Installing a Sanden compressor on a 617- looking at all options - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 07-04-2012, 10:24 PM

With my recent hassle with the new CompressorWorks R4 I purchased Installing a CompressorWorks R4 into a W123
I am going to install a Sanden style compressor. I am not happy with the price for a mounting kit Klima A/C Compressor Upgrade Kit (W123 Turbodiesel Models) | Klima Design Works ($400), so I am going to make the brackets myself. If you or anyone you know has done this, we would like the link and/or photos. I would like to explore all options. I have a 617 and a Sanden core, so I can mock it up without crawling under the car. I am right in the middle of figuring out the best way to mount it. So far I have two options: (1) mount the compressor solid, and employ some sort of adjustable idler pulley. (2) mount one of the ears of the compressor so it pivots on that bolt, and make some sort of slot on the opposite side to make the adjustment (somewhat like the alternator adjustment on the 60's and 70's Chevy 8's). I will post some photos soon on what I have done so far.
Mach4 is also doing a similar job on his 617 powered R107. I am sure he will chime in here.....Rich

vstech · #2 07-04-2012, 10:37 PM

another member here that lives near me has an 89 TE and it's mostly stripped down. I noticed that the stock compressor is sanden like, but it has the same flange as the R4... and the bracket is in the same place as the R4 in the 617's... I'm not saying it's a match as I've not tried it yet, but it LOOKS like it could be a match. has anybody ever tried it?

ROLLGUY · #3 07-04-2012, 11:02 PM

Option (1)- Mounting the compressor solid and use an idler.
Here is the bracket I got:

Compressor, idler and bracket:

Option (2)- Mounting one ear to the block so the compressor can pivot. I have an alternator bracket that might work.
I used a long bolt and aluminum sleeve. One ear was already cut off the core that I had, and will need to be done to the one being used if this method is employed:

I believe that either way, the compressor needs to be mounted on the bottom somehow. I think I will notch a piece of flat stock and use three of the pan bolts (use longer ones and put nuts on top) to mount it to:

This is all just preliminary, so nothing is set in stone. I will also look at the feasibility of mounting the PS pump down low, and the compressor up high (tomorrow!).

DeliveryValve · #4 07-04-2012, 11:31 PM

My vote is to use an idler to tighten up the belt. It is a much better solution to have the compressor in a fixed position then having weak points with a swinging compressor. It would be great if you can make it work with the space limitations below.

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bricktron · #5 07-04-2012, 11:33 PM

rich, great info! i'm sure there will be interest if you can fabricate a good solution to this problem.

ROLLGUY · #6 07-04-2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

My vote is to use an idler to tighten up the belt. It is a much better solution to have the compressor in a fixed position then having weak points with a swinging compressor. It would be great if you can make it work with the space limitations below.

.

I am leaning that way as well. However, there is very little room between the compressor pulley and the vacuum pump. Maybe an inch and a half. That just means that the belt will need to be just right, or a little on the short side. I may be able to find a smaller diameter pulley as well. However, this may all change tomorrow if I find I can relocate the PS pump down low, and the A/C up high......Rich

mach4 · #7 07-04-2012, 11:46 PM

Here's the compressor I got today with the York-adapter style bracket. This came off an RX-7 and appears to be aftermarket. I believe I've seen RX-7/Sanden brackets somewhere.

Which is kind of an adaptation of this generic mount.

I don't have room on mine to use this kind of adapter, but I believe that other body configurations just might.

The other type that is readily available is this, which is obviously designed to work with an idler pulley of some sort. The Sanden just mounts solid to the bracket and belt tension is handled somewhere else.

Here is an idler wheel off of my dead 380SL engine. It's dirt simple and would likely work with any stout flat plate bracket as it just tightens down and is held with friction. At this point I don't recall what mounting points are available on the front of the engine, so maybe the idler would have to be part of the main Sanden bracket.

I don't think the oil pan can be used as a mounting point. Just too much vibration, weight and stress.

ROLLGUY · #8 07-04-2012, 11:56 PM

After looking at the photos of the brackets on the Klima site, I wonder if the stock aluminum R4 bracket is retained? If so, I was under the assumption that there is not enough room.....Rich

mach4 · #9 07-04-2012, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

However, this may all change tomorrow if I find I can relocate the PS pump down low, and the A/C up high......Rich

That would be terrific if a solution could be found for swapping positions.

Since you've got a free standing engine, can you take some reference pictures of the block particularly directly head on and directly from the side in the area that the compressor might go. That would help those of us who don't have such a platform to visualize a little better what we've got to work with on the block.

ROLLGUY · #10 07-05-2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

That would be terrific if a solution could be found for swapping positions.

Since you've got a free standing engine, can you take some reference pictures of the block particularly directly head on and directly from the side in the area that the compressor might go. That would help those of us who don't have such a platform to visualize a little better what we've got to work with on the block.

Post #3 has photos. If something more precise is needed, let me know.

DeliveryValve · #11 07-05-2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I am leaning that way as well. However, there is very little room between the compressor pulley and the vacuum pump. Maybe an inch and a half. That just means that the belt will need to be just right, or a little on the short side. I may be able to find a smaller diameter pulley as well. However, this may all change tomorrow if I find I can relocate the PS pump down low, and the A/C up high......Rich

Yes I know there is not much room, I thought about extending the compressor out to the side as much as I can and using a stand alone idler from a late eighties or early nineties Honda Accord similar to this but in a V-belt pulley.

.

mach4 · #12 07-05-2012, 01:22 AM

Here's a reference picture of the front of an OM617

If I imagine a Sanden tucked in close mounted to the block, something like the following, I'm not seeing much of anything to tie an idler into.

That vacuum pump is kind of in the way. Just to kick off an exploration of options, would it be possible to block off the vacuum pump and go with an electrical pump and use the vacuum pump real estate to mount an idler?

charmalu · #13 07-05-2012, 03:13 AM

Here are a few pictures of a Sanden compressor off a Euro 123 I came across a few years back. the last 3 pictures show the mounting holes in the none turbo engine just under the vacuum pump. the 617.952 engine oes not have these holes.

CharlieAttached Thumbnails

Attached Thumbnails

charmalu · #14 07-05-2012, 03:19 AM

Here are 3 more that MY123ca posted in another thread.

Charlie

ROLLGUY · #15 07-05-2012, 10:49 AM

Charlie, that's what we need!! Where can we find brackets like that?
Mach4, Charlie posted some great photos of the engine. I need to figure out how to make a bracket out of steel that looks like the one Charlie saw.