Non A/C car to A/C
- Thread starter smyythe68
- Start date
daredevil
Well-Known Member
Gonna need an a/c airbox and probably be easier to buy an a/c dash and controls. Stock apearing that important? if not check out vintage air.
70Fish
Well-Known Member
I'd go with a new system like Vintage Air that was mentioned earlier...much cleaner install, and you get all new stuff. FYI I've seen some cars where the aftermarket compressor was installed below the alternator so it almost looked like there was no AC at all installed.
696pack
Well-Known Member
If you are looking to do a totally accurate conversion it takes a lot of work. The firewall is slightly different on the factory A/C cars. You can cut the section our of a donor car and weld it in to your car. Otherwise I would use a Classic or Vintage kit.
smyythe68
Well-Known Member
I've heard that if you use the original box (evaporator) with new lines, compressor and condensor it blows ice cold. Also less costly if you get all of the aformentioned things cheap.
696pack
Well-Known Member
Well, It will blow colder mainly because it is an R12 system. Cheap? No. R12 is expensive these days. Not to mention all the problems you will likely have with an old system.
As far as going to a J.Y. and pulling a complete unit BAD idea. Most are opened to the atmosphere which reakes havoic on the system and have rotted hoses. At the very least it will need to have the drier replaced and the system evacuated for 24 hours to try and remove the moisture from the system. On top of this the old original compressors are very large and heavy.
I have a factory A/C system partially installed on my 69 that was began by the previous owner. It has the correct firewall section, factory evaporater, dash controls, and vents. None of the under hood components were there which was OK with me as I would not have used them anyway. It is VERY difficult to remove the moisture and contaminates from a system that has been sitting opened for years. I will not be surprised if my evaporater has to be replaced becaue of this when I get around to finishing this conversion.
My car is a factory six pack car and a compressor will not fit on the top side with the factory air cleaner so I have purchased a special bracket that moves the compressor to the underside of the front of the engine. I have a new smaller/lighter compressor, condenser, drier, and will have new hoses.
If this system conversion was not already started when i bought the car I would have bought a new Classic or Vintage Air system and saved myself a lot of headaches that I am sure are in front of me.
BTW, I used to work for a large company that one of the divisions of the company did auto A/C conversions as well as medium and low temp truck refrigeration systems so I am well aware of what I am speaking of.
As far as going to a J.Y. and pulling a complete unit BAD idea. Most are opened to the atmosphere which reakes havoic on the system and have rotted hoses. At the very least it will need to have the drier replaced and the system evacuated for 24 hours to try and remove the moisture from the system. On top of this the old original compressors are very large and heavy.
I have a factory A/C system partially installed on my 69 that was began by the previous owner. It has the correct firewall section, factory evaporater, dash controls, and vents. None of the under hood components were there which was OK with me as I would not have used them anyway. It is VERY difficult to remove the moisture and contaminates from a system that has been sitting opened for years. I will not be surprised if my evaporater has to be replaced becaue of this when I get around to finishing this conversion.
My car is a factory six pack car and a compressor will not fit on the top side with the factory air cleaner so I have purchased a special bracket that moves the compressor to the underside of the front of the engine. I have a new smaller/lighter compressor, condenser, drier, and will have new hoses.
If this system conversion was not already started when i bought the car I would have bought a new Classic or Vintage Air system and saved myself a lot of headaches that I am sure are in front of me.
BTW, I used to work for a large company that one of the divisions of the company did auto A/C conversions as well as medium and low temp truck refrigeration systems so I am well aware of what I am speaking of.
696pack
Well-Known Member
NO.
R134a does NOT cool as well as the old R12. I understand that R134a is going to be phased out as well but I don't know what the new refrigerant will be and how it will cool compared to either.
smyythe68
Well-Known Member
Not to discount 696's comment, I contacted classic auto air and they specifically make a kit to use the original A/C box with R134A. I saw this done also
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=20485.
The kit was around $750 compared to $1300 for a full non A/C kit. So if I get a decent original box and rebuild it or find one with a doner car I can still save a few. Also $750 is without getting creative with the individual parts.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=20485.
The kit was around $750 compared to $1300 for a full non A/C kit. So if I get a decent original box and rebuild it or find one with a doner car I can still save a few. Also $750 is without getting creative with the individual parts.
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