Vintage Air Top Mount Squeal

[derotoreut]

I believe the Kwik bracket bolts to the water pump if I'm not mistaken. I decided to go with the Dirty Dingo compressor mount for my LM7 5.3L swap. The DD bolts to the head and not the water pump. I'm in the early stages of my swap so I have no hours on this set up yet, but I was really pleased with the quality. The DD tensioner seems very good too.

[cebra]

I believe I finally have this resolved after 4 months of fighting it. Kwik sent me a new revised bracket that doesn't use the water pump as a key mounting point (although it does have a small support bracket that bolts to the water pump). I also used 2 shims behind the tensioner (they provided 1 with each kit) and K061115 (111.5") belt with a 105A alternator. I have put 500 miles on it without a squeal thus far. The new kit is the same as the old with an extra bracket and you don't use the water pump bolt. I would assume Kwik/VA could sent a cheap "upgrade" to anyone having squealing issues with their brackets and it would only take a few minutes to make the changes. The new Gates tensioner (rather than the one VA supplies) seems more robust as well.

[derotoreut]

Glad to hear that you've made progress with this. I like that they are now getting away from using the water pump as a mounting point. I also believe the Dirty Dingo kit that I have uses the Gates tensioner, which is pretty strong. Good luck with it.

[04ls1gto]

Looks like I'll be making a phone call for this upgrade.

[TA_C10]

Pics of new bracket please.

[cebra]

Below is a pic from Kwik website of the new bracket, note the little bracket for the third bolt that attaches to the water pump rather than the main bracket attaching directly to the water pump. This oriented the bracket in a noticeably different position. I did still need to lift and push the bracket toward the motor and tighten and then do the same with the compressor. I used 2 of the shims they provided, it squealed a lot with none, a tiny bit with 1 and 2 resolved it (fingers crossed.

[Putzer]

seems to be a common issue. Lots of posts on FB about it. One guy said the following-

"Anyway, I posted on another page and Boris Maryonovski (owns Street Machinery in Euclid Ohio) saw my post and hooked me up. They machine a tensioner pulley that doesn't need the shim. Puts everything in correct alignment. INSTANT QUIET! And it's only$50."

Might help someone out. Have yet to fire mine up but expect to hear some chirp based on all these issues..

[derotoreut]

My LM7 swap is done and so far no squealing from my Dirty Dingo mount. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[jjzepplin]

Is anyone using this bracket? https://lsxinnovations.com/product/l...amaro-spacing/

https://lsxinnovations.com/wp-conten...38-100x100.jpg

[nsb29]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Is anyone using this bracket? https://lsxinnovations.com/product/l...amaro-spacing/

https://lsxinnovations.com/wp-conten...38-100x100.jpg

That looks like a pretty substantial bracket a few weeks ago I ordered my AC unit from VA with a top mount compressor I’m hoping I don’t have the problems that y’all have been having from what I see it appears to me the bracket that VA sales has too many pieces To maintain a solid mount The solid cast aluminum brackets being all one Peace Is a much better design I wish I had seen this thread prior to ordering if I have issues I will return it and buy one from someone that has a solid one piece like this holley also makes one that everyone seems to like

[cebra]

Originally Posted by nsb29

That looks like a pretty substantial bracket a few weeks ago I ordered my AC unit from VA with a top mount compressor I’m hoping I don’t have the problems that y’all have been having from what I see it appears to me the bracket that VA sales has too many pieces To maintain a solid mount The solid cast aluminum brackets being all one Peace Is a much better design I wish I had seen this thread prior to ordering if I have issues I will return it and buy one from someone that has a solid one piece like this holley also makes one that everyone seems to like

This is exactly the issue, there are way too many pieces with the VA mount. I don't know why they have not switched suppliers as they don't make it in-house (get it from Kwik). There is way too much adjustment, shims, trimming etc. necessary to find the magic angle to get it to stop squealing. The design is the worst on the market.

[nsb29]

Originally Posted by cebra

This is exactly the issue, there are way too many pieces with the VA mount. I don't know why they have not switched suppliers as they don't make it in-house (get it from Kwik). There is way too much adjustment, shims, trimming etc. necessary to find the magic angle to get it to stop squealing. The design is the worst on the market.

I was thinking I could tig it together once alined ?? If I don’t just return it

[racecougar]

Just came across this thread as I'm fighting this dreaded squeal. I have the "new" Kwik mounting setup, and I've experienced a squeal since day one. At first, I thought it was the idler or tensioner pulleys, but replacing them has not corrected the issue. I've changed belts as well. Listening as closely as possible, it almost seems as if the squeal is actually within the compressor clutch itself. I haven't charged the system yet, but I'm tempted to, just so I can see/hear what happens with the compressor clutch engaged. That said, I don't want to lose a charge if I end up having to replace the compressor.

I'm honestly fed up with it, but I may try loosening and realigning the Kwik mount before reaching out to VA tomorrow.

[jjzepplin]

I went through a period of belt squeal on the donor 99 Trans Am. The consensus was cheap belts and weak tensioners followed by aftermarket brackets flexing on modified cars. I searched High and low for something without spacers. This one (LSX) is expensive but a nightmare averted is priceless. I had already bought a cheap belt so mine was squeaking. I mimicked the more expensive belt by carefully cutting angled grooves every half inch in the belt I was gonna toss anyway with my 4" grinder. Yes it was tedious but I had nothing to lose. It worked great. I will look for belts with those extra grooves from now on. Funny, my 94 serpentine system never makes any noise even with the crappy belt.

[TA_C10]

My update. I have had zero issues with my bracket so far. It's gotten some decent run time both idle and load. Sounds to me like alignment issues with the kwik bracket others have been facing. I do know there were some "instruction issues" that made one of the spacers look like it was supposed to go on inside, but after studying the instructions more and studying the bracket as well, I realized that spacer went to the outside so make sure you take a good hard look at everything. No squealing, and alignment is good.

You can see my setup in earlier posts in this thread.

[jjzepplin]

If I had to buy all the brackets and balancer for my engine I would go with the Holley. I have Camaro spacing and a new balancer so I think the LSX Innovations is where I will go. They come with or without solid spacers for each Spacing configuration IE Vette, Camaro, Truck.

[racecougar]

Further diagnosis this evening points squarely to the compressor pulley bearing. Adding tension via a ratchet to the tensioner makes it scream; relieving tension makes the squeal disappear. Soaping the belt makes zero change. Using the hose in the ear trick, the idler and tensioner pulley bearings are silent, but the compressor pulley is screaming (I think I'm still deaf in my left ear from testing earlier). The air gap between the compressor pulley and clutch plate is 0.025", which is within spec, and I see no sign of it rubbing. The gap is also even/square all the way around.

I'll forward this info to VA and Kwik and see where it goes now.

[TA_C10]

Nice find. Makes sense too because I'm still using the original qwik bracket and suggested belt and I still have no squeel. So if there is a manufacturing issue on their compressor bearing/assembly that makes sense why some have issue and others don't.

Could be slight tolerance/alignment differences too though from engine block model to model... Interested to hear what VA comes back with.

[racecougar]

VA is going to replace the compressor under warranty. Once it arrives, I'll post back with the result. REALLY hoping this cures the issue, as I'm pretty well done with this problem.

[MalibuSSwagon]

well thats good to hear since I'm going to go with a ICT billet bracket, the Holley bracket is silly money after the spacers and tensioner. Just hoping for good luck with the compressor then.

[jjzepplin]

Linky to the ICT you plan on using?

[MalibuSSwagon]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Linky to the ICT you plan on using?

I was looking at this:

https://www.ictbillet.com/sanden-508...t-kit-lsx.html

Or this:

https://www.ictbillet.com/ls-truck-s...s3-lsx-ac.html

I'm not really sure what the $90 difference is with the heavy duty bracket bracket vs the standard one, besides including the belt tensioner.

[prodjay10]

An odd thing to note about the ict bracket and sanden sd508 I have, you have to install the compressor and the brackets all at the same time. The compressor won’t lay or pop into the bracket if you install the bracket first.
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[jjzepplin]

Dang! I might have to spring for the Holley kit even though the LSX Innovations is one piece, I am worried that there is no one around that has used it. I may have to be the Guinee pig here. I think I will try the LSX and at the first hint of trouble, Boom, Holley.

[jjzepplin]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Dang! I might have to spring for the Holley kit even though the LSX Innovations is one piece, I am worried that there is no one around that has used it. I may have to be the Guinee pig here. I think I will try the LSX and at the first hint of trouble, Boom, Holley.

I have not run the engine yet but opted for the Holley. Looks really stout. Holley also has a great belt selection process which I will be using to purchase my belt. You can look it up in the directions for the mount.