a/c installation

[sstine9]

I am considering adding on an a/c unit to my non a/c 73 2.0 and would like to hear from any one who has any knowledge of what this job might entail. is this anf engine/tranny drop job or can it be done with engine in? Also I still am looking for a good used DPD COMPLETE UNIT for sale which I will buy for a fair price

[jamcleod]

i think it requires an engine drop to cut up the engine bay to accomodate the compressor and a cut out in the front trunk for the condensor (?) and a bunch of about 2" holes to route the hoses. doubt it would be easy to cut up the engine bay with engine in.

[Amark]

My 73 2.0 has DPD A/C on it. The only modification to the engine compartment is on the passenger side under the battery there is a 2" by 6" notch in the engine shelf. One piece of engine tin gets modified.

You might be able to do it w/ the engine in the car but it sure seems like it would be easier w/ it out. I don't think the dealer pulled the engine when they installed them. But then they were not working under the car on the floor of a garage either.

Mark

73 2.0

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Keep in mind that you also need to change the cooling fan to accommodate the pulley for the compressor belt. You will also need to relocate the ECU unit as it will not clear the compressor when mounted in place. also believe you will need to install a throttle kick-up switch that will increase the idle speed when you kick on the compressor.

[maf 914]

Mark is correct about the cut in the engine shelf below the battery. On my car two pieces of tin were altered. The front (passenger side) tin was cut away to clear the compressor. The side (passenger side) tin was bent at its leading edge and a square cornered boxlike piece was added to cover the compressor pulley and belt.

Mike

[Amark]

Mike,

Do you still have the original York compressor on your car?

I bought a Sanden radial compressor & adaptor plate for mine. I have not installed it yet. Wondering if it the conversion works well.

Mark

73 2.0

[3D914]

sstine9,

I have most details documented on this process along with a wiring diagram I worked up. I reinstalled the AC on my teener just last fall. I'll dig it up, and make it available to you.

Regards,

[maf 914]

Mark,

The original York compressor is not currently in my car. I have been driving without the AC for some time now and have removed all of the components to get back the cockpit and trunk space. I still have all of the pieces and would like to convert to a Sanden in the future. Summer time in Savannah can be really tough, both high heat and humidity, so summer driving is usually limited.

Where did you find the adapter plate? Does it mount to the York bracket? I had assumed I would have to do a custom adapter.

Have you had a chance to test fit your new pieces? Do you still have to cut the engine tin and engine shelf?

Mike

[tryan]

yo, i have the money pit ac unit in the 74. cut that tin close and seal the area the best you can to keep the hot air away from your motor. ( i used a section of a tailgate mat for a truck. butt ugly job) i have a jap compressor and the shelf is not cut.

[Amark]

I bought the plate from a guy that was closing out some A/C kits on E-Bay for $5.00. The plate I bought is for a BMW 320i, but I am pretty sure I can make it work.

They make a universal York to Sanden adapter plate, I think they cost around $100 at the local A/C shop. I have seen a photo of the adapter and it looks like you might be able to make your own out of some angle iron.

I know what you mean about the hot summers. It gets up to 110-115 degrees here in the summer.

Tyran,

How does yours work w/ the jap compressor? Does it suck less HP from the engine? Does it cool better than the York?

Mark

73 2.0

[tryan]

the nippondenso works great until it runs out of freon. i have replaced the expansion vavle and two lines and still cannot find the leak. front condensing coil is suspect.


the ac feels like it steals 10-15% of the hp. 2.0 with euros. i would not waste my time installing a york/piston type compresor. too much vibration.

[M. Hendrix]

I am going to walk over to maf's house, and get his a/c.

What's your address maf?

heh


M

[3D914]

sstine9,

IMHO I wouldn't bother spending any extra money for the Sanden plate if it doesn't come with the 505 compressor. If this the same one I got with my 505, I ended up cutting it to pieces to make it fit. It will also depend on which aftermarket A/C you have (VPC or DPD). I ended up getting a combination of parts from both systems.

My notes were not where I expected, so I'll keep digging for those, but below is the wiring diagram. There are two sources of 12v. power from the AC unit. One directly from the positive on the battery. The diagram doesn't show it but you really need to put an in-line 25-30 amp fuse here. The switched power comes from the #9 fuse (4th from the right end of the panel). The ground also runs to the engine bay. I tied mine into the ground bolt just underneath the relay board. You should get all the electricals hooked up and tested before proceeding to have the system charged. If any problems occur they can be addressed before the system is full of freon - which is costly to replace.


I have some spare parts, since I'm not putting A/C in the second car, and you can have whats left for very reasonable price (if you need them).

Enjoy!

[Amark]

Gerard,

How well does the Sanden compressor work? I have heard that you can run into a problem w/ extreme high side pressure w/ the VCP condensor. I have a DPD that I bought as a spare in case the VPC doesn't work. It would be nice to know before I charge the system. What did you do for a idle speed switch? There is no provision for one on my car. Does the car cool down in the 115 degree summer heat like a modern car? Is your system charged w/ R-12 or did you convert it to R-134? Did you install new hoses? My car has all the original hoses and I considering replacing them.


Off the subject:

You always seem to have these post that hit home w/ what I am working on. I have been following the MPS post because my car has Dollorto carbs & I have a compete injection set-up that I want to install. Did you get the winning bid on the 043 MPS?

Mark

73 2.0

[JWest]

Just wanted to add $0.02 in here. It might be nice to put in a full throttle cut-out switch for the compressor so you at least have all your HP back when you really want it.

[3D914]

Amark,

I've not had any problem with the Sanden compressor and the VPC condensor. I've only used for part of a season though, but I don't expect any problems. The real difference in the two condensors appears to be the fans & housing. See my notes below.

I did not install an idle compensator of any kind. I found that it did not have a big impact on idle. That was on my spare worn out engine. THere was a small, slightly noticable decrease in power, but not sufficient to want to turn it off when performance was needed. It also cools quite well in this Phoenix heat. Not nipple-hardening cold, but comfortable for me. I don't have tinted windows either which could help, but I do keep the car covered with my custom cockpit cover when its sitting outside.

Other notes in next posting . . .

[3D914]

sstine9,

Here are my notes on the AC system (this was edited for corrections):

I'm using the following:

Sanden 505 compressor with adapter
Mounting bracket
DPD condensor
VPC controls, hoses, etc.

If you have the VPC system, it has a swing bracket that pivots on a long bolt. Loosen whatever belt adjustments you have, then use two wrenches to loosen the nut on this bolt. The bolt should slide toward the back of the engine. This will free up the compressor. Just be sure to tie it off with some wire or heavy-duty plastic ties temporarily.

If you have the mounting system for the DPD version, you'll have to remove the compressor via the secondary mounting plate. It has bolts that are accessable from the bottom and outside the compressor. There is also an adjustment bolt at the top near the fan housing, but I can't tell if this needs to come out or not.

I ended up using a mounting bracket that has the swing-arm design from the VPC kit. This is the kit originally installed on my 914. This bracket provides better adjustment for the belt tension. Make sure you get the idle arm that accompanied this. The back of belt rides on the idle arm to apply additional tension. It mounts just in front of the oil filter on two very long hex sleeves.

I also swapped out the condensor up in the front trunk for one from the DPD kit as it has a stronger fan and moves more air over the coils. It has the large conical cap to house the fan and serve as a restraint for the spare tire. The other one uses a squirrel-cage fan, and just doesn't move enough air IMHO.

The DPD condensors can have two "scoops", but not all that I've seen do. One, which points forward, collects air thru about 1/3 the coils. The second, which points backwards, is the exhaust for the fan. The VPC only has one - the forward one.

If you're missing either, they are quire easy to fabricate with some 1/16-3/32 scrap sheet metal about 3in wide, a vice, and a 2lb hammer.

I went with the Sanden 505 compressor. It came with a bracket that needed some cutting and re-drilling to get things to line up properly. The belt had to be custom fit once things were in place. I ended up with one from a FLAPS. Its produced by DAYCO and is their heavy duty Dynaflex, size - 15485. The 485 designates 48.5 inches. It was a good fit, and didn't require much adjustment.

I pulled all old hoses and clamps. The old hoses have to be replaced as I'm staying with R12, and don't want any leaks. Believe it or not these old hoses were designed to "breathe." I had my shop do the hose install, as it requires a special crimping tool for the new hose fittings - which are easier to install
once the hoses are run and cut to size.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need further details.

[Amark]

Gerard,

I also swapped out the condensor up in the front trunk for one from the VPC kit as it has a stronger fan and moves more air over the coils. It has the large conical cap to house the fan and serve as a restraint for the spare tire. The other one uses a squirrel-cage fan, and just doesn't move enough air IMHO.

I think you have it backwards, the DPD unit has the cone shape housing and a larger fan. If sstine9 is looking for one the DPD is the one to buy.

I get if wrong sometimes too. In my first post I think I said that I have DPD on my car, I actually have the VPC.

Mark

73 2.0

[Clay Perrine]

I have a DPD system installed on my wife's 914. In a 100+ Texas summer day, we have to turn it down to keep our teeth from chattering. The car came with AC, but I did a R134a conversion on it after the engine fire. I replaced all the lines, the dryer, all the o-rings, and I used a R-134a compressor conversion kit from IceAc. http://www.iceac.com The kit was worth the money, it was a true bolt on. It comes complete with the compressor, and all of the necessary mounting brackets, bolts, and pulleys. The system has been working for 3 years now, and has not required any maintenence at all.

If you need the official installation manual for the AC, contact Jon Lowe. He is the PCA 914 tech expert, and he has copies of the manuals.

Hope that helps.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Copies are available elsewhere, if you have an email account that can accept very large attachments...

--DD