I know this forum is for Chevelles but I've found there are/were some pretty sharp people here that have helped with my 69 Camaro in the past. I have 2 problems that I've been dealing with for years and am hoping to find solutions.
First, I have a rumble or roar at idle (w/idle stop solinoid) coming from the high side hose into the condensor. I've tried to isolate the hose i.e. with stand offs and foam insulation anywhere it touched the fenderwell but no go. I heard from one guy that it could be my fan clutch not engaging at the right temperature causing the condensor to run hotter at idle causing the noise but...?
Second, the high blower volume. Here's some text where I posted on another forum:
Has anyone found a solution to the wimpy air flow on a 69 factory AC Camaro yet? I''ve heard a lot of people complaining about it but have never heard of a solution. I''m thinking about wiring the blower motor to run on 18 VDC or some higher voltage to see if I can get it to blow harder on high. Any comments?

Joe, This noise is why many vehicles have a muffler on the discharge line. It may be something that you'll need to live with. I've never heard of anyone putting a muffler into a system that didn't originally come with one, but it's a thought.


A check of the high side pressure at idle will verify if the clutch fan is working ok. Read the guge and verify the High side is at a safe pressure, then mist the condenser with water and see how much it drops. Also see if that changes the noise.
Also, make sure all of the compressor mounting bolts are tight.


As for the poor airflow, other than making sure the case and ducts are sealed and that the internal doors are sealing, there's not much else you cab do. Those things were pretty wimpy. I wonder if you could try and adapt a better blower from another car?

I had a low air problem on my Chevelle. This was the problem. http://www.454malibu.com/MiceAC1.jpg

That's what I'm hoping to find out...Thanks for your input.

Make sure your blower is turning the correct way and that the squirrel cage is the correct one.

Done...

That's what I'm hoping to find out...Thanks for your input.

I thought you recently had all of that apart?

I did...this is my third Camaro with this problem and have decided NOT to just live with it like everyone else (low air flow). The roaring problem came back. My last fix just made it bearable but after installing a new crate motor, it's back with a vengence. I may just need a muffler...the A6 system had one so I thought the Sanden wouldn't need one due to it's low HP draw but? Here's what someone local told me that's promising:

When the High Side is too high, there is an percussion affect in the Discharge line, from Compressor to Condensor, and if I were checking it I would think: Fan Clutch...
The Fan Clutch has a small round spring, on its front side. This little spring is aimed at the Radiator. When the heat, from both the Condensor and Radiator comes across this little wound spring, it expands and turns it's center shaft.
This causes a normally healthy Fan Clutch, to ENGAGE.
When it engages, the Fan Blade spins at the SAME speed as the engine's crankshaft, (up to 3000 rpm and then it slips) This marvelous thermal relationship causes the great amount of heat to be pulled off both Coils (Condensor and Radiator) and it keeps the A/C Cool for you and the Coolant Cool, for the engine. It sounds like your Fan Clutch is "Wind Milling", and is NOT engaged WHEN HOT. When an engine is at normal (warm) temp, and Idling, and the A/C is on, the Fan Clutch should be "roaring" air through the Fan Shroud. (Hopefully you have a Fan Shroud installed.........ALL Cars back then, WITH A/C, SHOULD have a Fan Shroud.) I bet you can prove my theory! When the Discharge Line is creating all of that noise, take a garden hose, and spray down the front side of the Condensor......you're ridding it of it's heat, and thus its pressure. Voila!~ No more noise! So you're Fan Clutch and Shroud are the Key to doing this without the Water Hose. Will you let me know?

THEN I found this: (Really surprised a lot of people I showed it to including the author of the above text"

It is very important to note that the handling of new Fan Clutches and used ones removed for other repairs is critical. All new Fan Clutches come in boxes marked with a "This Side Up" arrow. Fan Clutches which are not stored correctly before installation may never work properly. If you get a new fan clutch and distrust how it has been stored, it is a good idea to let it stand on your shelf in the proper orientation for 24 hours or so to avoid trouble. A used fan clutch which is taken off for repair of other engine components must be stored in its normal running vertical position until it is reinstalled or it will not work properly again. I learned this at a Delco-sponsored air conditioning school. I was one of a hundred or so mechanics in the class who were embarassed to learn that we had been ruining every Fan Clutch we had ever removed. If you have worked on engines and noticed occasions when you had overheating occur after a repair in which the Fan Clutch was laid flat on the floor for a few days, you have had this experience too.
If this is true, my clutch IS bad...
Thanks, Joe