73.5 911T Wiring Mystery

Coloradocurt · 09-09-2018, 12:44 PM

I brought my "new-to-me" 73.5 911T home a few days ago, and have now jumped into the process of addressing long-overdue basic maintenance. Up in the front trunk I've run into a wiring mystery which I'm pretty sure someone out there has the answer to.
The car came with a deactivated Clifford alarm system which I've identified (electrically) and in the process of removing. The car also came with air conditioning which, while maybe not installed at the factory, looks like quite possibly a dealer installation. I'm seeing some wiring which look suspiciously like they're possibly associated with the AC. And while some of this wiring qualifies as "shade-tree," there's apparently a purpose to it all And for the record the device in the 4th picture - which I'm guessing is some sort of a double relay - has had the cover removed for picture-taking purposes.
Regarding the last 2 shots, I've not yet gotten underneath the car to see where those wires go to.
All expert input is much appreciated.

HarryD · 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloradocurt

I brought my "new-to-me" 73.5 911T home a few days ago, and have now jumped into the process of addressing long-overdue basic maintenance.

Congrats on getting the best cruising long nose 911. How about some pictures of the rest of the car? Please include the motor and under the front.

Quote:

Up in the front trunk I've run into a wiring mystery which I'm pretty sure someone out there has the answer to.
The car came with a deactivated Clifford alarm system which I've identified (electrically) and in the process of removing. The car also came with air conditioning which, while maybe not installed at the factory, looks like quite possibly a dealer installation.

Do you have an AC Condenser installed in the front? Is the coil on the motor mounted on a small plate or directly to the fan housing? Do you have a small 2 fuse block at the top of the other two (10 place and 8 place)? These are tells for a "factory AC" install.

Quote:

I'm seeing some wiring which look suspiciously like they're possibly associated with the AC. And while some of this wiring qualifies as "shade-tree," there's apparently a purpose to it all And for the record the device in the 4th picture - which I'm guessing is some sort of a double relay - has had the cover removed for picture-taking purposes.
Regarding the last 2 shots, I've not yet gotten underneath the car to see where those wires go to.
All expert input is much appreciated.

Definitely not factory.

Quote:

Not sure here but does not look factory.

Send me your e-mail address and I will send you the factory wiring diagrams.

Coloradocurt · 09-10-2018, 05:44 AM

A bit of additional info, down in the smugglers box that unit of the AC is from VW with a VW part number on it. Not a particularly "sanitary" installation!
And my biggest curiosity it what's pictured in the 2nd photo. Anyone have a clue what that is?

HarryD · 09-10-2018, 07:15 AM

After looking more, it looks like an after market (non dealer) AC install. My 73.5 has a factory (dealer) installed AC and it looks nothing like that.

gptom · 09-10-2018, 08:45 AM

I have a 72 with AC installed through the dealer. They sent it to the company who did the install. The relay in picture # 1 middle circle & picture 3 is a relay for the AC. Picture #2 is a circuit breaker

gptom · 09-10-2018, 08:48 AM

there should be a fan & condenser in the left rear fender. The drier is under the right front fender. also another condenser mounted on the engine cover

HarryD · 09-10-2018, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gptom

there should be a fan & condenser in the left rear fender. The drier is under the right front fender. also another condenser mounted on the engine cover

Not in my car. As I said earlier, mine appeared to be a factory install.

There was a large condenser in the engine lid with a secondary condenser under the front pan. The front condenser had a blower that took air from the frunk and directed it over the coil. There was a drier in the front left wheel well.

HarryD · 09-10-2018, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gptom

I have a 72 with AC installed through the dealer. They sent it to the company who did the install. The relay in picture # 1 middle circle & picture 3 is a relay for the AC. Picture #2 is a circuit breaker

Sounds like an after market install, possibly locally by the dealer. I did not have all that stuff scattered over my frunk.

Coloradocurt · 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gptom

.......... Picture #2 is a circuit breaker

Now that makes me even more curious. I'm not where I can take a closer look, but I'm presuming that the vertical fuse panel in the frunk has the secondary side of those fuses closest to the front bumper (y/n???). That's where that wire is coming from - so if it's a circuit breaker (which I presume serves the same purpose as a fuse), then why???
Bottom-line, all I really want to do at this point is correct some pretty shade-tree work. The seller said that the AC did not blow cold, and I have no problem with that.
Ultimately, since this is a pretty nice 73.5 911T and since the AC is not original, to what extent will I hurt the car's "originality" if I were to remove the AC completely?? And my objective is to have the car as a well-cared-for, non-restored original.

HarryD · 09-10-2018, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloradocurt

Now that makes me even more curious. I'm not where I can take a closer look, but I'm presuming that the vertical fuse panel in the frunk has the secondary side of those fuses closest to the front bumper (y/n???).

The side closest the front bumper is the power side of the fuses. The load side is closest the driver.

Quote:

That's where that wire is coming from - so if it's a circuit breaker (which I presume serves the same purpose as a fuse), then why???
Bottom-line, all I really want to do at this point is correct some pretty shade-tree work. The seller said that the AC did not blow cold, and I have no problem with that.
Ultimately, since this is a pretty nice 73.5 911T and since the AC is not original, to what extent will I hurt the car's "originality" if I were to remove the AC completely?? And my objective is to have the car as a well-cared-for, non-restored original.

If it was me, I would remove as much as I could easily and store it. This is what I did on my car. The wiring is still installed but with no connections to power. All parts except those in the smugglers box and the plate for the distributor have been removed.

Coloradocurt · 09-10-2018, 06:10 PM

Since this AC all seems to be a doofus setup, I plan to remove the whole thing with the exception of the under-dash switches and outlets, and I'll store the on-engine AC compressor mount. If my objective is "originality," I don't see how that hurts the value for someone looking for that originality. And since I never use AC here in Colorado, what's not to like????
If some subsequent owner wants to install a proper AC setup, I've at least saved a couple of the more important "original" components.

HarryD · 09-10-2018, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloradocurt

Since this AC all seems to be a doofus setup, I plan to remove the whole thing with the exception of the under-dash switches and outlets, and I'll store the on-engine AC compressor mount. If my objective is "originality," I don't see how that hurts the value for someone looking for that originality. And since I never use AC here in Colorado, what's not to like????
If some subsequent owner wants to install a proper AC setup, I've at least saved a couple of the more important "original" components.

Exactly what I did with mine. I took the vents out of the interior to get a bit more knee room. It just bolts up to the bottom of the dash.