71 Cutlass

Assembly manual refers to the black, soft padded casing around the air conditioning muffler as "insulation." For what purpose is this muffler insulated?

71rocket

wtf is an "A/C muffler"??

cutlassgal

Does it have muffler bearings too??? LOL!

2blu442

The big aluminum deely bopper that's next to the compressor and built into one of the lines coming from the back. A lot of those insulators are gone from age or mice or whatever. I can only guess it's to keep the muffler chilled for better operations, but the rest of the line isn't covered. So I don't know enough about its importance either John

71rocket

Damned noisey A/C!! Could wake the dead!

Bluevista

I would guess the insulation is to insulate it.
Maybe to prevent condensation or help with noise besides being a thermal insulation?
They all didn't have it originally, my GTO and Vista didn't. I don't know what the rhyme or reason for that was .

I swear that Sandy's '72 doesn't have one but I know the AC works.
Did '72's have them?
Is your AC noisy Sandy?

"A muffler is used to reduce compressor noises and high pressure line vibrations and to prevent debris from contaminating the refrigeration system. Wire mesh screens within the muffler trap debris if the compressor fails, eliminating the need to flush the refrigerant system. In the event of a compressor failure, the hose assembly will need to be replaced."

cutlassgal

Nope.... my AC is quiet! The muffler must still be working correctly! Here's a pic.... Is this the insulation around the AC muffler??

underhoodpics007.jpg

Lady72nRob71

You don't have a muffler in that picture. The suction hoses are insulated as they are the cold ones.
The big aluminum can to the side of the compressor is the muffler. My A/C appears to be all original; it was quiet when it worked.....

The A6 compressor is a small 6 cylinder compressor, so without the muffler, it would be louder in operation.

cutlassgal

Well then..... maybe I don't have one!! I don't have anything that looks like a big aluminum can... it's still quiet, though. Maybe it's in another place?

Bluevista

I'm glad I didn't tell you it isn't there.
If it works don't worry about it.
Is that an aluminum water pump?
You and Rob should both have engine painting parties Sandy.
I'm sorry Sandy but The Prettiest One is only that on the outside and interior only.
Beauty is skin deep, ugly goes to the bone.
Count to ten and take deep breaths.

I just remembered I need one of those belt retention shields. Supposedly it's to keep the belt from destroying things while flailing around if it breaks.

Hey John! Yet one more part I forgot about, if you got one throw it in the box if there is any room left and add it to the bill.

Here's mine, where's yours?
Sound like a union business agent goon asking to see your card.

Jamesbo

Hum

69 H/O Doesn't
69 Vista Does [pic before engine repaint]
69 442 drop top Does [too lazy to take pic]

Blue before you say sum'in. The pic was show to show the dif betwix a 442 air cleaner and a regualr Q-jet air cleaner

cutlassgal

......I swear that Sandy's '72 doesn't have one but I know the AC works.


I'm glad ya didn't tell me, also! LOL!! Now you know I'm going to regret asking this, but..... is she supposed to have one or not???

I took 20 deep breaths and it didn't work.... Ugly??? The words "ugly" and "the prettiest one" do not go together... at all. Under her hood may need some work, but ugly???? Surely that was Redgoat talking.... the scoundral!!!! I'm gonna have to have Laura kick his a$$ if he keeps that up! The nerve.....

Lady72nRob71

Sandy, the words out now. You will never win any car shows without an A/C muffler.
Getcha a "chunky" soup can, remove the label and stick it to the side of your compressor. Glue some "insulation" foam on it and who could tell the difference? Better than nothing...

cutlassgal

Rob... That makes me laugh!!! I don't think I'm gonna worry about it! But now I do know where there's one on a vista cruiser if I get desperate LOL!!

71 Cutlass

Soooooo...No one really knows. Over the years I have never heard a definitive answer as to why this muffler was wrapped up. I was intending to "insulate" mine if it meant better cooling.

Lady72nRob71

My guess is that the insulation helped to keep some of the engine heat out of the refrigerant.
That muffler is a big chunk o' aluminum - a perfect heat sink. It's on the high pressure vapor line, so it gets hot in normal operation. Any additional heat soaking from the engine would obviously decrease the efficiency of the A/C. (Kinda like putting your home A/C condensor unit in the west sun.)
If GM insulated it, there must have been a reason.

cisgww

If any one has a muffler like shown, for a late 72 Cutlass, I would like to buy one. The muffler that mounts on the compressor is the 2nd style. Previous to that they were built in line with the hose from the compressor to the condensor, which I believe is the high pressure side. I need the 2nd style. I don't care about the quality of the hose as I will put a new hose on the muffler.

I don't check this site daily, or often, so please email if you have one. I have "spelled" out the address so spammers don't harvest it.
Greg
cisgww "at" aol "dot" com

mmurphy77

My car has the muffler but without the Black foam cover. Is anybody reproducing this cover?

71 Cutlass

Mike,
There is an aftermarket company (don't rermember which one), that makes the A/C muffler...guess what...the muffler comes wrapped with the insulation. Saw it at a local car show this past April. Asked the guy where he got the insulation, and he said it came on the muffler when he ordered it. Wish I could remember what vendor he used...sorry. Perhaps call around to places like Year One, OPGI, Fusick, Parts Place, etc. and see if you get lucky.

cisgww

Only the 1st style mufflers that were in line of the hose and didn't bolt to the A/C compressor had foam insulation. The 2nd style that mounts on top of the compressor does not have insulation. That is the style I desire to buy.

mmurphy77

Maybe my muffler is the 2nd style and didn't come with it as it is a May '71 production. The last one I saw was on a '70 and it did look as though it was formed onto the muffler and not something you could 'add' after the fact. I guess I'll leave it as is.

Lady72nRob71

Several of these places sell them. Also Classic Auto Air sells them, too.
Pretty common part.