A/C conversion

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    Author Topic: A/C conversion  (Read 3075 times)

    Offline 1973challenger360

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    A/C conversion
    « on: August 12, 2003 - 09:45:35 PM »
    I have a 73 challenger (with out) and I recently moved from Seattle area the Phoenix (must get A/C) I believe it was Vintage Air from J & W Classics, I got a part quote for $1095

    The Ducts, Vents, and controls are all included in the Kit. With all the correct Brackets, hoses vents and controls,

    complete Kit is $1095 includes brackets, compressor, condensor, Standard Drier pre-formed Aluminum Lines and mounting hardware.

    Is this a good/Fair Deal.   has anyone used this ? what is not included. and Is this a easy enough job to do in the garage?

    I read that the crate motors are not recommended for a/c will my engine accept this ok.  why not recommended for crates.

    360,  RPM Air gap  (will stock brakets mount to this), 484 284 purple shaft







     
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    Offline Cuda_Kid

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    Re:A/C conversion
    « Reply #1 on: August 15, 2003 - 10:42:39 PM »
    I'm interested in the answer to this one also.    I have had my stock evaporator pressure tested, and would like to use that, along with the factory dash, vents & controls.   I would like to use a vintage air set up under the hood.    Condenser, compressor, dryer, lines, etc.
    Will this work?    Someone told me that the stock compressor robs 38 HP....Can that be correct?

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    Offline miketyler

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #2 on: July 24, 2005 - 03:38:25 PM »
    Larry - did you ever pursue this? I am retaining all the cabin side OEM equipment and am retrofitting newer R134 style equipment under the hood

    I know this is an old thread, thought I'd send a shout-out to you  ;D

    MRT
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    Offline wiging19

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #3 on: July 26, 2005 - 02:04:25 PM »
     :iagree:
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    Offline Rev-It-Up

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #4 on: July 26, 2005 - 03:15:17 PM »
    We just went through installing a complete vintage air system in the chally.  If there's any specific questions, we'd be happy to answer them.  We are nice and cool now in the 98 degree Atlanta weather!

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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #5 on: July 26, 2005 - 04:32:28 PM »
    OK Rev,
      I have a specific question. Will you install one of those on my car???  :dontknow:  I'll even thow in a couple of strawberry smoothies.  :grinyes:  Seriously, I'd love to have air, but some genious removed most components when they did the engine swap on my car.  :stomp:  I just think something like this is waaaay out of my league.

      Mike
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    Offline miketyler

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #6 on: July 26, 2005 - 05:30:22 PM »
    I think its easier than you think but there are some design elements involved. Vintage Air sells a hose kit that includes all the hoses, ferrules, and fittings you need to replace all the under hood hoses. For the complete under hood conversion, (around $1000 or so)they will give you a new Sanden compressor, condensor coil, universal brackets, receiver/dryer, and the hose set. Everything inside the car is retained.

    Rev - can you show engine-side pics of your AC hose routing? Also, where did you mount your receiver dryer? Was the expansion valve on the cabin-side or engine-side of the firewall?
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    Offline Rev-It-Up

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #7 on: July 27, 2005 - 01:24:18 PM »
    Quote from: MEKrunner on July 26, 2005 - 04:32:28 PM
    OK Rev,
      I have a specific question. Will you install one of those on my car???  :dontknow:  I'll even thow in a couple of strawberry smoothies.  :grinyes:  Seriously, I'd love to have air, but some genious removed most components when they did the engine swap on my car.  :stomp:  I just think something like this is waaaay out of my league.

      Mike

    Ummmm.....NO!  You could do it MEK.  The hardest part was figuring out how to mount the under-dash box and route the interior lines.  The engine side was fairly straight forward with some serious head scratching involved.

    MikeTyler, we'll go take some pics of the engine bay.  We put the dryer in between the grill and the radiator on the passengers side.  The expansion valve is located inside the blower unit we got from Vintage Air.  We decided to go with hard-lines from the dryer to the inside of the bay instead of the rubber ones they supplied.  It required a bit more crimping, but gives it a more stock look.  Let me go get a pic for you.........


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    « Last Edit: July 27, 2005 - 02:10:55 PM by Rev-It-Up »
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    Offline miketyler

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #8 on: August 04, 2005 - 02:49:04 PM »
    that does look slick Rev - I think VA sells pre-made hard lines in various lengths that can be bent/formed to fit.

    Where did you get the polished MP air cleaner? Cant find them anywhere. Did you strip a black wrinkle-finish one? 
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    Offline 74 Cuda

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #9 on: August 04, 2005 - 07:50:45 PM »
    Rev, I am thinking about installing a Vintage a/c kit in my non a/c Cuda. When I talked to them the tech said that the kit comes with a replacement coil box assembly that replaces the heater box undet the dash which includes the in-dash vent or a under dash kit. Can you give me some input on that is needed to change the heater box. And will I need to get a dual pully kit for the alternator and nwe one for the crank. Thanks for you help with my questions.
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    Offline Rev-It-Up

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #10 on: August 05, 2005 - 03:56:08 PM »
    MikeTyler, we got our tubing and bent it ourselves...pretty cheaply.  The air cleaner we wanted to match our valve covers and couldn't find a polished one so we stripped a black wrinkle one.  Pain in the butt and not extremely happy with the outcome, but it will do till we find something we like better.

    74Cuda, that's the system we got too.  The hardest part was installing the box under the dash and figuring out brackets to hold it in place.  We also had to fabricate our vent tubing...that was interesting.  Here's some pics of what we got from Vintage Air.  Red started our "How To" section on our webpage but we haven't updated it in a loooong while.  Here's the page... http://our70challenger.moparpages.com/html/air_conditioning.html  But, at least you can see how we had to do some stuff.  We'd be happy to answer any questions you guys have. 
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    Offline miketyler

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #11 on: August 07, 2005 - 11:55:18 AM »
    Quote
    we got our tubing and bent it ourselves...pretty cheaply

    Hi Laura - when you say you bent it yourself did you get bare tubing, fittings, and bend & bead the lines yourself? So far I have only found straight hard lines already made up. I would like to make my own from scratch but dont have a beading tool.
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    Offline Rev-It-Up

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    Re: A/C conversion
    « Reply #12 on: August 09, 2005 - 08:20:12 AM »
    Yes.  We got an inexpensive tube bending tool from Northern Tools and bent the lines ourselves.  We tried brazing the lines ourselves, but left more aluminun in the ozone then on the tube!  :madvibe:  Anyway, we bent our lines, got all our fittings ready and took the car to our local auto a/c company.  They crimped our hoses to the fittings and brazed all our pre-bent lines and filled the system for about $200.  That was a morning well spent!  Drive home in 95 degree weather with the windows up and it was blowing coooold!  :thumbs:
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