Adding A/C unit ?

[18wheelerbob]

Hello folks, I'm buying a 1977 924 in near mint condition at a steal. But it doesn't have A/C. Can I add the components needed for this year by using another 924 79/80 and swapping the parts ?

[wild man]

Yes you can. I'm not one to spend much time in the "kitchen" myself. So I know exactly where you are coming from.

[18wheelerbob]

Thanks for the info Wild Man.

[wild man]

No problem - I'm more than happy to help out a fellow porsche enthusiast, if I can. I don't know if you have this issue or not, but I recall my 77 having issues with not being able to blow with sufficient strength when set to high fan speed. It was quite a few years ago, but I think what I ended up doing was adding fatter power and ground wires to the fan motor. It made a considerable difference.

[Brozoar]

Hey I just took the A/C system out of my '83 and I'm looking to sell! The alternator/compressor mounting bracket you'll need I can guarantee in working order. The reservoir is pretty simple and should work too. But when I bought my '83, the hoses weren't hooked up and there was nothing in the system, so while I'd be happy to sell the compressor and condenser too, they haven't been tested...

[wild man]

I think he was saying he already had 79 or 80 924 donor vehicle. FYI - When the comp went out on MY 80 924, I used one off of a (JY) mid-80's VW, I believe it was a fox, or something like that (memory is a bit faded now).

[mattdavis11]

Get it all, brackets and everything. For what it's worth, the 79-82 has a Nippondenso 6P148A, not sure about the 77. The 83 944 has a 6E171. There's not much difference in the 6 series compressors, mounting ears come to mind. A 6P127 might have been OE for 77-78, I don't know, that's why I suggest you get all the brackets. They all have the same 2.0l engine, right?

I'd be willing to bet you could use all the other parts from any early 944 car, until you get to the compressor. Not sure about the wiring either.

When you find the shaft seal leaks, you can find them easily. All the 6 series and 10 series (Nippon)denso. shaft seals are the same, replace the case seals too.

[Brozoar]

Oh darn... That's what I get for skimming.

[18wheelerbob]

Thank you guys for the good advise, it appears I'l be looking for a 1983 944 donor car in the next 30 days or so.

[18wheelerbob]

Hello folks, If I was to get an 83-84 donor with A/C. Can I just remove and reinstall all the parts needed to my 77-924? or Do I have to find an 80-82 or 87-88 924? Which would be my best choice? Thanks again. Bob.

[mattdavis11]

I have no idea, Bob, but I lean early. The firewall determines how hard it might be. It can be done, however.

[djnolan]

On the 944 the evaporator is buried in the dash. You are talking about a lot of work to disassemble the entire dash to install the evaporator. Some of the surrounding dash parts may be different for A/C vs. non A/C and will need to be changed too.

I did this once on a GM 1984 Pontiac firebird and it went pretty well, as everything was modular and the pressurized parts all resided on the engine side of the firewall. Didn't even have to depressurize the donor system. But I had to change out the whole vent system, ducts, controls, wiring harness, etc under the dash. I did it all in about a day.

But the way the 944 is constructed I doubt it would be anywhere as easy.

[mattdavis11]

I know a lot of GM's had the evaporator on the front passengers side of the firewall, but how in the world do you install the lines that come and go from the condenser without being separated?

[djnolan]

I believe I tilted the radiator backwards and was able to slide the condensor in front of it without disconnecting the freon lines. I believe I also converted from belt to electric fan at the same time. With the fan out there was plenty of room to work.

[mattdavis11]

Good job! Condenser.