AC Restoration / Upgrade ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
AC Restoration / Upgrade ?
Guys,
The "old girl" is undergoing a bit of a "mechanical restoration" while I am out of the country working. GoFast nearly has the engine finished!
As the engine is out I want the AC system working. I will be moving back to Houston at some point and its hot there
Here's the situation; the guy doing the work is a good mechanic; but familiar mostly with Poncho stuff and stock equipment. He is not cheap either; which is ok as the work is fine.
I need to keep the upgrade or restoration as simple as possible. The system is orginal and has not worked for years. The compressor is toast. Of course the engineer in me likes the idea of an upgraded compressor, condensor etc .... but I need to keep this as simple as possible nearly bolt on / bolt in. I do have a C4 blower motor fitted.
any help / ideas and sources for parts would be a big help!
carbster09
By the way GoFast will be dyno'ing the engine with and with out manifolds. I want to know exactly what the MacJacks are worth over manifolds on my 489 BBC build. I will let you know
The "old girl" is undergoing a bit of a "mechanical restoration" while I am out of the country working. GoFast nearly has the engine finished!
As the engine is out I want the AC system working. I will be moving back to Houston at some point and its hot there
Here's the situation; the guy doing the work is a good mechanic; but familiar mostly with Poncho stuff and stock equipment. He is not cheap either; which is ok as the work is fine.
I need to keep the upgrade or restoration as simple as possible. The system is orginal and has not worked for years. The compressor is toast. Of course the engineer in me likes the idea of an upgraded compressor, condensor etc .... but I need to keep this as simple as possible nearly bolt on / bolt in. I do have a C4 blower motor fitted.
any help / ideas and sources for parts would be a big help!
carbster09
By the way GoFast will be dyno'ing the engine with and with out manifolds. I want to know exactly what the MacJacks are worth over manifolds on my 489 BBC build. I will let you know
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 7
From: Utah
I'm planning to upgrade mine as well. It's an original A/C car but when I bought it, the compressor/condenser and some other underhood parts were gone. I'm probably going to go with the "engine compartment upgrade" from Classic Auto Air. It has most of the parts I'd have to buy anyway. This along with my interior will be my fall/winter project.
http://www.classicautoair.com/GM_OEM_Parts_Engine.html
http://www.classicautoair.com/GM_OEM_Parts_Engine.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Don't do my mistake, I decided to restore/update my original A/C system and I ended up paying $800+ in parts! .. I would diffenately pay $300 more and have a Vintage Air system instead of that lousy stock system.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
I rebuilt my AC system right after putting the motor back in. New compressor, hoses, POA valve, dessiccant, and evaporator. No rebuilt stuff. My system also was resealed when I had the dash apart to put carpet in. That was 5 years ago and it still runs fine; I have no prob with the factory AC. Don't see any reason to change it, though I may update the blower fan to the C4 one for more airflow. But it blows nice & cold.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Thanks guys. The Vintage Air system looks to be more than I want the shop to tackle. I like what Classic Air has for their upgrade kit. I wonder if it is indeed direct fit?
carbster09
carbster09
