Posted on 05/07/2016 5:01:46 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Please someone in Freeper Land, can you tell me where to source an alternative AC bracket for a 1988 Honda Prelude to allow use of a non-OEM AC compressor on that car? I need to use another more reliable type of AC compressor on the car than the OEM one, all of which are junk.
I'd stick to Honda lineage / their AC vendors if you can't find a 88' part. Look for relatively similar houses and or sensor locations etc. The bracket, you may get lucky or...
You will end up with a hybrid bracket, one that melds the new AC brackets mounting holes with your old brackets design intent to attach the entire assembly to the engine block.
Depending upon the materials, you might be able to cobble these two brackets together to form one that works ( Cut, machine, weld etc ) or you may want to try a plywood mock-up, try it, and then have it made or make it yourself.
I have made brackets etc out of cardboard mockups back in the day for other applications, but cardboard won't hold anything in place while your mocking things up in this application.
Good luck!
Any competent machine/sheet metal shop in your are could make one, I’m sure.
Have you checked all the Honda forums on the InterWebs?
How about some good old Yankee Engineering? Can you bend and cut metal? It seems that you could possibly Reverse Engineer one, give the right dimensions and a lot of practice.
If this is a common problem, perhaps there is a AC compressor that you can get that actually fits that spot without any modifications...........................
Trade it in.
Rebuild the original, especially since you’re restoring it. Don’t buy a cheap rebuild—get a good one. This will be far better than trying to make an alternate compressor fit.
Agree, if there are repeated compressor failures there is an external problem causing the compressors to fail. If the 1st compressor internally came apart and put metal into the AC system which was not properly cleaned out, the the next compressor will fail from the metal practicals in the lines. Time for an expert to examine and suggest proper repair. Or with the age and value of a 1988 Honda, maybe spend the ‘repair’ money on a newer car with working AC.
90 Honda Prelude SI 4WS A/C AC Air Conditioning Tensioner Pulley Bracket Mount
Forty bucks.
I’m Celerity.
If you’re on the Honda forums, you may have seen me before, or heard of me.
I’m no joke when it comes to Hondas.
Your factory A/C compressor should be cooling that car the same as my GMC does to it.
If it’s compressing at all, and it all works - then what you’re looking for is a change or alteration in your refrigerant.
Because that compressor should be doing the trick.
The B20a3 uses the same bracket as just about all of them, and the B20 is of course the CRV. If you’re not happy with the old stuff, perhaps you can just upgrade ?
Do the OEM’s just not cool or just wear out too fast? Could an AC pro solve the prob with a rebuild of an OEM with better component parts?
Have you checked Prelude groups on Facebook or other. There is a group out there for anything and I would guess the Honda Prelude would have a pretty active group. Good luck Summer is here
Just do like I do, roll down the windows and drive with
a wet towel over your face.
Drives other drivers crazy though.
Call Red Green. He’ll know how to deal with this.
Can you give us the exact engine model?
I would look for other Honda vehicles that use the same engine and see if they made any improvements to the AC system. If you have repeated failures, it could be something besides the compressor causing the problem. Be sure to replace drier and accumulator at the same time.
Good post.
The AC is a system, typically after a failure you need to purge the circuit, and add a debris filter to prevent repeat damage.
Did they use freon 12 in 1988?
Would you need to replace the expansion valve or other parts to use 134a?
Forget the bracket.
Amazon has a 4 Seasons brand rebuild for $125.99. Two year warranty. Now the trick is that you need to replace the drier/accumulator and the orifice and flush the system at the same time for the warranty to be effective, but you know you needed to do that stuff anyway, right?
For the time, cost & effort of getting a custom bracket, you can get the equipment to recover the freon from the system and recharge it. You are then able to swap out compressors at will, and just change compressors when they go bad.
How do I know this? I did it last year. The equipment has paid for itself in less than 2 years. Otherwise, you will pay a shop several hundred to put $20 worth of freon in in when you get the system back together.
Yes R134 came in with the early 90s.
So this vehicle probably was factory built with R12, although I encounter many cars of that era that have been converted to R134, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
Different lube spec for the compressor also is a consideration between the two types.
Make It Yourself. And/Or modify the old one.
And yes, I do know what that takes. I have a 57 Bel Air and 67 Camaro, I make stuff all the time.
Hoses and seals too.
If I planned to keep that car for a while, I think I’d just replace everything and be done with it. Evaporators can be a bitch to replace on some cars though.
Where are you buying a system load of freon for 20 bucks?
Just curious. PM me with your supplier please if you don’t want to show it.
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