How many AC cores in a Suburban?

Pinger · Apr 10, 2020

If I've got the lingo right - core being the heat exchanger inside the car that draws the heat from the interior - how many in a Suburban? One in the front obviously, but is there another in the rear?

How difficult are they to remove? If I have to go in deep to sort the heating (only blows to demist or feet) will I find the front core there? If I remove it, does the space have to be sealed?

Thinking of junking all the AC. There's no gas in it (none!) and if I am going to fix the heating - two birds with one stone? Any reason I should rethink this? (Scotland isn't so warm AC is needed).

grampadirt · Apr 10, 2020

Suburbans have two seperate HVAC systems,therefor they have an A/C evaporator core front & rear and a heater core front and rear,none are fun to remove.

df2x4 · Apr 10, 2020

What he said. The two systems share a compressor but that's about it.

grampadirt · Apr 10, 2020

I cheated one time on my wife's Burb and cut a hole in the front HVAC box and removed the evaporater core to replace it,maybe a hack but it was much easier that way.You have to look hard at it to see what I did,I was careful how I cut the plastic,used an oscillating tool to do the cutting.

Saw a video on YT of a guy who did it that way so I have to credit him,I had nothing to lose so I went for it and it worked.

Pinger · Apr 11, 2020

Was AC an option on the 5.7l Vortec - or always as standard? If optional, was there a non AC Vortec 5.7 with the alternator on the passenger side?

grampadirt · Apr 11, 2020

I don't know for sure,someone probably will,but I would suspect a high percentage of Suburbans had A/C front and rear.I would guess that A/C delete when new would have to be requested when built.Don't know about the alternator on the pass. side,never seen one.

Pinger · Apr 11, 2020

grampadirt said:
I don't know for sure,someone probably will,but I would suspect a high percentage of Suburbans had A/C front and rear.I would guess that A/C delete when new would have to be requested when built.Don't know about the alternator on the pass. side,never seen one.

Maybe more likely a pick-up would be without AC.
My thinking is if I'm going to remove the engine bay AC then I'd be as well remove the compressor - which would require a different belt.

Mine has the alternator on the passenger side - though I see pics where it's on the driver side - maybe the 5.0 litre.

Alternatively - has anyone converted the AC compressor to an air compressor?

df2x4 · Apr 12, 2020

Pinger said:
Alternatively - has anyone converted the AC compressor to an air compressor?

Not sure about converting the existing compressor, but Little Shop Mfg. sells a kit using their own.

https://www.littleshopmfg.com/gm-4-3-5-0-5-7-vortec-belt-driven-compressor-kit/

alpinecrick · Apr 12, 2020

Every GMT400 I've seen has the alternator on the passenger side.

It's not uncommon to convert an AC compressor to a air compressor--off roaders and construction guys have done it. I don't know if one brand/design is easier than the other though. There used to be a guy in my hometown that would do it and install a second compressor complete with brackets. This was in the late 90's though.......

I've run air tools off a AC compressor converted to a air compressor, and it makes for a heck'uva compressor.

AK49BWL · Apr 12, 2020

TBI trucks 88-95: alt on the driver side, A/C on the passenger side
Vortec trucks 96+: alt on the passenger side, A/C on the driver side.
There's virtually no variation from this.

For removing the compressor, you could pick up a bracket that has an idler on it in place of the compressor from just about any 4.3/5.0/5.7 Vortec-engine vehicle that doesn't have A/C... The 4.3 on the S10s are more likely to not have A/C than the GMT400's I think. Possibly fleet work trucks up north. Doubt many if any SUVs went without A/C tho. Either way, you wouldn't be able to just delete the compressor and run the belt directly from the alternator to the power steering pump - it wouldn't work that way.

How many AC cores in a Suburban?

Pinger

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