2 Darts
A-body Addicted
I have a 72 Demon, that I am putting the finishing touches on. It was once a white, /6, factory A/C car. I want to be able to use the factory A/C controls on a reliable system to cool the car. I have changed both the body color and interior colors to Grabber Blue and black with B&W houndstooth seat inserts, respectively. It now holds a warmed up 318 running through exhaust manifolds and dual pipes. I have a Flexalite fan on the engine as a factory clutch and fan would be about ¼ inch into the radiator. The fan is shrouded and the hood seal is intact. I have not decided whether I will run a hood pad or not. I would like to be able to take the car under its own power to a reunion this summer. I think I need everything from the cowl forward. The heater portion of the system works as do the hoses and vacuum dashpots that control the doors in the housing. The condensor and evaporator have been leak tested and are good.
I also have:
1. a Sanden compressor on the engine that is basically trash, but it is useful to hold the drive belts for the setup. The clutch works.
2. the hose ends that are available to make connections between the engine compartment and the interior.
3. a NOS "harmonica" to control the unit.
4. all of the "hard" lines like the one that connects the exterior radiator (Condensor??) to the drier as well as a grommet where it passes through the radiator support.
5. a valve of some sort with a probe on it. I have no certainty that it properly works.
6. As a factory A/C car it has tinted glass, no extra tint has been on the glass.
7. Rear Air (defroster unit).
8. Though it doesn't show on photos on line, there is an intact factory A/C underdash vent register to be installed.
9. Lived with a Demon with this color combination in the deep south without A/C. This car is a tribute restification of that car, I am not concerned with how it may look(though there are lines that I willingly not crossing). It wasn't much fun then, and I'm certain would not be fun 48 years later, either. No redneck solutions involving drier flex duct, duct tape and a styrafoam cooler will be consdered. Doing without the factory A/C vents is not an option.
Small decisions I need to make:
1. Intall a hood pad. Not sure about clearance needed and available. Car has a TQ on a Performer manifold with a 1" spacer and a K&N air filter.
2. How much insulation and what type and where I will put in floor insulation to reduce exhaust heat in the car.
3. How to insulate the rear of the car. The Demon has rear air, 2-6x9 speakers in a black carpeted package shelf. Also a 1000 watt amplifier mounted between the wheel houses. Thinking about some duct work that could be removed in the summer but when in place would pull warm air for rear defroster using the amp as a heat source.
Big decision:
Who makes a cowl forward or engine compartment kit that I can install? What have others done in a situation like this? I would prefer to keep a scroll-type compressor, like the Sanden for its weight and efficiency. Would I be advised to go with R-134 or R-406? Ideally, I would find a cost-effective kit that I could install, except the drier and refrigerant, which would accomplish my goal of a car that looks and works like one that could have been made back in the day. I would be happy to turn over to a professional the installation of the drier and refrigerant.
I also have:
1. a Sanden compressor on the engine that is basically trash, but it is useful to hold the drive belts for the setup. The clutch works.
2. the hose ends that are available to make connections between the engine compartment and the interior.
3. a NOS "harmonica" to control the unit.
4. all of the "hard" lines like the one that connects the exterior radiator (Condensor??) to the drier as well as a grommet where it passes through the radiator support.
5. a valve of some sort with a probe on it. I have no certainty that it properly works.
6. As a factory A/C car it has tinted glass, no extra tint has been on the glass.
7. Rear Air (defroster unit).
8. Though it doesn't show on photos on line, there is an intact factory A/C underdash vent register to be installed.
9. Lived with a Demon with this color combination in the deep south without A/C. This car is a tribute restification of that car, I am not concerned with how it may look(though there are lines that I willingly not crossing). It wasn't much fun then, and I'm certain would not be fun 48 years later, either. No redneck solutions involving drier flex duct, duct tape and a styrafoam cooler will be consdered. Doing without the factory A/C vents is not an option.
Small decisions I need to make:
1. Intall a hood pad. Not sure about clearance needed and available. Car has a TQ on a Performer manifold with a 1" spacer and a K&N air filter.
2. How much insulation and what type and where I will put in floor insulation to reduce exhaust heat in the car.
3. How to insulate the rear of the car. The Demon has rear air, 2-6x9 speakers in a black carpeted package shelf. Also a 1000 watt amplifier mounted between the wheel houses. Thinking about some duct work that could be removed in the summer but when in place would pull warm air for rear defroster using the amp as a heat source.
Big decision:
Who makes a cowl forward or engine compartment kit that I can install? What have others done in a situation like this? I would prefer to keep a scroll-type compressor, like the Sanden for its weight and efficiency. Would I be advised to go with R-134 or R-406? Ideally, I would find a cost-effective kit that I could install, except the drier and refrigerant, which would accomplish my goal of a car that looks and works like one that could have been made back in the day. I would be happy to turn over to a professional the installation of the drier and refrigerant.
