Air Conditioning Options

[BNelsonAz]

Hi All,

What are the options for adding AC to a 1980 FI 2000?

If possible, what is the difficulty level?

1. Dead easy. You'll be making ice cubes in no time.

2. Not bad. Kinda like cold pizza.

3. Unpleasant. Like a weekend visit from the mother-in-law.

4.Impossible. Kobayashi Maru. Imagine having your gall bladder removed through your nostril.

Thanks,

Bill

[vandor]

#3.

There might be a company in San Antonio called Factory Air still making kits. They used to, and they were good, but the last one I got form them was no-so-good, so I never went back.

You could also just buy a used compressor bracket and buy a new condenser, compressor, drier, and underdash unit, and have custom hoses made to connect them all. Knowing a little about how AC works would help

[Warren]

Definitely #3 but worth it in the end. See my discussion in August 2006; not sure if Factory Air in San Antonio still is around and no longer a web site.

[So Cal Mark]

I recently talked with them since I have several cars to do ac installations on. They sell a universal under-dash kit but no longer have the compressor brackets for the engine. I ended up getting underdash units from Vintage Air, then making my own compressor brackets. The VA units replace the entire heater box rather than take up the right side footwell. We did the 84 dash conversion and used the former fresh air vents as the ac ducts

[vandor]

So does the VA unit do both heat and AC? I'd be very interested in replacing the X1/9 HVAC unit in my Spider...

[So Cal Mark]

it does both heat and ac

[Holshot]

I might be selling the complete factory AC system out of my new car... If you're interested let me know. Compressor, lines, controls/knobs and the under dash blower unit. I have no need for it and for simplicity I'm removing it as I plan to change the turbo setup in the future and will need the room the compressor takes up under the hood. Let me know...

[davery]

it does both heat and ac

Does this set up still have the fresh air possibility?

[So Cal Mark]

no, put the top down if you want fresh air

[Ptoneill]

Mark,

I was at SEMA and saw the Vintage Air guys. You said you used it on a late model spider, do you think it would fit on a 79? I was thinking of using thin rectangular tubing to feed the upper dash vents and running vents on either side of the center console. Do you have any pictures of your install?

I was also looking at old air products, their system seems more compact, do you know anyone who has installed one?

Thanks!

http://www.vintageair.com

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/