Topic: Finish of factory AC and Thermactor parts

[Gbailey1018]

1968 FB 302 with factory AC and Thermactor (built in SJ).

Can someone please confirm that the dogleg side bracket (see pic) for the AC compressor as well as the adjustment bracket for the Thermactor should both be painted semi-gloss black?

[Bob Gaines]

1968 FB 302 with factory AC and Thermactor (built in SJ).

Can someone please confirm that the dogleg side bracket (see pic) for the AC compressor as well as the adjustment bracket for the Thermactor should both be painted semi-gloss black?

Can it be assumed that the car was built at Ford before March 1 1968? Otherwise the wrong bracket.

[Gbailey1018]

Per the Marti report, the car was built on 3/1/68.  The bracket in the pic was the bracket that was used in the car and the car has been in my family since it was bought new on 3/12/68 so I'm not concerned about parts being swapped out, etc.

Finished in semi-gloss black?  Thermactor bracket (example in attached pic) in semi-gloss black as well?

[Coralsnake]

The upper pump adjustment bracket is semi gloss black . So is the pulley

[Bob Gaines]

Per the Marti report, the car was built on 3/1/68.  The bracket in the pic was the bracket that was used in the car and the car has been in my family since it was bought new on 3/12/68 so I'm not concerned about parts being swapped out, etc.

Finished in semi-gloss black?  Thermactor bracket (example in attached pic) in semi-gloss black as well?

The cars built at that change over time can be interesting to figure out. With the earlier style A/C components the bracket is bare cast iron. The adjustable idler pulley's bracket is bare cast iron that attaches to the dogleg,the pulley is black and the center cover is zinc silver . Since you didn't mention it I want to make sure that you are aware that a fixed lower cast iron idler pulley is used from the factory also. Thermactor adjustable bracket is semi gloss as has been already stated.

[Gbailey1018]

Thanks for the feedback.  I apologize, I'm terrible with the naming conventions for each part so bear with me as I ask a follow up.

My dogleg bracket did not have a pulley on it bc my car had the Thermactor pump, so that served as the adjustment pulley for the compressor belt. Here is a photo of when I inherited the car.  Is this set up correct?

Bob, are you saying that the dogleg bracket should be bare cast iron rather than semi-gloss black?  And if so, how do I finish the part to achieve that look?  Do I simply strip it and let it age with the elements?  Do I provide any protective coating?

[J_Speegle]

My dogleg bracket did not have a pulley on it bc my car had the Thermactor pump, so that served as the adjustment pulley for the compressor belt. Here is a photo of when I inherited the car.  Is this set up correct?

It might help to compare what you have to some of the pictures of 68 examples with a small block and AC in the Unrestored picture threads to start with

Not sure if any have AC and thermactor. If we need to I can see if we have additional examples available from San Jose

Bob, are you saying that the dogleg bracket should be bare cast iron rather than semi-gloss black?  And if so, how do I finish the part to achieve that look?  Do I simply strip it and let it age with the elements?  Do I provide any protective coating?

I typically do a light gun bluing or you can do a phosphate coating to get you to the dark cast look you find on originals. Then follow it up with freshening up the machined surfaces then oil or other protective applications of your choice

[Gbailey1018]

I didn't see any examples of both AC and Thermactor in the unrestored threads when I first joined the site, but I'm happy to look again.  If you happen to find any, please let me know.

Never done bluing -- didn't even know what the process was until I googled it just now.  I'll buy a small kit on Amazon and give it a try.

[J_Speegle]

I didn't see any examples of both AC and Thermactor in the unrestored threads when I first joined the site, but I'm happy to look again.  If you happen to find any, please let me know.

Never done bluing -- didn't even know what the process was until I googled it just now.  I'll buy a small kit on Amazon and give it a try.

Depending on the specific detail many of the parts are shared with the non thermactor AC systems but will take a look to see if I have an example or two to share

As for bluing I don't use the gun blueing process but instead the much easier and simple application of glue bluing repair fluid or cold bluing. Other terms are used like insta-black. Pretty simple and covered in a number of threads here. These include

- An article in the Library titled - Natural Finishes- Reproducing
- https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21622.msg136135#msg136135
- https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=9091.msg53261#msg53261
- https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=5890.msg33184#msg33184

 How you apply I've affects the darkness and color you will get. Dipping, rubbing with a rag or applicator or applying with steel wool

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks for the feedback.  I apologize, I'm terrible with the naming conventions for each part so bear with me as I ask a follow up.

My dogleg bracket did not have a pulley on it bc my car had the Thermactor pump, so that served as the adjustment pulley for the compressor belt. Here is a photo of when I inherited the car.  Is this set up correct?

Bob, are you saying that the dogleg bracket should be bare cast iron rather than semi-gloss black?  And if so, how do I finish the part to achieve that look?  Do I simply strip it and let it age with the elements?  Do I provide any protective coating?

There is a a lot of incorrect parts in the picture and the picture detail is lacking in resolution and scope of content. I will stay focused specifically on the pulleys at this time. The examples that I have don't show the upper adjustable idler used on a 289/302 68 thermactor system . It does look like that there is a fixed pulley of some type but can not tell anything else about it other then that based on the supplied picture. If it is there and is original then it will be detailed as I have previously mentioned. As I said before the dogleg bracket was bare cast iron . There are many ways to prepare the bracket to look close to original with varying degrees of success. The easiest way is to bead blast it then give it a slight acid bath like with a chrome wheel cleaning product. leave on for a couple minutes . Rinse off then quickly towel dry to prevent flash rust. I put into a oven on warm for 15 minutes or so before taking out . I let cool then use use your choice of rust inhibitor product. I use T9 but there are other good ones as well. It depends on your expectations . I hope this is a beginning step in a more comprehensive engine detail because some of these nuances details will go for nothing IMO if all of the surroundings are not brought up to a comparable level also . If you move on to other areas and need info do not hesitate to post. 

[Gbailey1018]

Thanks so much for the feedback.  Bob, you are correct - there were MANY incorrect parts when I inherited the car from my uncle in 2017 (and there are still a few left, although a lot fewer than there were at the start.)  The photo I shared is basically the only one I took of the engine bay at that time, as I had no intention of keeping the car so restoring it in any way wasn't part of my plan.  Funny how things change...

While I know I will never have a concours car, I've invested a lot of time and money in it and I love understanding the history and details of how these cars were originally assembled, even if I won't always adhere to the original specs.  But I always want to know what the originals looked like and then I compromise my way from there. 

I recently had my car painted back to its original Brittany Blue (see pic) and I couldn't be happier with it - it reminds me of when my grandmother drove it in the late 60s/early 70s when I was a kid in the back seat.  Reinstalling the factory AC and Thermactor system are among my final steps in my personal restoration. I appreciate your knowledge and patience in sharing with those of us who are relatively new to this hobby.

[J_Speegle]

Looked an I don't have any examples with both thermactor (manual trans cars) with AC small blocks built at San Jose. Might have a few from NJ  (68 Shelbys) but you can't see much with everything in place in an engine compartment.

Maybe if you have specific needs for specific details we can help in that way

[Bossbill]

It might be useful to try again with another, better pic of the engine.
The 50% sun and 50% shade messes with the camera.

[Bob Gaines]

Looked an I don't have any examples with both thermactor (manual trans cars) with AC small blocks built at San Jose. Might have a few from NJ  (68 Shelbys) but you can't see much with everything in place in an engine compartment.

Maybe if you have specific needs for specific details we can help in that way

Mannels book confirms that the upper A/C adjuster bracket is not used when thermactor pump is present on the 68 289/302.

[Gbailey1018]

Thanks for all of the replies - always appreciated.  And J_Speegle, thanks for looking for photos.  I've been looking for five years for another example of my particular configuration, to no avail.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, I don't have any additional photos of the engine bay from 2017, which is when I inherited the car (I wasn't planning on keeping and restoring the car at that time -- silly me.)  Picture below is of the engine bay as of today, but that isn't relevant for this conversation because I have taken out the Thermactor system so I added the adjustable pulley to the dogleg bracket so I could use the AC when it was ready (but as you can see, the AC compressor has no belt on it, as that is not yet ready either.)

And yes, I know there are many parts in my current engine bay that are not concours, including the radiator cap, AC compressor (wrong color), oil cap (wrong color), horn wiring (aftermarket relays), export brace (wrong style), distributor cap (wrong color), compressor hoses (attached backwards), etc. I'm sure there are others you can spot right away.  I hope to address all of it eventually, but I have to walk before I can run.

Regardless, what I can say with 100% certainty is that when I got the car in 2017, the original AC compressor and Thermactor system were installed with the same belt running both and the AC compressor lateral bracket was the dog leg variety without a pulley on it.  There was also a fixed idler pulley below the compressor, which is just out of sight in this current photo.

Bob, I have the Mannel book -- what pages are you looking at to confirm that the adjustable bracket wasn't used - are you looking at p. 8-54?  As mentioned previously, my car was built on 3/1/68 so it was literally on the official switchover day.  Based on what I know about my uncle, there is no way he would have switched out a newer stamped steel bracket (with top and side connections to the compressor) for an older dogleg bracket just for the hell of it.  I wonder if the SJ line workers that day wanted to first deplete their inventory of the older bracket - did stuff like that occur?