Why does Kwik Performance offer so many LS AC brackets?

So you're diving into the exciting world of LS swaps. You've picked your engine, planned your build, and now you're thinking about the creature comforts. Specifically, how to get that air conditioning blowing cold. With so many options for AC compressors and brackets, it can feel a bit overwhelming. But don't worry, we're here to break it down for you.

Choosing the right AC compressor and bracket isn't just about getting cool air; it's crucial for proper fitment, belt alignment, and ensuring all your accessories play nicely together under the hood. Let's explore the key factors to consider.

Bracket Locations: Where Will Your AC Live?

The location of your AC compressor largely dictates which bracket you'll need. These locations are categorized on our website to help you visualize where the compressor will sit in relation to your engine and other accessories. Further, each bracket's product page has a drawing with dimensions so you can compare with your project vehicle.

• Wide Mount: This is the location of choice for most muscle cars. The compressor is up and away from frame rails, cross-members, motor mounts and control arms.  It runs on the main 6-rib serpentine belt and maintains a low profile.
• Low Mount: As the name suggests, low mount brackets tuck the compressor down low on the engine in the original Chevy LS position. This can be great for hood clearance but may have the clearance issues mentioned above. One reason customers chose the low location is for use with supercharged engines where the AC compressor needs to run on its own dedicated drive belt.
• High & Tight: This is a popular option for many swaps, especially in cars and trucks with limited engine bay width. High & Tight brackets place the compressor up high and in front of the cylinder head, minimizing interference with frame rails and inner fenders.  The height is still low enough to work with pickups and even some passenger cars.  Check our drawings for dimensions.
  
• Street Rod: Designed specifically for classic cars and street rods, these brackets are engineered for optimal clearance in older, narrower engine bays, providing the tightest width but at the expense of height.  Our design criteria was to have a complete LS serpentine system fit inside the hood of a 1932 Ford.

The All-Important Harmonic Balancer and Belt Path

Your harmonic balancer (crank pulley) and the associated belt path are critical to a successful accessory drive system. We do have a guide on how to determine which LS engine harmonic balancer you have through three different methods of measurement. Different LS engines come with different accessory drive spacings (often referred to as Corvette, F-Body, or Truck spacing), which dictates how far forward or back your pulleys sit.

• Corvette Spacing: The shortest spacing, with accessories tucked closest to the engine. 
  • Corvette (1997-2013)
  • Cadillac CTS-V (2006-07, non-supercharged)
  • Pontiac G8 (2009)
  • Chevrolet SS (2013-17)
  • Caprice PPV (2009-17)
  • Holden Commodore (2009-17)
• F-Body Spacing (Camaro/Firebird): A middle spacing, further out than Corvette.
  • Camaro F-Body (1998-2002)
  • GTO (2004-06)
• Truck/SUV and LS3 Camaro Spacing: The longest spacing; accessories farthest from the engine. 
  • Truck (1999-2015)
  • Camaro (2010-2015)

It's crucial to match your AC bracket to your chosen harmonic balancer's spacing to ensure proper belt alignment.  And remember, most of these LS harmonic balancers are interchangeable.  For example, our truck “Pull Out Package” uses a Corvette water pump and balancer on a truck engine to give the shortest possible combination.

Understanding Your AC Compressor Options

The heart of your AC system is the compressor. For LS swaps, you'll primarily encounter a few popular choices:

• Sanden Mini (SD7B10): This compact compressor is a favorite for LS swaps due to its small size and efficient operation. It's often the go-to for tight spaces and applications where clearance is a concern.  It’s quiet and has a higher max rev limit.
• Sanden HD (SD7H15): A larger capacity Sanden compressor, the HD version offers excellent cooling capacity and durability. It's a great choice for larger vehicles or those wanting maximum cooling performance.
• GM R4: This is a common factory-style compressor found on many older GM vehicles in particular OBS Chevy trucks (1988-95). While we do offer a bracket to mount this compressor on your LS truck engine, its larger size and reports of reliability issues mean it's often bypassed in favor of Sanden units. The only reasons to keep the R4 are to retain the original look or you don’t want to change your working OEM AC system.
  

Kwik Performance LS AC Brackets at a Glance

To help you visualize and choose, here's a chart summarizing some of Kwik Performance's popular AC bracket options, their locations, compatible compressors, and general harmonic balancer considerations.