I have installed an air conditioning compressor on my EBY Yblock engine (1956 Mercury 256) and replaced the original generator with an alternator. The mounts I bought really made this a nice installation with one problem. One of the bolts holding the alternator mount to the block will not clear the back of the fan pulley. I can space the fan pulley out 1/8 to 1/4 inch and be fine.

The dampner has not been reinstalled, but I am assuming when it is, it will not be aligned with the new location of the fan pulley. Any suggestions where to go from here. I called Vintage Air and they said I could space the fan pulley out 1/8 inch and this should take care of the problem. That would line up the fan pulley, alternator  pulley, and air compressor pulley, but most likely will leave the dampner off by the 1/8 inch adjustment I make to the fan pulley.

Darrell R Howard

Whitefish, MT

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's

Darrel,

I had the same problem with the first Vintageair setup I put on.I first cured it by grinding a little from the bolt head.I later discovered that one of the spacers is just a tiny bit longer than the other and after switching them,I had no more problem.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Thanks Paul,

How did your installation of the vintage air go? How well does your vintage air work?

The installation of the mounts to hold the alternator and air compressor to the passenger side of the engine seem to be out of alignment with the fan pulley by 1/8 to 1/4 inch. I do not have the dampner installed yet, but I am assuming it will line up with the fan pulley. That would result in the fan pulley and dampener being in one alignment and the compressor and alternator being in another (approximately 1/8-1/4 out of alignment). Vintage air told me I could put a 1/8 spacer behind the fan belt pulley, but I am guessing this would then be 1/8 out of alignment with the dampener. Did you have this problem as well?

Is it possible to put a spacer behind the dampener to hold it out the same 1/8 as the fan pulley? I have the dampener with the pulley attached to the face of it.

Darrell R Howard

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's

The installation went well after I got the bolt-pulley interference cleared up. We drive this car a lot in all kinds of weather,winter and summer.The A/C and the heater are great.The defrosters leave a little to be desired.I don't think there's any way to shim out the dampener.If the kit you got from Vintageair is the same as the two that I've used,there should be an assortment of spacers that include the ones that will get you the correct alignment and clearances.The two that I've installed both went into 56 Fords with 292 engines.I assume that your 256 is the same in front.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

The Interceptor motors have a short 2" sleeve that fits behind the dampener to space it out. I don't see why this couldn't be done with yours. Seems you only need a fraction of an inch though. If you found the right size spacer (washer?) to put behind the dampener it should work. Make sure your bolt is long enough. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Chuck,

In your post, you mentioned "interceptor motor". When I looked up the code for  EBY, it said something about a 1954 Merc Interceptor motor, is this possibly what I have and if so, what is it? Does the EBY on the block casting mean anything other than 54 Mercury engine?

Thanks, Darrell R Howard

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's

The Interceptor I was referring to is a boat motor. They have a spacer to move the crank pulley out.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

I have the Vintage Air compressor/alternator bracket on my 312 and had no clearance problems with any bolts. I think you have to just find the right combination of spacers as was mentioned.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Opps, where did that 351 Windsor come from. The photo on the right is my 54 Merc 256 with the air compressor, fan pulley, alternator and dampener alignment issue. The dampener is not pulled down yet.

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's