Edit: said LDH instead of LHD in the title... sorry about that.

Hello!

So I just bought an FD on Saturday and extremely happy with it, but the only issue I'm running into is that I live in California and the previous owner took out the entire AC system. I've tried to look through multiple forums or even just through google and I can't seem to find where I can buy an entire AC system or if that's even possible. The AC was taken out because they installed an RX7Store Vmount kit and they didn't need the AC. I did find out that the AC can still be used with this specific kit but now I just need to buy an entire AC system...

I found another thread but that was specifically about a RHD FD and the thread says that they are different. Hoping someone can send some help my way with what I can get installed in my FD before it gets to summer temps. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

 

Fixed the thread title for you.

There's a ton of threads on AC systems, roll up your sleeves and start reading.

RHD is quite different since the evaporator (the box under the dash) is on the other side of the car so all the lines are different as well.

You need to figure out how much was removed. Some people will be thorough and remove everything, sometimes parts are left. Many times the evaporator is left in the dash.

Basically you most likely need the condenser (the AC radiator), the lines, the drier (the can up front), the compressor, and the evaporator. That's a whole system.

Dale

 

Yeah I guess I was more looking to see if anyone know of like an entire AC kit that I could just buy outright, but after reading your response I asked the guy I bought the car from and he said that he still had the evaporator he can ship me but that's it. So I'll start looking for the rest of the parts and see if I can get it going assuming I have enough room to make it work under the hood.

Appreciate your help.

 

Most if not all of the parts are no longer available new. Only option is to find someone selling the parts.

Pains me when people chuck the AC parts in the trash.

Dale

 

So long as you have the evaporator then you can make all the lines yourself or have them made. It allows you to route them as you see fit as well. I've worked with a local hydraulic shop and have done a few custom ac set ups. All is not lost when you don't have the lines and things.

Since the guy is providing the evaporator then you're good. its the only part you actually need. Everything else can be made.....oh and the compressor of course. I would advise going rx8 if you choose to do the custom route. Same with the condenser

 

So use the evaporator that he’s sending and an RX8 Compressor and condenser then? I’ll look up in the forums how to make high quality lines. Only other problem is custom mounting everything then.

 

Brutal, It looks like I’m going to custom route then.

 

theres nothing to figure out with mounting. there is an adapter bracket for the compressor and you should be v mount anyway so the condensor will mount very cleanly on a cxracing v mount radiator. then you just do the lines.... done and done

 

OP - So I was in about the same boat as you and restored my A/C to working condition. When I got the FD, all of the mechanical A/C bits under the hood were gone - no compressor, no condenser, dryer or any plumbing. Fortunately the PO left the evaporator core alone, and none of the HVAC wiring was molested - so the electrical connector for the compressor clutch was still there, and it worked.

The short story is I replaced the condenser with a generic aftermarket unit, a generic aftermarket dryer that fits in a used FD dryer bracket I picked up, and a new FD compressor. Plumbing was all custom hose, done with bead lock A/C fittings and reduced barrier A/C hose. Since I have a single turbo, trying to use the OEM hard pipes that I found used was an exercise in futility.

You can peruse my build thread for more details on my A/C restoration here - https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...oject-1149941/

 

yeah I have a v-mount, onto finding the parts then. Really appreciate your help along with help from the others.

 

Awesome, will definitely look through this. Really appreciate the help!

 

So I've been trying to find a shop that would do this for me but everyone has turned me away because they don't want to have to do custom AC lines. I looked through your thread, but I just don't have any fabricating experience or any of the equipment to fabricate brackets, much less have the vacuum needed to test any lines I may make.

I'm not sure how much I can justify dropping money on equipment I will likely only use this one time, but do you have a very generic idea on what the equipment cost you to get this done?

Getting kinda desperate at this point and may just need to bite the bullet.

 

boy oh boy..... California cant accommodate for a custom ac job? it really is the end of days....

have you tried going to an outright hydraulic shop? a "hot rod" shop will be able to handle something like this without issue. anything restomod requires such a task.

 

All in, I probably spent about $350 in specialized A/C tools over the years to work on cars. Since I don't do this to make a living, the tools I got from Harbor Freight or Amazon were good enough to get the job done. Figure about $100 for a decent vacuum pump, about $50 for a good A/C manifold gauge set, a cheap < $50 electronic leak detector (all via HF stuff), a $125 hydraulic crimping tool to crimp the bead lock hose fittings on standard & reduced barrier A/C hose (Amazon), and maybe another $30 in miscellaneous bits like refrigerant can taps & expendables like lube for the vacuum pump (Amazon, local auto parts stores).

For one time use, some of this stuff, like the vacuum pump, manifold gauge set & leak detectors may be available as free rentals from local auto parts retailers (Advance Auto, O'Reilly, AutoZone, etc.) - most have tool loaner programs where you pay a deposit that is fully refunded when you return the tool back intact.

As for fabricating the hoses, I had no luck finding a shop that would crimp the lines for me either, even after I did all the onsite mock-up work, so I ended up buying the hose crimper tool from Amazon to do it myself.

 

Definitely didn't try a hydraulic or hot rod shop, I was mostly trying to focus on AC shops. Good idea though I'll try reaching out there before I start buying tools to do it myself.

 

That's definitely not as bad as I thought. If I can't find anyone at a hydraulic or hot rod shop to do a custom job I may just end up having to buy this stuff myself. You also had to find someone to weld things together from the write-up you did though right. Just thinking I should just dive into it before I roast alive.

 

One other point to add on my experience - I did try a few local hydraulics shops, and a local hot rod fabricator shop. All of the local hydraulic shops by me are also hose & fitting dealers, so they refused to touch anything that was made with hose & fittings they don't supply - issue there was I was able to purchase the same Goodyear reduced barrier A/C hose & A/C bead lock fittings online for a fraction of what they wanted to charge me for the same parts. As for the hot rod shops, at the labor rates they charge and the sheer # of fittings needed to crimp, it was just cheaper for me to buy the crimping tool and DIY it. Especially since I had to do all the mock-up labor onsite in my car anyway, and handing them pre-cut hoses and fitting ends that were clocked & marked to be idiot proof to assemble.

 

Yup, I ended up getting a guy to weld some male insert O-ring (MIO) fittings to the compressor pad/pipe ends I salvaged from some used compressor hoses. I TRIED doing that job with aluminum brazing, which in theory works, but is prone to failure in practice as I soon discovered.

The welding job was cheap though, local welder guy only charged me $20/fitting.

 

yes. you do make a point about them not wanting to use customer supplied stuff. sometimes it just depends on who you talk to. if its not "policy" then you have people just looking to cover their butt. sometimes theres a dude in the back that doesnt care lol. results will vary. i think broadening the search scope will help quite a bit. one day a plug and play rx8 ac kit will be available and this struggle will be a thing of the past

 

Looks like I'll just do a bunch of research and do it myself then. Only things I have really worked on and used are pcbs and soldering irons lol. Wish me luck.

 

Where is the Rx8 adapter for the compressor?

 

I just want to say good luck, and I admire your dedication. Where there's a will, there's a way. : )