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Chevy OBS AC Differences

Chevy OBS AC Differences

Wayne Powell |

When we use the term “OBS” (old body style) here at Kwik Performance, we’re generally referring to Chevy half-ton pickups made from 1988-98.

Just to confuse the issue, GM continued that body style for the Suburban, Tahoe and 2500/3500 trucks into 1999 and 2000.

If you’re upgrading one of these trucks with an engine swap or at least an AC compressor upgrade, there are some differences in AC systems you’ll need be aware of.

First big difference:  1988-95 trucks used the R4 or pancake style AC compressor and it was located on the passenger’s side.  1996-2000 trucks used the HT6 compressor and it moved to the driver’s side.

Next big difference for 1988-95 trucks.  Through 1993, the AC systems used R12 refrigerant and the line fittings had SAE threads.  The 1994-95 trucks switched to R134A refrigerant and those line fittings have metric threads.  That means condensers and receiver/driers and matching lines/hoses do not interchange.

Here at Kwik Performance, we have customers upgrading to Sanden aftermarket AC compressors in three main ways:

  1. They are swapping to an LS series engine and using one of our AC compressor relocation brackets.
  2. They are swapping the tired SBC engine for a Big Block and using one of our BBC bracket systems.
  3. They are keeping the R4 bracket but adding our R4-to-mini-Sanden adapter kit.

Sanden compressors have traditional o-ring style AC fittings so how do you match that up with the OEM fittings which might be SAE or metric?

Glad you asked.

We just happen to have a bolt-on solution for you.  We offer ready-made AC hose kits that have the correct fittings on each end to match whichever combination of truck, engine, year and compressor you have.  You can see more details here:  https://www.kwikperf.com/collections/air-conditioning

The photo you see here is a 1998 Chevy 1500 with LS3 engine, 1994-95 metric receiver/drier, Kwik compressor bracket, Sanden 709 HD compressor, all tied together with Kwik AC hose kit K10695.