Topic: A/C Clutch Finish?

[ninedrvr]

1969 390 Dearborn 11/68 build. This clutch is the integral coil type with the brushes. I'm thinking semigloss black?

[J_Speegle]

From a NOS 390 kit packaged in 69

Notice the shadow on the clutch inner surfaces. A detail you will not normally see reproduced

[ninedrvr]

Ok. That's what the one I've got looks like, complete with the shadow. It is supposed to be NOS but I wasn't sure. The finish is very similar to the pictures. I would call it closer to flat black which is also how mine looks. Guess I won't be painting it! Thanks Jeff.

[Bob Gaines]

The type with the brushes are black as has been mentioned .The brush type clutch was used primarily on the York aluminum compressor in 67,68,and 69.   The type with the donut shaped electro magnet activated clutch are zinc silver. I haven't seen any Dearborn compressors that were York style compressor that hadn't been a service replacement. The York was a common service replacement compressor . All of the Dearborn units with the Tecumseh assemblyline cast iron compressors that I have seen were of the silver electro magnet activated type. Possibly being a very early 69 production it had the York aluminum compressor with the brush type clutch. I would do some more checking to confirm because Tecumseh was the overwhelming majority at Dearborn in 69 from the evidence I have seen. If it was a 69 Tecumseh compressor it would not typically have a brush activated clutch.

[J_Speegle]

Agree with Bob and I believe research has shown that the cast iron version was factory at Dearborn in 69 while the aluminum version was lighter (for moving and storing as a service replacement plus would not show/develop surface rust also sitting on the shelf. One of the reasons I mentioned the one I have was from a NOS kit rather than from an original car

Don't think I would classify a Nov 68 car as being an "early" car as such and we can look at other examples - same engine or at least FE and plant to see
what others had but expect we will find the cast iron version as we have in the past

[Bob Gaines]

Agree with Bob and I believe research has shown that the cast iron version was factory at Dearborn in 69 while the aluminum version was lighter (for moving and storing as a service replacement plus would not show/develop surface rust also sitting on the shelf. One of the reasons I mentioned the one I have was from a NOS kit rather than from an original car

Don't think I would classify a Nov 68 car as being an "early" car as such and we can look at other examples - same engine or at least FE and plant to see
what others had but expect we will find the cast iron version as we have in the past

I am of the same mind set .I was trying to be polite,diplomatic and non confrontation about the choice of brush activated clutch on a Dearborn 69 model.