When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
We've posted extensively about the AC line kits we've produced for the FD on Instagram and Facebook, but for those that are not on those platforms, hopefully this thread helps. These line kits include the following parts and allow you to run an RX8 AC compressor and condenser which are rated for R134. The RX8 parts are easily sourced from many places.
CNC machined aluminum adaptor brackets to mount the RX8 compressor to OEM compressor mount on a 13B-REW engine
Plug and play harness for RX8 compressor to OEM body harness connector
Plug and play harness for binary pressure switch to OEM body harness connector
Binary pressure switch
R134a rated o-rings
30mL bottle of Nylog Blue o-ring lubricant/sealant
Stainless steel hardware
P-clamps and zip ties
AC lines with high and low ports with caps located in the same location as OEM AC lines; lines wrapped with high temp sleeving on sections adjacent to turbo area (as applicable)
Our line kits replace all the OEM lines, dryer, binary switch sensor, and ports. The only OEM FD part required in the in-dash evaporator. We have the following iterations now available and will soon release the RHD SMIC/FMIC line set as well.
Mazda RX7 FD3S OEM Radiator AC Condenser Bracket Kit This is intended for those running OEM/OEM Style radiators in Stock, FMIC, and custom vmount configuration (if using the stock type radiator, see pics for details)
We do recommend removing the evaporator under the dash to clean it out (likely gunked up with debris, etc.) and to replace the expansion valve. We have all of the expansion valves posted in our store, and are packaged in a kit to include all of the service parts needed, including the expansion valve, enclosure foam, o-rings, and cork tape (as applicable). All replacement expansion valves are R134 rated.
In addition to the store product descriptions, we've compiled a series of videos on our YOUTUBE channel that explain the line kit iterations, evaporator removal, how to determine which style evaporator, etc.
Last edited by JP3 Motorsports; 03-20-23 at 08:14 AM.
I want to give a HUGE Thanks to JP3 for putting the work in on this. This is the way forward to either put AC back in cars that had it removed or fix a damaged R12 system.
The great thing is the evaporator is the ONLY OEM part you need and they rarely have problems. And the good thing is you can get whatever evaporator is available - Denso, MANA, etc. - and it will work fine.
The other plus here is this uses cheap and readily available R134a. ANY AC SHOP can charge this system if you don't want to pull to a vacuum/charge it yourself. Also this solves the problem of the MANA drier cans that are no longer available and haven't been for years.
I want to give a HUGE Thanks to JP3 for putting the work in on this. This is the way forward to either put AC back in cars that had it removed or fix a damaged R12 system.
The great thing is the evaporator is the ONLY OEM part you need and they rarely have problems. And the good thing is you can get whatever evaporator is available - Denso, MANA, etc. - and it will work fine.
The other plus here is this uses cheap and readily available R134a. ANY AC SHOP can charge this system if you don't want to pull to a vacuum/charge it yourself. Also this solves the problem of the MANA drier cans that are no longer available and haven't been for years.
Thanks again!
Dale
Thanks for the kind words, Dale. This has been an overdue solution for our cars. As part of the R&D process, we ended up buying all the different AC evaporator iterations (LHD & RHD), and learned a few things along the way.
You can buy lines part of the kit but it does come with the mount brackets for the rx8 compressor, the kit is plug and play so I would just buy the compressor for the rx8 if you are using everything else,I bought a denso compressor from rock auto and that was 316 shipped and taxed. Just save yourself the headache and get a new part.
7 years in the making with 5 in the CW. My AC system with the modified Greddy v-mount in its orientation, had moved the condenser parallel. The condenser was not cooling off as well as the radiator or the intercooler was. It was acting as a divider and couldn't keep up with the demand. I've had IRP adjust and manipulate my oem hardlines. I also had an old school welder, working out of his garage solder and cut custom hard lines. Nothing. It wasn't the lines, compressor, or drier because all of that was new or working just as well. It was the condenser causing the headache. But with some members trail blazing new routes using newer technology and refreshed the idea of a vmount, they came up with the idea of mounting the condenser back on the radiator to in turn keep the Freon cooled for the recycling. I was against it because it will heat radiator as the cool airflow hits the condenser first prior to the radiator and then out the least flow resistance. Well, I had had enough of not being able to stay cool in the car and smelling like I just scrubbed myself down in a drum of recycled oil.
JP3 pushed even further with older ideas and blossomed new ones into a resolution of what our issues as a community experienced. At first I wanted to do the job myself. Have a sense of self reliance and fix my own problem. Until I said, life can be so much easier if I just placed the order. And let me tell you, it was. I made the decision and in less then a couple days, I had working ac. I couldn't believe it. I was too stubborn for my own ambition to just let go and enjoy the already made ac lines, the rx8 condenser mounts, rx8 compressor mounts, and the assessable YouTube videos JP3 had made. It was straight forward with a little bit of questions that I had were answered. Twice. If I watched the videos all the way through without pausing and texting JP3. Which brings me to the part that I was grateful to have them quickly help me out on everything I had asked. From the the boot seal on the firewall to the ac relay. I was being helicoptered by JP3 in the sense of telling me, hey this is what we did and what we gave the option for you to decide. I really appreciated the politeness and haste to my experience and install. I just about have every item the have curated for our cars and it it's truly a simple diy install. I have gained losses CFM’s cleaning out the evaporator and blower motor while receiving a winters wind chill giving me frostbite.
Last edited by Rocketeerbandit; 03-26-23 at 05:02 PM.
FD stock compressor option? My AC works but for the V-mount I'll be using the RX8 condenser and everything else stock...
Or can we buy separate lines instead of the full kit?
(Piggybacking off this query...)
Great job on the available line kits, JP3! Appreciate you! Any consideration for those wanting to keep w the stock R12 setup by offering up a refreshed line kit to mate up w just the RX8 condenser/drier matings; I.e., no change to stock compressor? I have a local A/C shop that still has some leftover R12, plus a new stock replacement compressor on standby. And then, I'm hoping to go the route of simply refreshing the entire setup w completely new lines that are also compatible w the convenience of the RX8 condenser swap.
Great job on the available line kits, JP3! Appreciate you! Any consideration for those wanting to keep w the stock R12 setup by offering up a refreshed line kit to mate up w just the RX8 condenser/drier matings; I.e., no change to stock compressor? I have a local A/C shop that still has some leftover R12, plus a new stock replacement compressor on standby. And then, I'm hoping to go the route of simply refreshing the entire setup w completely new lines that are also compatible w the convenience of the RX8 condenser swap.
No plans for this at the moment. The switch to the RX8 compressor and condenser is the way to go since then the entire system would be r134 rated. Not many places support r12 these days .....
Any gotchas or tips for someone looking to do this?
I assume I don't need to take the dash out, just pull the evaporator through the glove box area to clean it? Should I replace the expansion valve as well? Trying to get an overall picture.
I managed to find a new compressor for my 93 MANA setup, but still need to get the lines modified so I can run a drier that exists in this earth. This solutions seems much more future proof and tested (albeit expensive). I priced out this kit and the RX8 parts at around $1500 shipped, whereas I am looking at $500 to hopefully get my R12 setup working.
Alright I ordered the MANA kit, excited to get this swapped!
I see the OEM Denso compressor on Rock Auto, but only a few aftermarket condensers from UAC, GPD, or Agility. I'm not familiar with those brands, any recommendations for a good one?
Also, getting the evaporator out was way simpler than I thought. Finally something easy on these cars...
Alright I ordered the MANA kit, excited to get this swapped!
I see the OEM Denso compressor on Rock Auto, but only a few aftermarket condensers from UAC, GPD, or Agility. I'm not familiar with those brands, any recommendations for a good one?
Also, getting the evaporator out was way simpler than I thought. Finally something easy on these cars...
I'll be installing this whole kit in a friends car in the next two weeks. Very excited about it and I will report back.
I finally fixed my r12 system in my own FD after 6 YEARS of working on it, about a month before this gets released. This kit would have been a no brainer for me since most of my original lines were leaking...
Alrighty I should be finished installing this tonight! Car held perfect vacuum overnight, so just need to put it back together and charge it.
Any idea how much r134a I should be shooting for? I know I should just watch the pressure to get it balanced, but curious how much it would deviate from the standard ~15oz that goes into an RX8 so I can get an idea on how much to start with.
Once the car is running I'll post some pics of the build process. This was honestly pretty easy to do with the right tools, the kit contained every part I could have needed (although I'd say more weather stripping would be nice as I didn't have enough to replace all the crumbly pieces on the evap).
Alrighty I should be finished installing this tonight! Car held perfect vacuum overnight, so just need to put it back together and charge it.
Any idea how much r134a I should be shooting for? I know I should just watch the pressure to get it balanced, but curious how much it would deviate from the standard ~15oz that goes into an RX8 so I can get an idea on how much to start with.
Once the car is running I'll post some pics of the build process. This was honestly pretty easy to do with the right tools, the kit contained every part I could have needed (although I'd say more weather stripping would be nice as I didn't have enough to replace all the crumbly pieces on the evap).
Hi - on our test car, which is LHD and runs the Greddy Vmount, the R134a fill was right around 16oz. It will vary from that depending on the particular line set (some linesets are shorter). I would advise to watch the gauges.
Alrighty I should be finished installing this tonight! Car held perfect vacuum overnight, so just need to put it back together and charge it.
Any idea how much r134a I should be shooting for? I know I should just watch the pressure to get it balanced, but curious how much it would deviate from the standard ~15oz that goes into an RX8 so I can get an idea on how much to start with.
Once the car is running I'll post some pics of the build process. This was honestly pretty easy to do with the right tools, the kit contained every part I could have needed (although I'd say more weather stripping would be nice as I didn't have enough to replace all the crumbly pieces on the evap).
Finished this last night, and I ended up around the same weight for r134a. I had put too much in it at first and had to drain some back out, but once I got the pressure to about 175 psi high / 55 psi low @ 95F the car was blowing cold and engaging the blower + compressor correctly. I will say, we googled the RX8 r134a pressure specs, and oddly it was listed around 15-20 PSI for the low side from this forum post, which is contrary to every other pressure chart I've ever seen which has Low around 50-55 for 95F ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Overall this was a pretty fun experience doing the install. The videos from @JP3 Motorsports were of great help, and all of the parts fit like a glove. It took about 8 hours total across 3 sittings, but we were very meticulous and had consistent beer breaks.
Box of stuff. All neatly packaged and labelled.
Cleaned the evaporator and swapped the expansion valve. Video was great for this, I had never encountered the "cork tape" before.
Taking everything out.
bigger isn't always better
This was a very tight fit. I would recommend getting the ac lines attached before fully bolting up the compressor.
Easiest part of the whole job, the condenser bracket fit perfect to the Greddy V-mount rig.
03-20-23, 08:05 AM
