Question for edelbrock 1406 users with AC

[harnalien]

I plan on getting the edelbrock 1406 carb (600cfm), and i need to know if i have to get the edelbrock 8059 idle compensator solenoid for when the AC compressor turns on. will my factory solenoid and bracket work? if the factory part won't work, do i really need to get the 8059, or will i be ok without it? i don't know if it will bog down the motor too much or not. if it matters, the compressor is on the driver's side. wanted to see what has worked/not worked for ya'll. thanks for any help.

[swb85]

I don't know if the factory one will work or not, but you will definitely need some sort of solenoid to bump the idle speed up when the compressor kicks on. Those old compressors take a lot of power to turn. When I turn the a/c on it'll immediately kill the motor if I don't have my foot on the gas.....I'll be buying the edelbrock solenoid soon, but until then my right foot will have to do!

[piecesparts]

I purchased the bracket, so that building one did not have to take place and then went to the local auto parts and purchased a solenoid. It was not hard to get what I needed to make the throttle work with A/C.

Building a bracket is not that hard either.

[Pyrotechnic]

I ran the old Harrison log compressor on a tired 350 with a 1406 for years with no solenoid and it actually did alright, even being stopped and in drive when the A/C kicked on. I set the idle to around 800 RPM in park, and I had the vacuum advance connected to manifold vacuum....it seems to give a more solid and smoother idle.

[84 400]

HA i just figured out why my truck has been running so poorly. Thanks for posting this. Mine does not have this solinod and living up here we never really use AC actually i would delete mine given the chance..... Anyways my idle has always been set a bit higher then normal. Well the other day i deiced to test out my A/C since i never tried it. Well the motor bogs down real bad and shakes like it is going to die. infarct it stalled a few times. After checking i don't have this part so I guess I will make sure not to turn on my A/c from now on. Thanks and if you gonna run A/C I would suggest one my idle set high worked okay but since tunning it down the A/C kills my motor..

[gchemist]

I have not reinstalled the Edelbrock soleniod on the ZZ4. Probably won't either. Plenty of HP and torque to turn all the accessories.

[xtreme80]

Is this an 81-86 thing? I have working ac in my 80, and have never had a problem with the compressor killing the engine...

My idle is at about 700 in gear, and kicking the compressor on changes it maybe 50-100 rpm, never killed the motor though.

[harnalien]

thanks for the replies. i am building a vortec headed 350, and i didn't know if this one part was gonna push the build back due to budget. i think i will put it all together, and see how it runs, and get this part later. my ac needs to be charged anyway, so i won't be using it. but if it works and doesn't stall out, i probably won't spend the hundred bucks. that can be used elsewhere!!

[BowTieOgre]

Originally Posted by xtreme80

Is this an 81-86 thing? I have working ac in my 80, and have never had a problem with the compressor killing the engine...

My idle is at about 700 in gear, and kicking the compressor on changes it maybe 50-100 rpm, never killed the motor though.

Ive got factory A/C on my '80 and there is an idle stop solenoid on it. Is supposed to regulate the idle speed when driving and allow the carb to completely close when turned off...or so im told.

Is your compressor the axial (long) or radial (short) kind? Maybe the radials dont need as much energy to turn?

[xtreme80]

Mine's the axial compressor.

Can anyone show me a pic of this solenoid? I'd like to see what it is...

[harnalien]

this is a pic of mine. also, i have the short style compressor. it's an 84 shortbed 2wd.

[xtreme80]

Damn... I got nothin like that and my ac works great. Weird...

[harnalien]

i've been looking all over the forum and different magazines at engine pics, and i don't see other folks using this part. i will just build it up, and if idling is an issue, i will get the part. but i really don't think this is any reason to hold up my build. thanks all.

[bark]

Old thread, but I need to build a bracket, how did you make yours? And where does it push on the throttle? My factory one is too fat to fit between the accelerator plunger push rod on throttle linkage, might have to move some return springs around to make space...