Moparts

Tired of sweating my bees off

Posted By: moparcanuk

Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/15/13 04:22 AM

We are sweltering in 100 degree heat and I'd really like to install A/C in my 69 GTX. I've asked about the aftermarket products but am not convinced. Is there a later Mopar A/C unit that would fit? Perhaps from the 80s or 90s?
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/15/13 01:55 PM

Quote:

We are sweltering in 100 degree heat and I'd really like to install A/C in my 69 GTX. I've asked about the aftermarket products but am not convinced. Is there a later Mopar A/C unit that would fit? Perhaps from the 80s or 90s?




Later a/c unit , what part ? the compressor or ALL of it ???
Posted By: Silver70

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/15/13 06:34 PM

Someone posted about a newer style set up, like the places that sell aftermarket air sell, but for a lot less $. Although a parts listed was never mentioned. I've never like ac, but I'm thinking with a black car it may have to go back in. I had this same thought about what ac box to use and so on earlier today.
Posted By: YYZ

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/15/13 06:40 PM

What about a Mopar underdash unit, powered by a later model Sanden (rotary) compressor?

The rotary compressors can be mounted in such a way that they don't interfere with the Air Grabber if you have one....
Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/15/13 06:45 PM

Quote:

What about a Mopar underdash unit, powered by a later model Sanden (rotary) compressor?

The rotary compressors can be mounted in such a way that they don't interfere





It's nice to ride in a Superbird with the A/C on...
Posted By: astjp2

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 01:17 AM

Not one answer so far to the OP's original question...
Posted By: Daty Rogers

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 01:28 AM

I'd do Vintage Auto Air of Classic Auto Air, pretty much bolt-in and uses R134(?). As far as adapting a later factory system, I'd think you would be ahead with an aftermarket unit.

-Daty
Posted By: 340SHORTY

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 01:39 AM

Quote:

I'd do Vintage Auto Air of Classic Auto Air, pretty much bolt-in and uses R134(?). As far as adapting a later factory system, I'd think you would be ahead with an aftermarket unit.

-Daty




Posted By: Gabmando

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 02:22 AM

I installed a complete factory AC into a 72 Charger which left the factory with no AC. Problem was that the AC and no AC cars firewall is different. I had to make a template and weld holes closed and open new holes. Very time consuming. You will have the same problem using a system from any vehicle. from here forward, I will only install aftermarket systems under the dashed hooked up to factory vents for correct appearance. I heard the Bouchillion sell brackets and what not to mount a sanden compressor under the hood. The in dash components are quite compact too. I attached a picture borrowed from Muscle Car Restoration (MCR)site. System went into a 73 Charger. Just my opinion.

Attached picture 7778002-Dodge_Charger_73_001_1063.JPG
Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 12:28 PM

Did your car come with AC originally?
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 12:59 PM

Quote:

Not one answer so far to the OP's original question...




Because the question is so vague it's impossible to answer ...
Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 01:02 PM

I'd use Classic Auto Air. They have the aftermarket HVAC boxes, rotary compressors, brackets, etc. I used their Sanden compressor kit and had them make custom lines for my 1973 Charger and they were extremely helpful.

I talked to the support guy, Ron and he knew his stuff. I'd call him when I was at my local A/C shop getting the fittings installed with a question or needing a part and he'd always answer (phone or email) and have whatever I needed shipped out the next day.

If you car was non-A/C originally, then yes the firewall is different so you would have to drill new holes and weld up others as already stated. Since you are looking at some mods to the car anyway, I vote getting the aftermarket box and going with a rotary compressor. BPE sells them but Classic Auto Air does as well and they are cheaper and will have everything you need. I think they even have some 'perfect fit' systems for your car which supposedly drop right in (at least to an original A/C car). You will probably have to add vents to your dash if it was a non-A/C car.

Aftermarket systems will also most likely use electric servos to open/close the air doors inside which is worlds better than the original vacuum actuators. If you have an engine with lower vacuum or hit he brakes really hard, you will have the doors returning to their resting positions momentarily with the old actuators. The newer electric servos don't have this issue.
Posted By: dogdays

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/16/13 04:43 PM

Vintage Air is the oldest and they have everything also. Jack Chisenhall, who owns VA, is a true hot rodder. Look them up.

R.
Posted By: moparcanuk

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/17/13 04:34 AM

Quote:

I'd use Classic Auto Air. They have the aftermarket HVAC boxes, rotary compressors, brackets, etc. I used their Sanden compressor kit and had them make custom lines for my 1973 Charger and they were extremely helpful.

I talked to the support guy, Ron and he knew his stuff. I'd call him when I was at my local A/C shop getting the fittings installed with a question or needing a part and he'd always answer (phone or email) and have whatever I needed shipped out the next day.

If you car was non-A/C originally, then yes the firewall is different so you would have to drill new holes and weld up others as already stated. Since you are looking at some mods to the car anyway, I vote getting the aftermarket box and going with a rotary compressor. BPE sells them but Classic Auto Air does as well and they are cheaper and will have everything you need. I think they even have some 'perfect fit' systems for your car which supposedly drop right in (at least to an original A/C car). You will probably have to add vents to your dash if it was a non-A/C car.

Aftermarket systems will also most likely use electric servos to open/close the air doors inside which is worlds better than the original vacuum actuators. If you have an engine with lower vacuum or hit he brakes really hard, you will have the doors returning to their resting positions momentarily with the old actuators. The newer electric servos don't have this issue.




Thanks for the info.
Posted By: Silver70

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/17/13 07:24 PM

You can use a buchillion under hood kit and an aftermarket compressor with their bracket kit. I think the key would be finding an aftermarket ac box for under the dash that wouldn't require modifying a non ac firewall. My car has factory ac but I don't want the factory box/vacuum setup.
Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/17/13 07:45 PM

Custom fittings on my 73 Charger...Classic Auto Air. They likely have off the shelf lines for your car. I'm sure BPE will work too but I'd rather go with a company that specializes in A/C. I have used BPE for parts before and while their parts are good, I was less than impressed with the attitude I got there.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/17/13 07:53 PM

What I'm saying on the box is something you can pull from a junkyard car for cheap over spending big bucks for one like they sell in the kits.

As hot as it is here this week, ac is definitely on my mind... but generally I'm not a fan of it. But having a black car, I can't see how it would having it just in case.
Posted By: Twostick

Re: Tired of sweating my bees off - 07/18/13 12:06 AM

I just ordered a Mark IV Vintage Air knee freezer at Carlisle for our wagon. I looked at the combo units and would have preferred to go that route because the unit is about 1/4 the size of the factory box but none of them have the BTU's that a C-Body wagon is going to consume. The Mark IV is 20,000+ BTU.

What you might consider is to buy the evaporator combo kit that replaces the factory heater box and source all the under hood stuff from a donor car for cheaper.

Once the huge factory box is gone there will be lots of free firewall space to install a 4 port bulkhead connector to run heat and A/C lines thru. Just have a shop make up some custom hoses and you're away.

Kevin
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