Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Hi Randy,

I misread your post. Thought you were referring to my retirement. I'm not, but I certainly hope that guy on the '65 assembly line is! He'd be 80-85ish now?

Take care, Mike

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Good Morning Guys,

Scouring the TDB and that on-line auction site for examples of Midyear AC compressors (or any Chevy compressors). Still concentrating on those built the last 4 months of '65, but I'm entertaining all comers. Check out the 2nd and 3rd posts (in red) just above this one for a more detailed info request. I'd sure like to hear from you Midyear folks with AC and especially ANY '66 AC car.

Enjoy your day! Mike

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Good Evening Everyone,

Spent the better part of the afternoon roaming the TDB and that on-line auction site for info to add to this data collection. Well, I found some interesting nuggets and I'll add them to the TDB stats listing that I started towards the top of pg. 2. And a good NCRS friend just told me he's gonna post some compressor shots soon. This one fits in the middle of the last 1/3 of the '65 calendar year. Looking forward to this one! Mike

[Page C.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Here are a few photos of a 6550113 compressor that was removed from a 1966 Corvette Coupe with A.I.R. Calif and Powerglide a couple of years ago. The vin for this car was in the 18500-19000 range. It has a swage compressor body and a 3 window clutch. The back plate is the 6555302 and is dated K155 (Nov 15, 1965). The date on the foil tag is not readable. This compressor is probably in the transition phase of smooth cases with 6 hole clutches and swage cases with the 3 window clutch.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Here are a few photos of a 6550113 compressor that was removed from a 1966 Corvette Coupe with A.I.R. Calif and Powerglide a couple of years ago. The vin for this car was in the 18500-19000 range. It has a swage compressor body and a 3 window clutch. The back plate is the 6555302 and is dated K155 (Nov 15, 1965). The date on the foil tag is not readable. This compressor is probably in the transition phase of smooth cases with 6 hole clutches and swage cases with the 3 window clutch.

Page,
I think you are right on from what I have seen. The interesting thing is when you get a look at the inside and see if it looks like it was ever worked on and has the dished pistons. By the way, I have K 9 5.
That looks like a good piece.
You have helped me in the past with issues on my 67 restoration.

Dom

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Good Evening Page,

Thanks so much for your post! Just what this thread needed. Wow! So the swaged cases appear much earlier from what's been reported in the TDB archives. It's been posted that the transition from smooth cases to swaged cases occurred approximately mid-production for the 1966 run. That would make the mid-production point about mid-month Feb '66. Of course there surely would've been a large plus or minus to this midpoint design change.

I am surprised to see that this compressor has 3 of the features present this early on that I was beginning to assume occurred at the mid-production point. Those features are:

-Smooth case to swaged case type
-6 hole clutch to 3 slotted type
-Slotted vent to centered hole type

Excellent closeup shots of a model #6550113 compressor with casting #6555302 and casting date K 15 5 (Nov 15th, 1965). So this example sets a new playing field.

I'm really looking forward to more reports from all of you with 1966 Corvettes with AC. And I'd also like to hear from all Midyear owners of AC cars. So many things to discuss. And as always, I'd like to see and hear about any Chevrolet car's compressor you have that falls within the Midyears.

Thanks again Page and to all of you who have read this thread,
Mike

[Bill C.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Here are some pics from units I have of a unit installed in an early 66 that was an add on dealer a/c system

[Bill C.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Here are some pics of a unit from an end of december built 65

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Good Morning Bill,

Thanks for posting those excellent shots of your '65 and '66 compressors! I'm definitely including the info in my listing of 1966 compressor design change data. I'm going to add more to the list and post it today, thanks to the last few posts of original 6555302 compressors.

I've found more information from the TDB as well. I ran across a number of posts by you there. Some I'd never seen before. They were all good reads. It seems we've both got a strong interest in '66 L-36 AC cars. I'm open to compare notes if you ever have questions about my car. Very unique cars that year.

Well, thanks again Bill and I (and the viewers) would appreciate shots of any Midyear compressors that you have. And especially late '65s through the entire '66 production year. Corvette or any Chevy.

Take care, Mike

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Hello Everybody,

Here's my updated list of 1965 and 1966 Frigidaire A6 6555302 AC compressors as of today, Oct 19th, 2017. I'm attempting to compile a factual list of compressor design changes for compressors made during the entire 1966 production year. That would be from September '65 through July '66.

I'm also storing my own archive of all other Midyear dated compressors that fall outside of the range of dates that I'm currently showing. But please, continue to post any and all Corvette/Chevy Midyear(ish) compressor stats/photos you care to share on this thread!

I will not embellish any information that I find during this collection of information. I zoom in on dates and codes and I only include that information if I'm convinced that is what is shown on the photographs I have on file. If you disagree with any findings by me, please post a reply. I scrutinize everything for accuracy, but you know. Striving for excellence. Here's the list so far:

Bill Caldwell's Post
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - G 28 5 (Jul 28th '65)
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - 080352 (Aug 3rd '65 2nd shift)
Non-swaged compressor case
Clutch hub design - unknown
Vent design - unknown

Photos my files
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - H 24 5 (Aug 24th '65)
Compressor model #6550133
Compressor build code - 092052 (Sep 20th '65 2nd shift)
Non-swaged compressor case
Early clutch hub design (6 holes)
Early vent design (slotted w/440#)

My Purchased In-Stock (so far)
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - I 6 5 (Sep 6th '65)
Compressor model # - unknown
Compressor build code - unknown
Non-swaged compressor case
Early clutch hub design (6 holes)
Early vent design (slotted w/440#)

Ric Sauve's Post
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - J 6 5 (Oct 6th '65)
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - unknown
Non-swaged compressor case
Early clutch hub design (6 holes)
Early vent design (slotted w/440#)

Page Campbell's Post
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - K 15 5 (Nov 15th '65)
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - unknown
Swaged compressor case
Later clutch hub design (3 slots)
Later vent design (centered hole w/440#)

Photos my files
Compressor casting # unknown
Compressor casting date - unknown
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - 110251 (Nov 2nd '65 1st shift)
Non-swaged compressor case
Clutch hub design - unknown
Vent design - unknown

Photos my files
Compressor casting # 6555302
Compressor casting date - L 3 5 (Dec 3rd '65)
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - unknown
Non-swaged compressor case
Later clutch hub design (3 slots)
Later vent design (centered hole w/440#)

Photos my files
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - C 21 6 (Mar 21st '66)
Compressor model #6550113
Compressor build code - 0413XX (Apr 13th '66 assumed year/unknown shift)
Non-swaged compressor case
Early clutch hub design (6 holes)
Later vent design (centered hole w/440#)

Photos my files
Compressor casting #6555302
Compressor casting date - D 13 6 (Apr 13th '66)
Compressor model# - unknown
Compressor build code - unknown
Non-swaged compressor case
Early clutch hub design (6 holes)
Later vent design (centered hole w/440#)

Well, that's the latest so far. I'll update it as I collect more information. So please continue to post!!

Thanks again, Mike

[Richard S.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Evening Mike....Not trying to hijack your thread,but since we were questioning components associated with the compressor such as the clutch and relief valve I am questioning the muffler assemblies which was also part of the compressor. I have included a single photo of the muffler that is on my Dec. build 66, which I believe to be correct, the other photo shows 2 mufflers on the left) for a 63-64 I believe, but the muffler on the right has the schrader valves on the top not the sides, early 65, late 65 early 66, I don't know but I have had this muffler at least 33 yrs so I do not think it is after market, any ideas? If nothing else it moves your thread to the top. Ric

[Richard S.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Evening Mike....Have no idea what happened to my other post so I will try again. When we were discussing components associated with these compressors such as the clutching,relief valves, the muffler assemblies are also part of the package. I have included a photo of the muffler on my Dec 65 car which I believe to be correct. The other photo shows what I believe to be correct for a 63-64 (on left)but the other on the right has the schrader valves on the top unlike the 66 photo which is on the side. Is this an early 65 late 65 early 66 I do not know, any ideas? I have had this muffler some 30 plus years so I doubt it is after market. If nothing else it moves your thread to the top. Ric

[Bill C.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Here is a shot of compressor from a very late June 25 1965 built 65 coupe, a 350 hp with a/c and electronic voltage regulated car.

[Bill C.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

BTW, anyone recognize whats on the front of the clutch?

[Mike B.]

Re: Earlier '66 AC Compressor Questions

Great shots Bill!

And what a coincidence that both you and Ric Sauve posted late yesterday and both of you posted shots of the same muffler assembly! The same one on my '66. I still need to research changes to mufflers through the Midyear cars. Especially '65 through '66. There's definite differences.

I had to screen through the "Hybrid View" stack of posts to see where you placed your post. Apparently no more than 2 pages are provided to a thread so you gotta navigate to the bottom of Hybrid View then click on the bottom one to continue to scroll down to the absolute bottom of this thread. Frustrating, but it works.

I'm really liking this compressor's casting date's close spread to the label's build date code! Only 5 days! Excellent info. Thanks for keeping this thread alive. You send great stuff Bill. Thanks again Bill. Any more shots would be much appreciated! Mike