I'm looking for the A/C and power steering accessory brackets for a 3.8L. Specifically, the brackets for a car with a FS6 or 6P148A compressor. The FS6 was available from 1982-84, the 6P148A from 5/85-1/86.
I'm trying to retrofit the system to R134a. The HR980 has viton seals, which are incompatible with R134a. Anybody happen to have these brackets lying around?
Here is the $999 retrofit kit from partsamerica.com.
(http://www.knology.net/~belchja/retrofit.jpg)
I take it you cannot use the FS-6??? Or was it not installed on the 3.8?? From the shop manual the mounting appears to be the same as the 6P148...
Although my 1985 Helm manual never says it right out, I think you're right that the 6P148A and the FS-6 have the same mounting points. The only real difference seems to be that the 6P148A has a pressure port on the suction side and the FS-6 doesn't. No biggie since the suction hose has a port anyways.
Between looking at my Chilton, Helm and this (http://www.aircoparts.com/images/homepage/CO_Ford.html#Anchor-62440) website, it looks like the FS-6 was used from 1982-1984, and the 6P148A was used from 5/85-1/86. I'll change my original post to show this.
Easy find.. You find them yet? Cause I know exactly where a set is.. If you still need them email me.
I got them this morning. I was expecting a lot of searching, but I found two sets with the 6P148 compressor at the first junkyard. $20 for the brackets. I ended up paying $50 for a compressor though. I just needed the manifolds because the compressors from Advance/Autozone come without them. A/C work is quite expensive to do "right". I'll probably end up spending ~$450 after all is said and done. New compressor w/clutch, new suction/discharge/liquid hoses.
I'm a little late on this, but I just noticed the 5.0 Bird I just bought has a FS-6, while I'm using a 6P148 on my TC. While I didn't measure them, I'm 99% sure they both use the same mounting brackets..
Yea you're right about it being expensive to do it right. When I converted the wifes Grand Marquis a couple of years ago, I bought everything except the evaporator and condenser. The compressor was fairly cheap though, new was only around $140 with the clutch. Got off for about $300 total..
For my Bird they wanted $260 or so for a rebuilt compressor(dunno if that was a 6P148 or FS-6), so I just replaced the accumlator and hit it with some R12(know someone who has a supply). Except for having to pirate a clutch from another comp( new idler bearing was $30), it's been working fine for the last three years... Keepin' my fingers crossed.
the 3.8 and 5.0 have completelly different mount points around the water pump and on the ends of the heads.. so the same brackets will not interchange. I know this one by experience.
I'm not saying the 3.8 and 5.0 brackets will interchange... I'm saying the compressors will interchange each other with no bracket change.....