RETROFITTING AC TO MK1

[Merlot man]

Hello, I am considering fitting ac to my 96 1.8 english mk1, I find the cab quite hot in all this great weather were having ! Assuming I can get all the parts from a jap mk1, is this a huge job. Also, is there anything simpler i can do to reduce heat in the cab.
Thanks in advance
Brian

[back_in_black]

Hi Brian.
Shouldn't be too hard to do but it will a bit of routing and tearing!
Parts list would be:
Air con rad
Air con pump
Pipe work for the flow and return plus a few brackets
The middle section of the internal fan system for cooling the air
New fan belt to allow for the pump

The labour:
Take out the dash to fit the middle section (the biggest job)
Run the pipe. Can be done with everything in but would be a lot easier with the air filter + pipe work out
The rad out just for space to work.
Pump and rad are handy to fit.

Might have forgot a few bits but it can be done.

I'll be putting my own back together soon.

Best of luck if you decide to put it in.

Just remembered there's a sensor on there too so might need a small not of wiring.

[leamyj]

Hello, I am considering fitting ac to my 96 1.8 english mk1, I find the cab quite hot in all this great weather were having ! Assuming I can get all the parts from a jap mk1, is this a huge job. Also, is there anything simpler i can do to reduce heat in the cab.
Thanks in advance
Brian

Great weather????

what continent are you on??

John

[Steve]

Brian, I have an aircon pump and mounting bracket + bolts (and possibly the belt) if you need them. I might also have the under dash bit (you won't need to remove the dash I think to fit it, just the glovebox). You'll also need the A/C switch/button for the dash. There is a second fan to fit to the rad too, and probably associated relays/fuses.

[back_in_black]

Knew i forgot a few bits. I think I have the rest of the bits if you need em and a wiring loom from a 96 1.8 so shoud be able to take whats needed. You might want to check the where the holes in the fire wall are for the aircon pipes. Working on my own car today i found out after a bit of head scratching that the 93 aircon gear dosen't fit the same as the 91. The pipe's are different and the internal unit comes through the fire wall in different places.

[MX5Spares]

I have a few cars with a/c still intact if you want to call out I could do a deal on everything and you could remove it if you want to familirise yourself.Done this for mk2 recently and worked a treat !!Familirise ???? maybe not .

[Merlot man]

Thanks lads for your responses . I might take you up on your offer back in black [great album] .Its great that you have all the bits for the job.I dont know much about this job so it would be great to see one installed .Im based in Co Clare so we are close by ,Im going away for weekend but will be back by middle of the week, could met up after that if it suits .be prepared to dole out lods of advice!
Steve, thanks for the offer but I might pass on this occasion ,if things chance I will be in touch. Hope to meet up at c&c and the spanish meeting/tour in Galway .

Has anyone else done this job,it would great to hear from you.

Robert, hope to deal with you again but maybe not at this time.
Thank you all again
Brian

[back_in_black]

No bother Brian.

Let me know when it suits. I'll start putting a few bits together.

While we're talking about air con has anyone here had their air con system recharged? Pre 95 cars used a gas called R12 which is now replaced with r134 I think. You can covert the system but not sure if it would be worth it.

No point in doing the job if you can't charge it up!

[shaneh]

why do you need a/c in a convertable?
top down and away with ya haha
i took mine out

[Merlot man]

Thanks b in b. Good point about the gas, no point if it wont work, some one here will know im sure . Reason for ac in convertable is that the cab gets very hot top up or down in hot weather.Is there any other way of reducing in car heat in these little cars.Your views would be great.......Insulation ,coolant reroute etc
I look foward to here more views/ideas
Wont be doing any work on this until winter anyway .
Thank you all again,

Brian

[Merlot man]

Big thanks to you Alan for all the components for the retrofit, very comprehensive. Thanks also for all the advice and labeling! It should make the fitting alot easier even for me.
Does anyone know anything about the ac gas,think it used to be r12 now I think its r124 , whats the differance, do I need to do any modifacations to the system? Any advice would great.
Thanks again Alan .
Brian

[Steve]

Hey Brian,

Best bet, give these guys a ring.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3517771 (they are in Shannon).

I think it can be converted to R134a by changing the oil in the compressor and replacing a few seals.

Steve

[back_in_black]

No hassle Brian.

Id say you had a nice spin home. Let me know how you get on if you contact the guys in Steve's link. Sounds like the right place to get it sorted. After you left I thought of the rad bolts and nut. I'll get them to you over the few weeks.

Alan

[Merlot man]

Thanks for that link in Shannon Steve ,they look like the right crew for the gas conversion.Had a GREAT run back home on that mountain road and it saved meloads of time, thanks Alan.Dont worry about bolts ,will pick them up some time off you .Cleaned up all the parts on saturday, all came up really well especially pump and pipework, all bling bling!
Are we still missing a rely or two from drivers side inner wing, only seen something in "rods" book, a diagram but no name for the part in the a/c section page 6:12. parts laballed 6 & 7 .Someone might be able to help me on this.
Thanks again Alan and Steve
Steve , hope to meet up on sunday at cars and coffee,hope tomorrows evening run goes well, afraid I wont be able to make it ,wife bringing me away!
Brian

[back_in_black]

Hi Brian. Sorry its taken so long but was looking through the bible today and I have that relay. To be honest we should have figured it out on the day. The wiring loom I gave you for the fan that has the (spare) connector fits into the relay which is fitted to the drivers side headlight. Hope to be in a position to spin'em up to you when needed.