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A/C Upgrade

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Old 08-30-04, 07:39 PM
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A/C Upgrade

Has anyone considered taking an a/c unit from a late model car and retrifitting it to the FD? With so many options and improvements in a/c systems, it would seem a reasonable consideration
Old 08-30-04, 07:50 PM
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And why would you do that?
Old 08-30-04, 08:21 PM
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TO eliminate a sytem that can no longer be recharged and will loose cooling power and replace it with a newer, more efficent system.
Old 08-30-04, 08:47 PM
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the new ones arent much different. You can recharge the stock system. Convert it to R134. Just have to change out some filters and the drier (I think). No biggy.
Old 08-30-04, 10:15 PM
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Mike I converted my system for a little under 700$, new compresor usually neeeded and a bunch of other minor things plus labor. Its pretty dam cold. If there is anything I would want to upgrade is the fan, the car never see's anything except 4, I wish the fans could push a bit more air.
Old 08-31-04, 01:03 AM
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Interesting. I did some research and some people said they didn't notice a difference when they upgraded the A/C. For $700 did you install it yourself or had a shop complete the task?
Old 08-31-04, 01:08 PM
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Guys around here must sleep a lot. I just bought a brand new (newly rebuilt anyway) a/c compressor for $60 shipped off ebay. Can't believe I stole it for that as they should be more like $300+.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=7916410576

As for converting to 134a search my username for some threads. My 130,000 mile compressor is starting to wear as it doesn't maintain the pressure it should on the high side. It cools fine except when it's 95+ degrees here in Texas, then it takes a little while. I'll probably put the new compressor on this winter sometime.
Old 08-31-04, 01:12 PM
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I've had 3 FDs recharged with R12 this year. It cost about $150-165. Not that bad and R12 is a better refrigerant than R134a so it'll cool better.

Make sure that your condensor is clean and in good shape. Many condensors are dinged up a lot and dirty since the FD rides so low.

Putting some other componets in there would be difficult since the FDs nose is so tight. You might as well just buy a new condensor.
Old 08-31-04, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by turbojeff
I've had 3 FDs recharged with R12 this year. It cost about $150-165. Not that bad and R12 is a better refrigerant than R134a so it'll cool better.
$150-$165 for each charge or for all three?
Old 08-31-04, 03:11 PM
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Sorry for the confusion, $150-165/ea. The price varies a bit on the whim of the AC guy...

Jeff
Old 08-31-04, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by moconnor
$150-$165 for each charge or for all three?
That's got to be each.
Old 09-01-04, 03:54 AM
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There hasn't been that many advancements in A/C Technology since our FD was produced. The most notable change bieng the conversion to R134, which unless i'm mistaken is purely for environmental reasons. R12 does cool better, but its horrible for the environment and its more expensive to refill.
Old 09-02-04, 01:52 PM
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hey, my aircon blows cold enough, but with solittle force that it's nowhere near confortale enough in the daytime.

someone mentioned a problem with the fans. at least one of them is responsible for the aircon right? can it/they be upgraded? would it help signifiantly?

and if one of my fans has 1.5 inch triangular shaped notches in its blades (the battery box used to rub apparently) does that affect performance significantly?
Old 09-02-04, 02:06 PM
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exitium, there is a smaller electric fan inside your dashboard that blows air out your airconditioning vents. The big fans in the engine bay are only for keeping air flowing through the radiator. You should fix the one with the notches though, if it breaks it could cause your car to overheat.

-s-
Old 09-02-04, 07:21 PM
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Another option is to charge it up with a different chemical. My dad bought a case of this stuff called Enviro Freeze if I remember right, and is planning on charging up his Daytona with it, and I'll be putting it in my FD in a week or so when the A/C line I broke arrives and I put the motor back in. I'll post on how it turns out. Josh
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