A/C Discharge tube/muffler/hose 3441523

[Duodec]

Looking for this hose, runs from the front of the compressor, turns to a muffler over the drivers side of the compressor, then rubber hose, then back to tube to the drivers side and then turns to the front and connects to the condenser. 

Same part used on numerous small block E and B bodies according to the parts book (at least '70 -'71, not sure about later years).

New, used (as long as complete and the metal parts in good shape so it can be rebuilt), even aftermarket if such were ever available.  I already have to have the suction hose (compressor to evaporator) rebuilt but the discharge hose has been missing since I got the car.  This is not a sterling restoration, I just want my A/C to work again.

Thanks!

[blown motor]

@Duodec Is it one of these? These are from a 74.

[Duodec]

@blown motor
thanks for responding.  None of those are correct or close, but the middle one is probably the equivalent hose for the later year.  I don't think I could get it to work.

I will post an FSM illustration of the one I need; I could not find a clean picture online.

Thanks!

[Duodec]

Its in the lower pic, marked as the "Discharge line" running from the front of the compressor to the discharge muffler by the compressor's drivers side head, then a section of rubber hose loops to the fender, connects back to steel tube to the condenser.

[Duodec]

If anyone out there has a clear picture of the A/C discharge hose showing the muffler and the entire hose running from compressor to condenser driver's side fitting on a small block 1970 or 71 E or B body car, can you post it? 

I've found a couple beautiful shots of big blocks, and they are pretty close to what a small block needs but they are shorter overall (the rubber for certain, I'm less sure of the two metal tube sections on either end; apparently the compressor on big blocks is offset more to the drivers side) and the bends in the outlet of the muffler where it runs over the engine near the air cleaner snorkel.

Do the entrance and exit of the tube from the muffler go into the center of the muffler ends?  Or is it offset on one side or the other?

My car came without that hose.  Thanks!

[Yellow71Cuda]

October of 1970 build date 1971 340 Cuda with A/C. Offset on both ends of the muffler. 

[Duodec]

Thank you!  I was clearly mistaken (unless 70 and 71 are that much different from the factory).  I haven't been able to find the loose muffler (aftermarket) that I bought in the '80s and I'm trying multiple means of getting this hose, so descriptions are important.

[Duodec]

Found the discharge muffler I bought probably in the mid 1980s.  Don't know who made it but its definitely aftermarket.  Don't know why I bought it instead of a complete hose unless complete wasn't available even then, and don't know why I didn't pick up a complete hose from the wrecking yards because there were definitely 318 B-bodies in the pick-a-parts at the time.  A bad oversight, but then not taking every damn thing I could find off those cars was also a failure on my part in hindsight.

The pic shows a difference from @Yellow71Cuda 's picture; the outlet doesn't come out the back, then bend down before bending out, and the position it exits the muffler is at a wider angle than the aforementioned pic.  I think it would work; maybe the aftermarket maker had already made a universal replacement that would work across more applications.  I test fitted it to the compressor and it fits like the picture except for the output angle of departure.

If I can find the section of steel tube that connects to the condenser, I should be able to make up a working hose using this piece.  So looking for one of those if a complete hose is just not available.

Anyone performed an A/C removal on their small or big block E or B body and still has a box of removed parts?  Or converted to a Sanden compressor and still has the old RV2 discharge hose?  I'm looking for you.

[Duodec]

So far looks like this is going to be a difficult search.  I've tried many used/new vendors and even wrecking yards that advertise shipping; I guess its something nobody saves despite it being used on quite a lot of cars. 

Also appears from the aftermarket A/C catalogs from the day that they may not have ever reproduced the factory hose even as a replacement item.  What they did (Four Seasons, Murray, Carter so far) was sell the fitting that attached to the condenser, and the tube/muffler that attached to the compressor front, and expected the user to replace all the rest with rubber.  I'm still looking for/at other vintage A/C catalogs for any differences, and for one of several hose guides I've seen pictures of that may describe in more detail piecing together the complete hose that is needed.


I'm still on the hunt for a complete factory hose but I'm also going to get the condenser fitting once I ID it (preferably a vintage American part), and also research (there are a lot of youtube videos available) how to make up a replacement steel tube running up the fender to the condenser.  But that will come later when the car is going back together.

[smallblocksrock]

I  may have what you need. See pics.  These are off e-bodies. I am not sure of the year.
I can pull them out of storage and get better pictures tomorrow afternoon.  I have other A/C components too.

[Duodec]

Thanks, I'd appreciate if you can get clearer and more complete pics.  I know that 1970 and 71 took the same or an extremely similar discharge hose, but I don't know about other years.  Not all the pics you posted seem to match but others do look they just might be close.

[smallblocksrock]

Take a look at these.   The rubber portion is 21".