Picture of AC/Alternator Bracket for 1987 2.5L?

[NickyV]

Hello Everyone. Can someone post a picture of what an AC/Alternator bracket for a 1987 2.5L looks like? Alternatively, can someone let me know if I'm on the right track in my search (photos below).

 

I understand they are hard to come by, but they are REALLY hard to source when I can't even figure out what one is supposed to look like.

 

I've found many brackets in junk yards all over the Western U.S., but the mechanic who is helping me with this project keeps saying they aren't quite right (because they either came off of an XJ or they came off of a 4.0 MJ or some other complication).

 

I am going to attach images of some of the brackets that I've found in my search. Perhaps one of these is actually the right one and my mechanic is mistaken? Help!

[eaglescout526]

That is because those are 4.0L HO(top) and 4.0L Renix(bottom) AC brackets. Here is the 2.5L:

 

 

And what it looks like together:

[NickyV]

Thanks @eaglescout526. Forgive my ignorance here, but I have some followup questions:

 

1) Is this bracket a two-part thing? If I find one, will all the pieces most likely be together, or might I have to piece it together from two separate vehicles?

 

2) I saw on a different thread that @Jeep Driver had a photo of a super clean and polished 2.5 L with the AC bracket (see Jeep Driver's photo below for reference). Again, I'm new to this world, but all the parts on that engine look ridiculously clean. Did you somehow get that bracket fabricated, Jeep Driver? Is that something that is possible? We live in a world of 3D printing, after all...

 

Please, explain this to me as if I were a child, because in this instance I basically am.

 

[eaglescout526]

So it’s a two piece set up. The alt bracket and AC bracket go together. The diagrams I provided show all the pieces you will need for this set up. I had to spend a couple years hunting down my set up. I do actually have the AC portion of the bracket but I do not posses the alt pieces. Now this set up is shared by its cousin, the 4.2L AMC I6 which is kinda nice meaning the parts can be found. Unfortunately the 2.5L is such a hard engine to find accessory parts for because everyone hauled them off to the scrap yard in favor of the 4.0. So finding one fully loaded is a trick. The alt bracket you can possibly get fabricated but the AC bracket can not be. 

[eaglescout526]

Here’s what the AC bracket looks like. It’s missing the rear compressor support piece but I found them at a now defunct Jeep yard. 
 

[NickyV]

Thanks a bunch. I think I'm beginning to wrap my head around this.

 

One more clarification question: Are you saying that if I find a 4.2L AMC I6 I might also find a compatible AC bracket? I'm scanning the Wikipedia entry for the 4.2L right now. Looks like it was used in a variety of cars for many decades. I'm assuming that if the bracket from a 4.2L is compatible that it wouldn't be compatible in every single vehicle that the 4.2L ever appeared in — that there are variations.

[eaglescout526]

Yes, but the vehicle has to have the factory set up as there’s a dealer installed set up as well that looks like a bunch of small bracket pieces cobbled together to have the AC in the system. Unfortunately the catalog I have access to only shows the bracket I have only lets me see vehicles to 84 and it says the bracket was used from 83-90 in the XJ, CJ, YJ and MJ. As long as it’s factory installed, you’ll find the brackets. 

[NickyV]

Final question. Are you happy you took the time to put AC in your 2.5L? I see a lot of folks saying I might as well just upgrade to the 4.0, but I'm a bit invested in my 2.5 at this point — and it only has 115,000 miles on it. 

[eaglescout526]

Oh I am absolutely happy with the time I took to source the parts and install it. Actually only took me a weekend to install everything.
I had several factors to keep me with the 2.5L. An uncommon engine, everyone swaps to the 4.0L because it’s better, not a lot of knowledge out there and I decided a year into my build to keep my MJ stock so I only stuck to doing things right and the factory way. Overall, keep invested and that little engine will take you for a long time.