Although it has not been used as original equipment on any vehicles for 20 years, Delco Products A-6 air-conditioning compressor remains the most commonly used unit in automotive history. From 1962 through the late 1970s it was installed in every air-conditioned car built by General Motors, and also by many other manufacturers such as Lincoln, Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Checker, various Italian and English specialty car makers. In addition, it even found favor with manufacturers of construction equipment and farm vehicles.
The A-6, like any air-conditioning compressor, has many moving parts, is subjected to a number of destructive forces, and is sometimes exposed to caustic substances. All of these conditions can ultimately impact its effectiveness and eventually cause complete failure.
Fortunately, parts for the A-6 are readily available, and with few exceptions, most units can be rebuilt to perform like new again. We visited the Classic Auto Air Manufacturing Company in Tampa, Florida, to learn exactly how to evaluate and rebuild one of these Delco compressors.
