Author Topic: A/C conversion ?  (Read 1035 times)

Offline dougs bs23

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A/C conversion ?
« on: June 24, 2007 - 08:52:27 AM »
So, as I slowly get my project nearer to paint now I'm thinking about an A/C system as it is a non A/C car. I know the firewall will have to be modified for evap lines and relocating the heat core lines. So my questions are, 1 Are the a/c heater boxes for an Ebod interchangable with other models (B body?) or are they designed only for E's?  2 What would be the easiest way to close off the freshair inlets on top of the firewall?  (I'm thinking making some type of plate to set over the opening and downbolt it to the underside of the firewall :dunno:  3. Can someone make me a template to use for the locations of the lines and any modifications to the location of the fan motor?  AS always any and all help os greatly appreciated,
thanks, Doug 
see Bill run  go Navy football///fly navy




Offline dougs bs23

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2007 - 08:04:08 AM »
 :popcorn:
see Bill run  go Navy football///fly navy

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2007 - 07:35:53 AM »
That's what I did when I converted my car to A\C.    I drew the hole locations on a piece of cardboard at the junkyard from an A\C car, then went home and started cutting holes.  The only thing that my firewall doesn't have is the lip around the blower motor.

Only the driver's side inlet has to be blocked. Since it has a raised lip, you can make a "HAT" for it, the run a screw down the middle, then run a clamp bar across the hole with a nut. Next time you have your cowl off, you can weld it closed.

I used an e-body unit so I can't help with the b-body question.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2007 - 09:26:48 AM by shelbydogg »
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline miketyler

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2007 - 08:21:10 AM »
Did you have your heart set on all OEM components? I think it will be more work to rerofit a non AC car with OEM than an aftermarket kit.  The aftermarket units will have the blower inside and are more contained not to mention perfromance advantages. Would probably be a cleaner install but might be more expensive.



72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
01' Honda 1100 Shadow Sabre
96' Seadoo Challenger

Offline dougs bs23

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2007 - 05:40:49 AM »
Shelbydogg,, the hat thing is exactly what I was thinking about using some thubolt and a cross bar, and sealing the lip of the inlet with a good quality seamsealer as I hope not to take the cowl back off,, wish I would have considered this when it was off  (DUH) but I thought I would have to close off the passengerside also?

Miketyler, I havent researched aftermarket stuff yet,  what additional cuts in the FW are needed for that type of system?  does the original heatercore location remane the same? Does the blowermotor cutout need close off?  What system did you install?
see Bill run  go Navy football///fly navy

Offline Scatterbrain

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2007 - 01:29:28 PM »
My 73 Challenger was a non A/C car.  I used a Hot Rod Air system.  It was their Universal system for Mopars.  The compressor fit perfectly.  They provided all the mounting hardware that is necessary.  I pulled the heater box from under the dash, fabbed up a plate for the firewall to cover the old blower motor hole and drilled the heater and A/C holes into that plate.  I bolted it up to the firewall using the original bolt holes (I did have to drill one extra though).  I opted for a kit with underdash vents since I didn't want to cutup my dash, though given the questionable originality of my car I should have just gone with the in dash kit, it gives it a cleaner look. 

The blower and heater core are all self contained in their own box that mounts up underneath the dash in the stock locations.  Being a universal kit it didn't have the correct brackets for connecting it in the stock mounting locations, but it does come with brackets for mounting your own.  I still need to wire up the controls (got side tracked by having to fix up the floor pans and transmission tunnel, if you've seen my other posts you know what I'm talking about... safety first before comfort).  and get the system charged, but overall it was an afternoon of work and not much hacking up the car. 

I think Classic Auto Air has a system made for the E-bodies that fits in the stock location and also have the option of indash or underdash.  I went with Hot Rod Air because they came in a couple of hundred cheaper.  One note, if you go with Hot Rod Air, make sure you get the bulkhead fittings for the heater hoses, the kit only comes with some for the A/C lines.  I ended up snaking the heater hoses through the holes in the fabbed bulkhead plate and using grommets to protect them.

Offline miketyler

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Re: A/C conversion ?
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2007 - 05:45:34 PM »
Scatterbrains post says it all for the aftermarket solution. The heater and AC is all in one box. You have to mount the box and cut the penetration holes for the heater and AC lines. Usually, it requires you to use their controller. Most purists prefer all OEM.

Mine is all original inside but is all newer technology equipment from the firewall forward. I also did some custom stuff but if my car wasn't an original AC car, I probably would have opted for the aftermarket kit.

Lots of good info for upgrading all the underhood components on an E-body on the Bouchillon website.

http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPEcondensor_kit.asp   
« Last Edit: June 30, 2007 - 03:36:03 PM by miketyler »
72' Cuda restomod
70 Mustang Mach 1
07' Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Dbl cab in Speedway Blue!
01' Honda 1100 Shadow Sabre
96' Seadoo Challenger