Hard line for A/C lines

USatC · Aug 7, 2018

SO im fabricating an A/C system for my 72 Satellite and I was curious about getting hard lines for non standard systems. I'll be using a factory condenser and evaporator but a Sanden 508 compressor because I have a serpentine setup. First, I was wondering if anyone has used universal hose kits from Classic Auto air/Vintage air and also if it is necessary to have hard lines for my front/rear liquid lines.

At this point my setup (in my head at least) will look like this: (I'd appreciate any advice)

-Sanden 508 compressor
-Factory condenser
-Universal line kit
-Drier w/ Safety switch from Vintage air
And everything behind the firewall will be stock. Finally, can I make my factory controls work with this compressor?

rrTor-Red · Aug 7, 2018

'71 RR. I had a friend who had some aluminum tubing and he welds aluminum, so I made my own. Then another friend had the crimping tool for the connections. Sanden compressor, original condenser and factory controls working it all. Only difference is i put my lines going to the drivers side just because thee is a lot going on the passenger side. I just wanted it to look a little even.

USatC · Aug 7, 2018

rrTor-Red said:
'71 RR. I had a friend who had some aluminum tubing and he welds aluminum, so I made my own. Then another friend had the crimping tool for the connections. Sanden compressor, original condenser and factory controls working it all. Only difference is i put my lines going to the drivers side just because thee is a lot going on the passenger side. I just wanted it to look a little even.

View attachment 635562 View attachment 635563 View attachment 635564 View attachment 635565 View attachment 635566 View attachment 635567

You are the man! Mind if I ask you 1000 questions and ask for a few more photos?

68GTX4SPEED · Aug 7, 2018

I have the same trouble finding parts, just found these in Tampa FL where I will be in November, hope they can help me. https://www.classicautoair.com/mopar_air_conditioning_mopar_ac/

rrTor-Red · Aug 7, 2018

USatC said:
You are the man! Mind if I ask you 1000 questions and ask for a few more photos?

Sure. I'll help as I can

68GTXSpeed-Classic can help you

rrTor-Red · Aug 7, 2018

Here's some more

USatC · Aug 7, 2018

rrTor-Red said:
Sure. I'll help as I can

68GTXSpeed-Classic can help you

So let me start with the lines. Where’d you get them? I see Vintage air has a universal kit but i’m skeptical about them working with the ports at my firewall How’d you get fittings that would work with your factory lines coming from the firewall? Next, where do you have your pressure switch mounted?

USatC · Aug 7, 2018

rrTor-Red said:
Here's some more

View attachment 635582 View attachment 635583 View attachment 635584 View attachment 635585

Also, how’d you get your factory controls to work with it?

USatC · Aug 7, 2018

68GTX4SPEED said:
I have the same trouble finding parts, just found these in Tampa FL where I will be in November, hope they can help me. https://www.classicautoair.com/mopar_air_conditioning_mopar_ac/

I saw that but with my Serpentine system requiring special brackets, plus shipping, my overall price would be somewhere around $1150 in parts alone. Wanted to see if I could fab some of it before spending that much. Still on a college budget lol

chtampa · Aug 7, 2018

I put hardlines on my Classic Air kit. I bent up fuel line and took the pattern to the local fitting business we have here (Amazon) and they bent them up and put the "bump" on the ends for me and it was done. The flex lines I took to Classics warehouse here and they crimped them for me. Looks factory and it was simple.

Trashdog67 · Aug 7, 2018

USatC said:
SO im fabricating an A/C system for my 72 Satellite and I was curious about getting hard lines for non standard systems. I'll be using a factory condenser and evaporator but a Sanden 508 compressor because I have a serpentine setup. First, I was wondering if anyone has used universal hose kits from Classic Auto air/Vintage air and also if it is necessary to have hard lines for my front/rear liquid lines.

At this point my setup (in my head at least) will look like this: (I'd appreciate any advice)

-Sanden 508 compressor
-Factory condenser
-Universal line kit
-Drier w/ Safety switch from Vintage air
And everything behind the firewall will be stock. Finally, can I make my factory controls work with this compressor?

You might find this useful. Its what I used.
https://www.bouchillonperformance.com/ac_condenser_kits

SureGrip · Aug 7, 2018

USatC said:
SO im fabricating an A/C system for my 72 Satellite and I was curious about getting hard lines for non standard systems. I'll be using a factory condenser and evaporator but a Sanden 508 compressor because I have a serpentine setup. First, I was wondering if anyone has used universal hose kits from Classic Auto air/Vintage air and also if it is necessary to have hard lines for my front/rear liquid lines.

At this point my setup (in my head at least) will look like this: (I'd appreciate any advice)

-Sanden 508 compressor
-Factory condenser
-Universal line kit
-Drier w/ Safety switch from Vintage air
And everything behind the firewall will be stock. Finally, can I make my factory controls work with this compressor?

This is what I'm seriously looking at:

https://originalair.com/upgrade-kits

Here are the other lines:

https://originalair.com/hoses-fittings-lines

Pretty much what you're looking for. It'll upgrade you to 134A for half the cost of most other systems. You'll need someone to do the bubble flares on the lines, but if you can find a Bobcat or big rig service shop near you that makes custom hydraulic hoses, I'm sure they can do it.

rrTor-Red · Aug 8, 2018

USatC said:
So let me start with the lines. Where’d you get them? I see Vintage air has a universal kit but i’m skeptical about them working with the ports at my firewall How’d you get fittings that would work with your factory lines coming from the firewall? Next, where do you have your pressure switch mounted?

A friend of mine had aluminum tubing. I first installed the condenser and worked from there. Using some welding rod(s), I formed where I wanted the lines to go and where it would fit right. Then I took the aluminum lines and replicated the welding rod using a tube bender. Another friend has a "mom and pop" garage and he does A/C work. He was the one that had the crimper tool to swag onto the rubber lines. He also had the two connectors that went to the condenser. I then went back to the friend who had the aluminum tubing, gave him the ends that would fit the condenser, and he welded them together. After it was all done, I cleaned the tubes off and sprayed a clear coat on them just for protection. Most of my kit came from Bouchillon Performance and I think some if not most of Randy's kit comes from Classic or Vintage. He has the connectors out of the firewall as well.

There's a switch at the receiver/drier and a sense/cycle switch mounted on the line right at the firewall.

rrTor-Red · Aug 8, 2018

Trashdog67 said:
You might find this useful. Its what I used.
https://www.bouchillonperformance.com/ac_condenser_kits

His kit is very good. As I said in my previous response. Everything lined up and no issues and he had my condenser.

Speaking of a condenser and the "universal" kit. I did have one of those universal ones but the inlet and outlet would interfere at the bottom (that's where they were at). You won't be able to connect the hard lines to it without hacking part of your radiator support, which I didn't want to.

My ar originally came with A/C but most of the components was gone. It's back on but a more modern look now.

rrTor-Red · Aug 8, 2018

USatC said:
Also, how’d you get your factory controls to work with it?

Factory controls work fine with it. I had the original heater box so I disassembled and rebuilt it. It is operated via vacuum and a vacuum can. Just had to run a power wire for the compressor. Check the FSM wiring diagram. If you don't have one, download it at mymopar.com

USatC · Aug 8, 2018

rrTor-Red said:
His kit is very good. As I said in my previous response. Everything lined up and no issues and he had my condenser.

Speaking of a condenser and the "universal" kit. I did have one of those universal ones but the inlet and outlet would interfere at the bottom (that's where they were at). You won't be able to connect the hard lines to it without hacking part of your radiator support, which I didn't want to.

My ar originally came with A/C but most of the components was gone. It's back on but a more modern look now.

Is this what you used?

USatC · Aug 8, 2018

Trashdog67 said:
You might find this useful. Its what I used.
https://www.bouchillonperformance.com/ac_condenser_kits

This is what i’m looking at now. How well does the condenser fit behind the radiator?

Trashdog67 · Aug 8, 2018

USatC said:
This is what i’m looking at now. How well does the condenser fit behind the radiator?

The condenser fits in front of the rad. I will post some pictures this afternoon as the bumper is off being rechromed. The Bouchillion compressor mounts are very nice.

rrTor-Red · Aug 8, 2018

USatC said:
Is this what you used?

I got the condenser, compressir, mounts and the reciever/drier from Bouchillon. His mounts are powder coated. Everything went well. Randy can have his "moments" if you call him. Just fyi

rrTor-Red · Aug 8, 2018

USatC said:
This is what i’m looking at now. How well does the condenser fit behind the radiator?

The picture of the condenser Im not sure but it doesnt look factory. There might be fiyment issues if both inlets are on same side. Especially the lower inlet

Hard line for A/C lines

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