 to 1000 and max revs are 6500, so the range is only about 7:1. It's just a matter of setting up the pulley ratios to keep the compressor in the proper speed range, and that's why the SHP engines have larger diameter pulleys for both the alternator and compressor.

The only reason they didn't offer A/C on the FI engine was there wasn't enough room for all the hardware and the FI filter and inlet duct.

Duke

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Thanks very much for the quick response Jack. I'm very surprised at the rear ratio. I would have guessed 3.36. Sometimes (on passenger cars) the ratio changed with an A/C option. My reference library is VERY complete for passenger cars (my particular area), but practically non-existant for Vette info. The balancer appears to be the one you described. I suspected the ribbed one was correct. I think I'm going to have some fun working on this car, and learning from it.
Verne.

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Thanks very much for the quick response Jack. I'm very surprised at the rear ratio. I would have guessed 3.36. Sometimes (on passenger cars) the ratio changed with an A/C option. My reference library is VERY complete for passenger cars (my particular area), but practically non-existant for Vette info. The balancer appears to be the one you described. I suspected the ribbed one was correct. I think I'm going to have some fun working on this car, and learning from it.
Verne.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Verne --- Noland's Vol 2 DOES give some production info on various option combinations for the 1964 model year, and C60 with L76 engine is one of them; 138 convertibles and 243 coupes.

My 1965 coupe has the 365 hp engine and air conditioning, and the original differential ratio is 4.11 !! (my compressor pulley is so large it hits the upper A-arm in jounce (heh heh). The correct pulley is cast iron and is 6.375" diameter. Be curious to know if he has the original rear and what the code/ratio is.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Verne --- Noland's Vol 2 DOES give some production info on various option combinations for the 1964 model year, and C60 with L76 engine is one of them; 138 convertibles and 243 coupes.

My 1965 coupe has the 365 hp engine and air conditioning, and the original differential ratio is 4.11 !! (my compressor pulley is so large it hits the upper A-arm in jounce (heh heh). The correct pulley is cast iron and is 6.375" diameter. Be curious to know if he has the original rear and what the code/ratio is.

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Thanks very much. Those numbers already came to me via another avenue. It will be a few weeks until the car comes to me and I have the chance to explore things more thoroughly. I'll be glad to look this up then and let you know what ratio is there. And I'm sure I'll have several more questions once I get 'into' the car.
Verne.

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, etc.

Thanks very much. Those numbers already came to me via another avenue. It will be a few weeks until the car comes to me and I have the chance to explore things more thoroughly. I'll be glad to look this up then and let you know what ratio is there. And I'm sure I'll have several more questions once I get 'into' the car.
Verne.

[Robert C.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, 3.70gear std. *NM*

[Robert C.]

Re: '64 365hp with A/C production, 3.70gear std. *NM*

[Wayne W.]

Re: Strangest Thing

Is that high HP engines with AC are more common than low HP.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Strangest Thing

Is that high HP engines with AC are more common than low HP.