Completed my Vmount AC fabrication
 

Ahhhh, cool air! Charged with R-12. After 2.5 years, I got off my lazy butt and fabbed up lines, checked for leaks, then charged the system. Working GREAT. Thanks to Fritz Flynn for an old AC line with the required ends for my extension line, and Eric Greenbank (Tripple 7s) for his guidance on evacuating and charging the system. Here are some pics of how I did it!

First off, I planned from the start to eventually have AC 2 years ago when designing my Monster Vmount, so I fabricated mounts for my condenser early on on my radiator. The condenser sat in the car for the past 2 years with the ends covered to minimize contamination.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/014-1.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/013-2.jpg

So, about a month ago, I looked at all of my stock lines and tried to identify a place to mount the dryer. Since the engine bay was extremely short on space I had to get creative. Here's what I came up with. Cut a hole in my bumper support and ran the AC dryer lines through my drivers side headlight assembly, right beside my oil cooler:

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/015-2.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/016-1.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/019-2.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/022-2.jpg

The stock high pressure line (smaller one) required no additional lengthening. Just patient and careful reshaping to get the bends I wanted. Next, I needed an extension line for my low pressure line (larger line) that comes out of the compressor and attaches to the condenser. Due to my Vmount design and shrouding, I needed to create an extension line to make this connection possible. Here's a pic of my solution (note thick black line) for looping the line around my front Vmount support bracket:

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/026-2.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...AZ_1/025-2.jpg

Finally, it was time to pull a vacuum and see if it held pressure. Crap, what's that hissing sound.... a leak in my condenser. Pulled it all apart, got the condenser leak welded up, pressure tested, and viola! Holds 30 inches of vacuum. After that we pulled vacuum on he car for 24 hours to make sure nothing leaked before charging the system!!

Here's a pic with the intercooler reinstalled:

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...CCAZ_1/021.jpg

This install was actually not that bad. You just need to take your time, get creative with line fabrication, and stick with it. Hopefully this thread will inspire more Vmount owners to give AC installation a shot!

I drove the past 2 years from Phoenix to So Cal for Sevenstock through the SW Deserts without AC and vowed that last year would be my last hot ride. Hopefully it will continue to hold true. So far, so good!!

now gimme the system

so how cool is it? No pun intended.

Works similar to stock, so for my car, setting 2 keeps me comfortable (at 100 outside ambient).

This is why I posted up! Copy to your hearts content, or create another idea based on something I fabbed up.

great job!

Thanks zeeshan!!

:icon_tup:Very nice fab skills, the hole package /ride is very well put together. :)

Can you please provide more details on how you bent the lines? Did you use some special tool or a particular set of steps? Did you see any of those thin lines cracking?

Moconnor and I need to do this for our setups.

very nice setup

Thanks guys. Much appreciated!!

You can get tube benders if you want very precise bends, however I just went slowly. I fabbed a mockup using a coat hanger first to visualize the desired line shape and tried to avoid very sharp bends. Those small lines (for me) were very bendable and still in decent shape, but as you mentioned, fragile where they connect to the sight glass block. Just support the line opposite the side you want to bend to keep it from cracking. It still can happen, so no guarantees, but leaks can be welded. Also, if you break something there are several forum members who've eliminated their AC systems and would likely sell you replacement parts, not to mention local automotive AC shops who could help you out with more complex line fabrication.

If you're currently NOT running AC it can't get worse right, things can be fixed so give it a shot, go slowly and think it through. Since my car is not a daily driver, I had the luxury of taking a few weeks to think and work through the process! Good luck and post up your results!

So many guys don't realize how well the FD's AC system works. It will freeze your ass out of the car, when my system is working right it will push 35 degree air out of the vents.

Good job!

Dale

Wow...that's a lot of work for A/C lol. I can't even get a condensor in mine to hook it up...oh well..summer's almost over.:)

That looks really great! Awesome job on it. I am sure many will use this thread for advice and motivation.

This is awesome. i want to fab a mini ac for the car as well. super cool, i like the way u tucked it!

Thanks everyone. If you feel that its "sticky" worthy maybe we could get a mod to help with that?

One note to add is to replace all of the AC o-rings in your system and lube them before reassembly. It's very inexpensive to do and increases your likelihood of success!!

The drive to 7stock should be a little bit more fun this year.

Couldn't agree with you more James! Thanks!

Hey James, I know that your setup is similar to mine. Please post up some pics of your install if you have some. In fact, anyone with Vmount AC install pics, please post them here!!!

nice job. I'm still trying to grab the whole ac set up bc the prior owner took it out when he went single.

Great work!

I have only one criticism: What's the deal with your air filter placement?

All of your hard work to manage fluid temps and the air filter is getting the air that's been heated by the intercooler.

A few of the vmount setups I've seen place the filter in the "V" so it gets only fresh air.

Keep up the good work!

Vince

Very nice! I planned to fab my lines this weekend but my heater core bursted. :( I love the coathanger trick, thanks for posting that.

Vince... agreed with you on the filter placement. Due to choosing this large of a core, it limited my choices for air filter placement. However the area selected is the coolest area inside my engine bay. Under normal driving conditions, the drivers side of that large IC core stays cool to the touch, plus my vented hood helps significantly. Granted it's not probably the BEST choice, but I feel it's best given my options.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...1/FD2_3092.jpg

how well is that receiver-drier holding in there? any vibration on there? reason i asked is that you got it to close to the sides of the bumper and in my opinion eventually it will make a hole in the drier from vibration and rubbing on a bumper support, I would put some kind of foam around the bumper and then install drier, to be on safe side.

Good observation. It's not moving, but just to be on the safe side I shot some clear silicone caulk around the bumper support opening edge next to the receiver-drier, just to be sure it stays supported. The picture doesn't show that. Thanks!