Want to put A/C In my 1972 Beetle

[rrb6699]

I have a decent condenser/blower out of the rear of a Chevy van that works. it will fit under the dash center nicely.

What components should I use to build my system? I plan on using the trunk to mount the evaporator and fan. Should I use truck brake line hose to connect the system together?

then the big question is what make of compressor and how do i mounr it on the engine? is there a bracket mount known to work and what is the largest compressor that will fit?

I have pics of my overall engine compartment on one of my other posts for reference.

I know I will have to change my pulleys and belts to ribbed types too.

so, off the top of my head the components I need are: blower/condensor, lines/hose, evaporator, fan, dryer, compreasor, pulleys, bracket for compressor & correct size belt.

any comments welcome.

RayRay

[sagaboy]

overview of the aircon installed. Take note that you need to replace your current fan/alternator pulley with one that have additional belt grove for the aircon compressor--notice that the aircon pulley is about half the size of the compressor-so that it does not strain the engine--this pulley is sold standard in my country--as well as the aircon compressor bracket are standard as well. The compressor is made in Japan, Sanden brand model:SD7H13 as on my car but SD7H13 is no longer manufactured and replaced with a higher cooling capacity model SD7H15 which uses the ozone complied cooling gas.



Notice that the compressor is mounted by 4 bolts onto the top of the bracked and the bolts can be removed and flip the compressor aside so that the engine can be dismount.



The gas hose are feed through under the engine and travelled to the front of the dashboard blower. Take note that the "gas filter canister" is fitted beside on to of the front wheel the gas filter canister is blistering hot and must not be inside the car. This gas canister are actually filled with activated carbon to absorb and water in the cooling gas and need replacement every few years depending on how often the cooling gas are topped up.


Close up of the mounting bracket.


One part of the mounting bracket. These are standard aircon brackets sold in my country.


The aircon heate exchanger condenser and fan are mounted under the recess area of the car.


Under the dash hanging blower.

You can't simply use any type of cooling gas transmission hose. See your nearest car aircon guy to get the right type of hose.

[Piledriver]

The original AC brackets are and pulleys are totally usable, there are off the shelf compressor mount adapters from the original York compressors to the Sandens.

You should replace all the hoses with modern hose, which has an impermeable lining, but any metal sections may be reused with the new hose crimped on, although the barrier hose is best used with non-barbed fittings.

The receiver dryer can be on either side of the condenser, if plumbed after the condenser in the circuit it doesn't get very hot, but still best mounted under the fender or such. It is filled with dessicant to remove any moisture from the system.

Some systems have the receiver dryer (or a second one) in the return line to the compressor as a liquid trap to prevent any liquid refrigerant from getting back to the compressor at low air temperatures, which would be fatal to the compressor.
This could go by the transmission or under a rear fender.

This fellow on ebay was very helpful to me:(link to barrier hose) ad is IIRC in Mobile, Alabama.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370474382224?it ... 23&vxp=mtr

Coming off the compressor going to the condenser you will run # 8 hose. From the condenser to the drier #6 from the direr to the evap #6. Evap to compressor #10. ...

I sacrificed/"installed" a dead garden hose to get the lengths of hose right, the hose is ~$2-3 a foot, and you need a lot of it on a rear engined car. You can run hardline for the long runs, but there is little savings to be had, and it makes for more joints.

[rrb6699]

I was thinking of sacrificing my trunl for the evaporator. I have a '72 and was unaware of a recess area to install this. where did you mount the compressor bracket? what kind of compresor should I get? who sells the pulleys and belts, etc...

also any other specific info. I wanted to take a look at those smart cars to see what kind of compressor they use.

thanks in advance.

RayRay

[Piledriver]

There is a place or two that sells a kit, may also be one available from Mexico, IIRC the evap and blower setup go behind the back seat in the package area.

The bracket Sagaboy has is very nice, much nicer than 70s originals.
It bolts to the exhaust studs on #4 and case.
Its the hardest part of the install if you try to fab it yourself.
I probably have the same evap unit in my T3, but was able to tuck it up flat under the dash on the 73 square by modifying the wiper setup.

Many of the original AC units had the condenser/fans beside the transmission...
The super beetles got them up front the NA models had a ventilated front panel to get air to them.
(There were no "factory" installed units, all dealer installed at least in NA, so no two were exactly the same)

[rrb6699]

sorry but I looked for Sagaboy bracket but cannot find it. do you have a link or phone#?
I took a blower unit from an old chevy van rear blower that will fit nicely under my dash, however, I dont have the compressor, pulleys, belts, dryer, evaporator & hoses. hoses shouldnt be a problm. I can hook it all up but was wondering what more modern a/c compressors will work more efficiently? im curious about what they use in Smart cars. is there a way to find out what newer compressors fit the a/c brackets they sell for the old Beetles?
I have heard they make small compressors that are used on a lot of antique restorations.
om not an a/c guy, so, not sure if condensor is paer of the blower unit. also heard there is an expander? do I have all the components listedm



rr

[rrb6699]

the pics you show make me think my rotor is gonna be in the way.
look at the last pic of my engine compartment without a/c compressor.
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 5&start=15

did you have to move your coil or anything else when you installed the cmpressor, pulleys and bracket and belts?

where is your coil?

mine is on the fan shroud right now.

[Piledriver]

Relocating a coil is very easy, at worst you need a wire stretcher.

Sagaboy, have a link for those brackets?
(They look kinda like the late model Mexican units)

The Sanden 709s are the compressors most commonly used for HotRod builds.
There are more modern/efficient compressors, but you will be making brackets.

I used a Delphi out of a 2011 Cobalt or HHR, variable displacement/self regulating.
Kinda long and skinny to suit where it needed to fit. Made my own bracket.

[sagaboy]

The bracket does not get in the way to access the distributor cap and rotor as there are sufficient space to lift them up and out from the top but if you wish easier access you can simply remove the two bolts on both ends of the pulley tensioner arm laying across the distributor cap.

This particular Sanden brand compressor are most suitable for aircool engine because the engine compartment do get very hot--and that will affect almost all brand of compressor to break down much earlier as they are usually for water cool engine where the compartment does not get as hot as the rear end aircool engine compartment. The compressor do get so hot that you are unable to touch it with your bare hand.

This Sanden compressor lasted me 6 years before the 5 tiny piston inside it failed. To increase the service life of my newly installed Sanden compressor and the best solution is to lower the compressor engine temperature by installing another cooling heat exchanger on the other side of the recess of the car--which I did--and the cool air from the car interior blower is cold as ice.

[sagaboy]

the pics you show make me think my rotor is gonna be in the way.
look at the last pic of my engine compartment without a/c compressor.
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 5&start=15

did you have to move your coil or anything else when you installed the cmpressor, pulleys and bracket and belts?

where is your coil?

mine is on the fan shroud right now.

Yes. The coil is the only item that need to be moved to another location. The aircon set of brackets are very easy to install, the compressor bracket are mounted by the two nuts that lock the exhaust pipe (you need to loosen the exhaust nut to mount it. The rest of the brackets also fit into the engine mounting by loosing some nuts and lock the brackets in place.

[sagaboy]

I happen to have a spare set of compressor brackets. Let me take some pictures of them with measurements and it should not be a problem for anyone to construct if you have a arc-welder and some odds and ends steel plate--its not something that requires precision, it would be a good idea to construct one out of plywood or cardboard first. I will post it up tomorrow.

[rrb6699]

ok thanks. if they are not expensive I could just order the brackets. I still want to aee what they look like but a link to where you bought them is appreciated too.

if my txt seems odd, my voice interperter input doesnt always work well.

[sagaboy]

OK, the pictures alone telling how the bracket are to be installed.
The next step is to provide the measurements for the brackets then you can make a glued cardboard copy or from styrfoam or plywood and then get someone to make it out of steel plates.

[sagaboy]

Above are the measurements for the aircon bracket.
None of the parts are critical EXCEPT that the compressor mounting plate because after mounting the compressor are perfectly in line with the fan belt/compressor belt to prevent wear and tear of the fan belt bearing.

Suggest that you should make a replica out of cardboard to ensure that it fits into the designated EXISTING holes in the vw car.

Good Luck

[rrb6699]

hey thanks for the measurements! I will start making brackets as soon as I get the compressor. from the compressor I can take these and adjust them if needed.

rr