Author Topic: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?  (Read 27547 times)

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reddogg

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #60 on: October 08, 2011, 06:48:35 AM »
Anyone know well do the aftermarket A/c sytems work with a soft top? Thinking I would like to get one but not sure if the output would be sufficient with a soft top. Here in Delaware, we have 70+ humidity a lot.

Offline chardrc

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #61 on: October 08, 2011, 07:05:50 AM »
Well, out of the two vehicles I have, my jeep is the cooler one to drive in. My Honda has no AC and it seems more closed quarters then the Jeep. In my Honda I just gotta swap the clutch off the AC and a new one in. To add AC to a Jeep, I wonder if that is more work then it is worth?

x2 my dd s10 hasn't ad ac since i got it and i had to make sure to drive the jeep on extreme hot / humid days to try and keep from being totally soaked when going to work. works well with no top and half doors at highway speeds (60-70 mph)
1990 YJ 4cly, ax5, 2.5 inch BDS lift, 31 MTr\'s,  Powertrax-lockers all around, track-bars removed, boomerang shackles, warn m8000 winch, electric fan. [sold but not forgotten]

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Offline grumpygy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #62 on: October 08, 2011, 10:02:55 AM »
 :digdeeper:


You could always do it the old VW Way.

94 YJ, Cool Air intake, 19lb Inj, 4.0 Throttlebody with spacer,  31/10.50/15's

Offline Jeffy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #63 on: October 08, 2011, 11:57:25 AM »
I went to Rockauto.com and found that some of the parts are interchangable like the AC compressor. Around here it is 25.00 for a used AC compressor from the yard. That right there could save you 200-350. Depending on a few of the other parts and if they can be reused or not may save you more. Just a thought.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php
It's not a good idea to buy a used compressor from an unknown vehicle.  If the system has been dry and the compressor was turned on the seals could be gone.  If you want a leak free system go with new parts.  Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time looking for leaks and having the whole system purged and then refilled.  Or having to top off the system every year.
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"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline Jeffy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #64 on: October 08, 2011, 11:59:16 AM »
Anyone know well do the aftermarket A/c sytems work with a soft top? Thinking I would like to get one but not sure if the output would be sufficient with a soft top. Here in Delaware, we have 70+ humidity a lot.
Yes, A/C will work with a soft top on.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNlr60GXH5OlKIFrT7P6mg
My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline jfrabat

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #65 on: October 08, 2011, 10:07:05 PM »
Yes, A/C will work with a soft top on.

Not as good as it will on  a hard top, though; less insulation on the top and a lot more drafts coming in...
'94 YJ 2.5L with 4" RE lift, Superwinch EPi9.0, FoMoCo e-Fan, SD30 and SD35 w/ARB-5.13, 165A alt., 33" BFG KM2 on 15" AR wheels, Sony sound system, Pavement Ends Hardtop, Hydroboost

Offline Jeffy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #66 on: October 08, 2011, 11:39:19 PM »
Not as good as it will on  a hard top, though; less insulation on the top and a lot more drafts coming in...
Jeep sold and sells AC with the soft top still.  Yeah, you're going to lose a lot of the cool air because of the thin top but I don't think it will be that bad.  At least not with sail cloth.  Denim is a bit thin but again, as long as it's blowing it will help.
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My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline jfrabat

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #67 on: October 09, 2011, 10:58:34 AM »
Jeep sold and sells AC with the soft top still.  Yeah, you're going to lose a lot of the cool air because of the thin top but I don't think it will be that bad.  At least not with sail cloth.  Denim is a bit thin but again, as long as it's blowing it will help.

I'm not saying it wont work (I used to run mine with the AC and soft top in Miami), but it's just better with the hard top...
'94 YJ 2.5L with 4" RE lift, Superwinch EPi9.0, FoMoCo e-Fan, SD30 and SD35 w/ARB-5.13, 165A alt., 33" BFG KM2 on 15" AR wheels, Sony sound system, Pavement Ends Hardtop, Hydroboost

SDWE61988

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #68 on: October 14, 2011, 07:19:47 AM »
Jeffy,

Did you get the kit yet?  did you install it.

Offline Jeffy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #69 on: October 14, 2011, 09:21:29 AM »
Jeffy,

Did you get the kit yet?  did you install it.
No, I'm still waiting on it.  I think they build the kits to order so the lines have to be custom cut for the compressor I want.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNlr60GXH5OlKIFrT7P6mg
My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline sharpxmen

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #70 on: October 14, 2011, 09:39:48 AM »
a writeup would be nice  :wall:

not sure if i'll ever get to install one in mine but it is on my wishlist.
'95 YJ, NSG370 6spd / Hurst shifter, Dana 300 + 4:1 Doubler / tri-stick, Custom skid, Super D35 / Auburn LSD / 4.88, 35x12.5x15 BFG KM2, 64mm t/b, 1.7 RollerRockers, MkVIII e-fan, Dual Diaph Booster
Latest: Corbeau BajaRS heated seats :dance: keeping warm the rear end

Offline Jeffy

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #71 on: October 20, 2011, 11:14:22 AM »
Well, I still don't have it.  Actually there was a delay as they're waiting for more compressors and brackets.  I had to talk with them to get my order sorted though.  I didn't want the kit they offered since the compressor has tabs and uses an additional bracket.  I wanted a OEM compressor so I can reuse my OBA.  Took two days of emails back and forth to get this all sorted but I think it's gonna happen.  Unfortunately they don't have the OE compressor either.  They said they will email me when they do get it.

Supposedly, they said a rival when out of business and they have been sacked.  Not sure who that is.  ACKits.com and Collin Brothers both sell Jeep kits still.  Actually ACKits now has a 10% off sale.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNlr60GXH5OlKIFrT7P6mg
My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline DanMarino

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My Kit is Ordered
« Reply #72 on: April 18, 2012, 09:36:22 AM »
Years later I finally ordered the air conditioning kit from Jeepair.  Price was $949.  I'll report back how the installation goes.  My daughter is driving my trusty Volvo 240 wagon that has air conditioning, so now I'm in the 1994 Wrangler full time.  I can't take a Washington, DC summer in the Jeep in my work clothes without air conditioning!

Wish me luck.

13

Offline AWK

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Re: How Difficult is it to Add Air Conditioning?
« Reply #73 on: April 18, 2012, 02:01:01 PM »
I have a Vintage Air AC on my 1997 TJ with a soft top.    I rarely use it, but when I do it works great.   I was not the one that installed it, I bought this way.   Mines an older model that uses a seperate small blue button (AC stamped on it) to engage the compressor.   This thing is slow to begin with so performance wise I really don't complain.   If you want some pic, send me PM and I will send you a few.   

AWK

Offline DanMarino

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The Installation Has Begun!!!!!
« Reply #74 on: May 21, 2012, 11:25:13 AM »
I worked on the Jeep on Saturday and Sunday.  I've probably got about 10 hours into the project so far and I'm about half way done.  It was a pain working under the dash to get the fan box and evaporator with the vents installed inside the Jeep.  But that part is all done except for a couple of electrical wires that I need to hook up that are the last step.  The stupid blower fan housing got in the way of the gas pedal, so I had to cut some of the gas pedal lever off at the very top.  It would pivot forward when the gas pedal was pushed and get stopped.  I was upside down a lot on Saturday.  It took way longer than it should have to get that unit installed under the dash.


Sunday I mounted the compressor and also the drier.  The next step is to remove the radiator and then install the condensor in front of it.  Since the radiator is original to the car I figured I might as well put a new one in since the old one could spring a leak any time.  18 years is pretty good for a radiator to last.  I'm going to also install a new water pump, thermostat, and hoses while I'm in there.  The new water pump does not look quite like the one on the YJ, so hopefully the parts guy gave me the correct one. 


After that stuff is installed, the only thing left to do is run the hoses.  I've already cut two holes in the fire wall and put in rubber grommets.  So hopefully running the hoses will go easy.  Once the electrical connections are made, I can take it to a shop to get evacuated and charged with freon.  It's been an ok project so far, but I was getting sick of being upside down for about 6 hours under the dash.