Aftermarket AC? in SC with no air now?

[scotricker]

Every time it gets hot outside, I think about installing AC in my SC. I've seen old hotrods with AC, so could i use one of those set-ups? Is this a DIY job? Or would it be too messy? Or just buy a beater with AC to drive for the hot months?

My SC looks like it has never had factory AC, I don't see any extra parts installed, and the smuggler box is empty.

Anyone gone down this path before?

[mlfox]

This company advertises as such:

Porsche Air Conditioning & Jaguar Air Conditioning

Regards,
mlfox

[Barrpete]

A kit for a hot rod won't work. They are designed for a typical Ford or Chevy V8 set up with the condensor installed in front of the radiator. And quite often the engines are in fact newer and are already set up to accept the brackets needed to mount the compressor.

If your lucky a PO simply removed the AC at some point and you could just reinstall a system with some upgrades (tons of options here). Pull the passenger side floorboard and see if there is a hole that goes to the smugglers box. If there is you're in luck it means your 911 left the factor with AC.

If your 911 never had AC it can still be installed, there are few posts here from folks who've done it, but its not so simple. The most difficult part will be cutting the sheet metal under the passenger floor board into the smugglers box for mounting the evaporator and also under the dash to route air from the evaporator back into the cabin.

Most of the rest would be pretty straightforward. You could source the brackets, pulley, etc. to install the compressor and decklid condensor and probably use a fender condenser in place of the one in the front. Then of course you have to install the wiring/controls.

[FinallyGotOne]

Yeah, my 79 911 has AC, then it looks like a few custome made vents to blow a bit more air. I'd do it in a heart beat if I were you. the bracket that is on the passenger side in teh engne bay will interfere a bit with yourt heater hose, so you may need a reducer to wind it back down in there. And you may want to just double check that your crank shaft already has the 2nd outer pulley to run the belt. In my smugglers box, there appears to be a ac blower or something and then just under the dash is a couple items. The evaporator sits under the deck lid, and gotta adjust the coil on the shroud so it closes ok. Are you already running an air pump?

[scotricker]

score! I already took off the air pump, so I have a free empty pulley! good idea.
and I really like the porsche and jaguar kit company. thanks for the link. that looks
way better than trying to piece it all together from the used classifieds. next summer, I'll be all in-style cool! thanks,

[jimrs2000]

This company advertises as such:

Porsche Air Conditioning & Jaguar Air Conditioning

Regards,
mlfox

Although my car came with A/C I have fitted the after market kit from Retro air and find it very good so I would imagine that the kit for cars that never had A/C will be equally good. The beauty of it is that it all fits where the factory units fit so it looks "right" as well as working like a modern A/C system.

I would give Rock at retroair a call, he is an easy guy to deal with.

[balleta]

Another option, use an universal evaporator in the trunk with outflow hoses routed to center and under dash vents. The air intakes go to the smuglers box to get air recirculated. The evaporator is covered by the trunk carpet. Have seen a few systems like that here and they work well. You can feel the increased airflow at the vents over the stock setup. And is A LOT cheaper than upgraded evaporators.

[rgoodrich]

Be sure to check out Griffeth A/C. Top quality, but pricey. One usually gets what one pays for.






81 911 SC
04 Lexus SC430
04 Lexus LX470
06 Toyota Landcruiser
91 Ford F250
07 Camry Hybrid
11 Honda Accord
LOTs of car insurance bills!

[FinallyGotOne]

question. Using the alternator pulley to power the AC compressor? OI wuld not think you would want to do that. When the AC comes on and puts a load on that pulley could that cause an issue at all? You don't want to burn up alternators.
Just curious, what do you all think?

[lupin..the..3rd]

Originally Posted by rgoodrich

Be sure to check out Griffeth A/C. Top quality, but pricey. One usually gets what one pays for.

Griffiths Technical Inc

for sure. these guys are the only way to go if you want a/c that's actually cold, and parts that are designed specifically to fit the unusual arrangement of the 911. it's definitely do-able to get ice cold a/c in a 911, but this undertaking isn't for those with a thin wallet if you know what i mean.