DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I know someone was making an adapter that lets you bolt the RX-8 AC compressor on to the FD block. That would be a great way to go, those compressors brand new Denso aren't much -

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=6628&jsn=827

$259 brand new, designed for R134a as well.

I also wonder if you could, in a near stock car, use an RX-8 radiator. The condenser bolts to the radiator on the RX-8.

Dale

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

1. Evap connections at firewall must be changed to FD Mana or Denso
2 Compressor connections changed to FD
3 Don't know yet if RX8 pressure switch will work but think it will
Jim T

TurboTone24

I have the brackets for rx8 compressor. But I’m holding out because someone said the fd and rx8 have different ribs on the pulleys and I wasn’t sure if that would cause a problem. That’s the last step I have. And of course to wire it up. I think I’m gonna buy the compressor though.

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

I am considering the RX8 compressor option. Good option for many reasons. The lines will have to be modified for fitment angles.in addition to the bolt-up adapter.
RX8 radiator might fit but a long shot. Plan is to fab condenser mounts exactly same (position-wise) as FD.
Thanks, Jim T

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

I will have an RX8 compressor soon and can check any pulley differences.
Believe I have read that electric hook=up at compressor may be an issue?
Thanks, Jim T

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

https://jdlmfg.com/products/rx8-a-c-...-stock-bracket

I think the rib count on the pulley is the same.

The compressor has a 2-wire connector but I don't know if it uses both wires or not as it sits in the RX-8. I can find out for sure tonight, I have an '09 in the driveway that's getting a rebuild and it will be super easy to check.

Dale

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

Good info. Compressor brackets are available.
If the the electrical connection at compressor looks doable using the RX8 compressor
should be best for conversion.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

I thought the ribs on the pulley were a different count. I believe the RX-8's pulley has one less rib. Actually, posts 72-75 and 77 discuss this.

IIRC, the pressure switch for the RX-8 is four wires. I considered doing that as well since finding a replacement FD pressure switch will probably be impossible, but I didn't feel like doing the homework to try to make the RX-8 switch work. But if anyone wants to spearhead that...lol.

I never considered swapping to an RX-8 radiator, I wish I'd thought of that before getting another brand new radiator and condenser lol. Oh well.

For the lines, I remember the RX-8 compressor being extremely close to the frame, so the lines will have to fit pretty snug to the compressor. I'm sure there is an option out there though, maybe one that someone already found.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

That's the 2-wire connector for the AC compressor. I THINK I remember that the second wire may just be ground or something.

Anyhow I don't think that's a super crazy to find connector at least.

Dale

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

Thanks Dale & Speedjunkie for the input.
The ever-changing Conversion Kit plan now looks like:
1. Fab condenser mounts OR use RX8 radiator
2. Determine line fitment ( length,etc ) modifications are needed.
3. Change compressor connections OR use RX8 compressor
4. Change firewall Evap connections (for both Mana & Denso fitments).
Jim T

TwinCharged RX7

iTrader: (14)

You can also get these so you can use the rx8 compressor.

https://jdlmfg.com/products/rx8-a-c-...-stock-bracket

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

I have a set of those brackets, but I haven't decided if I want to swap over to that compressor. I just finished remaking my lines a couple years ago and I think I'd like to stick with the FD compressor as long as possible.

TurboTone24

Back again! Finally picked up the rx8 compressor and I need to know if someone can point me in the direction of finding the fittings that go onto the rx8 compressor for both lines. I could get both lines from RA. But if there are specific sizes for just the fittings I could buy somewhere that would be great.

side question for a friend That’s also trying to do this upgrade. He’s missing his ac pressure switch ,is there one from another car that would work in the fd?

thanks guys!!

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Not sure on the pressure switch but most likely. I'd also just see if that part is still available, it could be.

For the RX-8 lines, they use the weird pad type of connection. Best bet is to get some good used (or new) RX-8 lines. If you can find a pick and pull junkyard nearby that has an RX-8 that would be an easy process to get those lines and cheap too. BTW on the RX-8 you have access through the driver fender to get to the compressor, I think one or both of the fittings is easy to get to there.

Dale

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

I don't believe the pressure sensor is still available. I haven't found it anywhere. However, I also believe the two systems used different ones, IIRC. I started looking into that as well but I haven't gotten very far. The main things to look for are that it is a binary switch, with the same thread pitch (obviously), and I'd think it would need to be the same pressure settings but I'm not sure what those are. If it needs a different connector, which is almost certain, it shouldn't be difficult to swap that. I found one on Rock Auto that I think might work (at least being binary and possibly the thread pitch) but I haven't made it to the salvage yard to pull one and verify yet. It's used on 90s-2000s Nissan IIRC. I have the page pulled up on my work computer, I'll have to check it again tomorrow.

TurboTone24

Thanks guys I ordered the rx8 lines and it comes in tomorrow. Then ill just cut them up and take it to Amazon hose and have them weld on the fittings. After that it’s just installing the rx8 compressor and filling my system.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

Correction, I found this one on Summit Racing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fss-20979

I'm pretty sure this is the one I was looking at. It looks almost identical to the one in the car aside from the connector. That's not to say that it's completely correct (N/O, the right thread pitch, correct pressures), but considering it's from the same time period and looks pretty much identical, I'd say it's worth a shot to at least check into.

Are you going to figure out how to wire in an RX-8 pressure sensor too? I'm not sure how it would work, but it would be nice to have another option. Everything else is from the 8, might as well use that too lol.

TurboTone24

No I have my stock one. But I’m going to show this to my buddy who doesn’t have one. Thanks for the info!

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

I picked up a few AC switches at the salvage yard today that I think have the correct thread pitch, and they're all binary. I'm going to do some testing with these and the stock one. I'm hoping they're both high and low pressure switches like ours are, but I need to also see if they open and close at the correct pressures. Good thing my switch still works, hopefully lol.

44010 65794 (Calsonic 1-D) from a 91 Nissan NX-4
85101 65794 (Calsonic 6-B) from a 96 Pathfinder
?5101 65794 (Calsonic 4-A) from a 04 Xterra (the first number is gone, and I'm surprised it's only binary being that new of a vehicle)

So far I'm not having any luck cross referencing these numbers but I just started looking into it. And these aren't like ours with a pigtail, these have the connector built into the sensor, but I figured it doesn't really matter since we'll most likely have to modify wiring to make pretty much anything work.

In my searching, I just found that I'm probably wasting my time since there is a pressure switch mentioned in this link that apparently works for our cars lol.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...-spec-1126777/

JP3 Motorsports

Hi guys ... we have recently released our AC line kit for the LHD FDs running the Greddy Vmount. The kit is setup to allow use of the RX8 AC condenser and compressor. We have other iterations that will be offered like mounting the RX8 condenser to the OEM / OEM replacement radiators, as well as RHD FDs.

Video overview is posted here:

Line Kit is available here:
DENSO Evaporator - https://jp3motorsports.com/products/...76284de9&_ss=r
MANA Evaporator - https://jp3motorsports.com/products/...76284de9&_ss=r

RX8 Condenser brackets to attach the RX8 condenser to the Greddy Vmount radiator:
https://jp3motorsports.com/products/...76284de9&_ss=r

estevan62274

iTrader: (32)

Hell Yeah! kick A$$ job JP3!!
Extremely well thought-out!!
If I didn't already retro fit my RX-8 condenser into to my FD, then this kit would be top of my list to buy.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

I ordered those a few days ago. Looking forward to this.

jza80

iTrader: (32)

Nice to see this development by JP3. Now, all we need is a similar kit to adapt the RX-8 parts to a FD with stock radiator, SMIC, etc...

JP3 Motorsports

We have this in the works along with RHD variants as well. The only thing slowing us down is the holidays and spending time with family . We will have these additional variants available in January.

primerGrey

iTrader: (13)

Has anyone sorted out where to get this connector? I'd like to update the RX7 harness to use the same connector as the RX8 harness, but it isn't obvious where to get it.