Any Classic Retrofit Half Systems out there?
 

I am in the planning and plotting phase for AC install. I plan on using the CR electric compressor and condenser in the front left fender. Already modified washer to use the intensive bottle, which works great. I am considering adding a Keuhl front condenser to the system and mounting the compressor by the battery. This will retain the evaporator and fan in the smuggler's box, and current controls and fan.

Throw rocks - this keeps a good deal of the OEM look and controls, but what am I missing?

If this doesn't work as planned, I can always step up to the CR Gen2 blower etc..

Welcome sage advice.

You'll probably want to consider an upgrade to the alternator to support the extra electrical load of the compressor.

CR have an upgraded alternator that puts out enough power for their electric compressor.

Also, if keeping the evap and blower in the smuggler, you might consider replacing both with Kuehl high performance evaporator and Wirbelsturm evaporator blower motor plus variable speed controller.

wazz - that is my thought essentially. Thinking is to upgrade to the electric compressor to get it out of the engine bay, and all of the up and back hosing in the OEM system. Put it all in the trunk, add a fender condenser and upgrade the front condenser, and likely do the evaporator and blower in the smugglers. Would keep the controls original.

I have a new alternator and would see if that works first, and upgrade if there was an issue.

Even brand new, a stock 90A alternator won't be enough for the electric compressor plus blowers. They need a lot of power when the AC is running full blast.

Check with CR, they have a nice powerful unit that fits in place of stock alternator.

Has such a system been done before? Sounds interesting....

Sounds simple, right? But new headaches arrive when the installation begins, e.g. plumping, heavy duty wiring, & overall system efficiency.
One of the biggest problems is cooling effectiveness at stop/go driving verses the original mechanical A/C system, i.e. reduced cooling.
Don't devalue your 911 3.2!

Devalue? Completely removable. It’s a car.

FA18, I am planning the same strategy in my 85 Targa...I just started ordering parts. I bought a used evap box to mess with. I placed an order for the Classic bits I will use today...still considering sources for the other parts I will need. Should be an interesting project.

I am doing the same in my 83. My half kit from CR was delivered this week. I have a factory smugglers box blower. Need to buy the evap and hurricane from griffiths. I might try just a single condenser at first.

I plan on the front wheel well and the underbelly condensers to keep it all up front. I just found a front blower that might just work for the underbelly one.

Nditiz - looks like you will be the mad scientist we will be watching. Look forward to seeing how this works out.

Talking with Ray Crawford, he said he knows someone with the same setup and apparently works awesome, he might be running 2 or 3 condensers

I like the idea of running the front condenser and plus one in the fender. Wonder if there is another place to mount the compressor if you wanted the front condenser fan as well.

Seems with everything in the front, you get a much shorter recycle of the R134 since it is not running back and forth. May help with the efficiency a bit.

how much does the compressor take up from the factory spot? It almost seems like it could fit, will be tight. I need to study pictures more.

Seems like you could fab a bracket to mount it up off the fan. From memory, the front tube is much deeper than the CR compressor assembly.

Might get tight in there with all of the cables and wires at ground, and conflict with spare on the other side. Wonder if near the brake reservoir might be an option.

We are working on a new bracket that mounts the compressor AND a small battery (Odyssey PC925) in the same space as the original battery. Bracket wont be ready for a while but I know both items will fit there.

I will be looking into the same thing shortly (at the battery locations with a battery). I may also mount it on the opposite front corner as my spare is not installed.