My 73 Runabout had air conditioning but it was removed by the previous owner. Any suggestions for putting a modern air conditioner in that would work with the original controls?
Well that depends on how much of the A/C was removed, if they just removed the compressor or condenser it would be an easy fix , but if every thing is gone inside the car also your stuck between finding a donor car or a street rod A/C unit,
Get a street rod after market they will out preform any N.O.S. system by a mile . Why because the after market system already has R-134 systems and they are mostly cut and paste set ups. Easy to install and no worries about it working because the new systems come with a warranty even if you install it yourself .You can not say that for something you "piece " together.
If he has all the inside unit it would would work just as good as a street rod kit with the new style compressor and larger condenser , the 134a system needs a larger condenser to get rid of the heat, on my other pinto I had I used a SD507 compressor , and 80 pinto condesor , you could not run it on high very long , cold , my 76 I just flushed the stock system and charged it with 134A eight years ago and works great , 8)
Thanks for the feedback.
Was it originally factory air or dealer add-on?
The dealer air was similar to some of the universal "hot rod" retrofits available now. Factory air had the refrigerant lines going through a plate in the firewall where the blower motor would have stuck into the engine bay. I think the factory setups also had the A/C controls in the dash whereas dealer install shad them on the console/change tray thing in front of the shifter.
The car had original factory air with in dash controls and I believe that everything is there except what was in the engine compartment. I would like for whatever I put in to work with the original in dash controls. Can a new type of unit be synced to the old controls?
the controls inside are kind of simple if no one has mess with them , the vents or damper doors are controlled by vacuum from the engine , the A/C is turned on though a micro switch when you put it on A/C , your model have a thermostat on top of the case that cycles the A/C when it get below 34 degrees so it will not ice up, the wire goes to the compressor clutch , from memory i thing it was a black wire with yellow or white dash marks , if you turn the fan on with the engine running and and the contorls on A/C it should blow thought the vents ,if it does its ok , but if it blow though the defrost vent the vacuum is not hooked up , on the firewall you will see a rubber plug with to rubber lines out , the large one goes to a vacuum can them to the engine , the small one goes to the water heater valve , note , some years had two small hoses to the valve , hope this helps
Can anybody tell me about those "street rod" A/C setups? Where is the best place to get one? I have a '73 wagon, which came with factory A/C, but EVERYTHING has been removed, including the evaporator and heater core and most of the ductwork. I don't need a heater (I live in Phoenix, AZ) but sure could use an air conditioner. I have no problem with an underdash evaporator/fan unit. The original compressor mounting bracket is still there, but that's it.
These guys can come up with something to fit just about anything..
http://www.vintageair.com/index.asp (http://www.vintageair.com/index.asp)