MCfan Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 It's been over a year since I bought a nicely restored Load Level Compressor to replace the original one that was missing from my '70 SS when I bought it. Unfortunately, it did not come with mounting brackets which are scarce and outrageously expensive if a set can be found. Since the last local car show of the season is this Saturday, I wanted to get the compressor at least mounted, if not operating, so I decided to fabricate a set of "temporary" brackets in my shop using common materials and hand tools. The fabrication turned out to be easy once the design work was done. Since I had no pattern or engineering drawings, the design work had to be done from a couple of photographs provided by other members. I spent a total of two days time over three days - one day to design and one day to fabricate, finish and install the brackets. These were not intended to replicate the factory originals, but rather, to be functionally equivalent, simple to build with common materials and not horrible to look at. Well, they may not be so pretty, but they work great, were simple to build and did not cost a red cent (because I already had the tools, material, fasteners and paint). I made these out of a one foot piece of 2" X 2" X 1/8" aluminum angle (which is plenty strong) but they could just as easily be made using angle iron. If anyone else is needing brackets and wants to make a temporary set similar to these, I am documenting the project in a photo journal that will be available soon. Here's the rear bracket: Rear bracket attached to the compressor: Front bracket: Front bracket attached to the pressure tank: Compressor mounted in the car: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mcarlo Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 That's a mighty fine job of fabricating, Dennis! They look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Gray SS Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Wow!! Nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveC Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Very professional looking bracket regardless if they are stock looking... Do they line up with the factory holes in the inner fender? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDavey Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 what no fake GM part number...come on Dennis you're not trying..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71 MONTE 4 YA Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Are you ready to profit Dennis?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Very sweet Dennis. They look terrific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Do they line up with the factory holes in the inner fender? Bill, I designed them to match the factory hole patterns and mounting positions but I cannot confirm that they actually do simply because my SS has replacement steel inner fenders and the holes were not present. Fortunately, there was a locating dimple in the steel fender for the right rear bracket mounting hole and I am confident that the rear bracket will bolt up perfectly. The front bracket was also designed to match factory holes and can be easily tweaked to fit by altering the angle of the bend of the forward-facing leg and the location of the hole on the surface of that foot. All of the above is predicated on the factual accuracy of the dimensions given in the 1970 GM Assembly manual as shown below. If the GM assembly techs actually installed these using this drawing, I will bet there aren't two exactly alike on the planet! But, with an indexing location (dimple or whatever) and the brackets mounted on the compressor, you can easily position it in a workable position on that fender. If your car already has the holes, it would be a snap to make these simple brackets fit them and work fine, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte7071 Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Great job Dennis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostnFound Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Nice job Dennis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monteman1971 Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Nice work...I like them! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Richey Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 I think I like them better than factory. PM sent Dennis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtankjones Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Very nice work. It is pretty easy when you the right tools to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black07ss Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Great Job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leghome Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Dennis how soon does production start on them there brackets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo's70MCs Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Nice work..necessity is the mother of invention. Now you can boast about making them at any meet. They look fabulous.. probably more precisely made than any of the production one's. The only thing I can gig is not breaking all the edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7tonemonte Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Looks nice to me Dennis! Only an FGMCC member would pick it apart at a show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballubet Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Those look great! Only a true Monte would know they aren't original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostnFound Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Good one Scott. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dans '70 Z20 Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 I think I like them better than factory. PM sent Dennis. I feel the same way! They look better than stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 Thanks for the kind words and positive feedback, guys! I'm taking the Monte to a local car show today so I'll see if anyone notices the compressor or critiques the brackets. My Monte has been the only first gen at shows in this area (N central MN) this summer so she gets lots of attention and causes lots of reminiscing. I've learned of two other first gens around here, but neither are shown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willie Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Dennis nice job they look great!!! Now we know where to go when we need a set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyLCoulter Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 i would like the measurement for those brackets.they look nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gprimm Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Nicely done. Very nice. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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