Swapping A/C to a non A/C car... and vise-versa
I have located a 65 barracuda with the entire a/c system intact EXCEPT for the dash.
Ummm bummer for the dash as the HVAC control bezel is hard to find. I found one for the Valiant/Barracuda style dash and 1 for the 65 Dart dash and took quite awhile to find them.
I have bought it and will be removing it in the days to come to put into my 65 valiant. The firewall is intact and i will make a template from it before i cut the metal. I will share that with you. explain what all needs to be incuded in this firewall tracing/template.
My original template I made from something like posterboard. Other than the blower motor area, I used it to mark location and size of all of the holes I needed to drill - like for the fittings for the AC unit, drain hole and all the mounting studs. I did it from the inside, since the car is gutted. I have had everything mounted and the inside stuff fits perfectly.
also, question: do i need the alternator brackets and all the pulleys on this other car? what about the clutch type fan? I know I will overlook something. I wish there was a manual for this. maybe between the two of us we can write one.
Assuming your donor is a V8, alternator bracket is the same as for non-ac. Do grab the compressor, idler pulley, water pump pulley, and the crank pulley as they are unique for AC. Also grab the condenser (although I see they are available brand new), ALL the hoses, the one steel line from the dryer to the condenser and the dryer. If the donor is a slant, disregard about the crank and water pump pulley - will not fit a V8. The dryer lies on the inner fender in a horizontal position rather than a vertical and thus is unique to the early A Body. Later vertical ones can be used but that results in both hose and hard line fabrication. The dryer will need to be sent out and cut open and new desiccant used.
What sources are there for working on or rebuilding these? Thanks, David
Don't remember right off hand but there's an outfit down in FL that will rebuild the dryer and refurbish the hoses. If you're planning on converting to 134, new hoses with the barrier material in them is a good idea. I'm staying with R12, which is what these systems were designed to use and is still available (my local dealer has it in stock in a big 30l pound container). Hope this all helps; otherwise drop me a PM and I'll' give you my number and can hash it out on the phone.
