Air Conditioning AC Examples

[Gizmosrcool]

Hi Everyone

I am wondering how many folks put AC in their roadster? I think the number is low. FF does not sell it as an option when ordering. It seems more people put heat in. I do want to try and put AC in and think i'll get a few more rides from the wife. ok, even for me. I plan on using the firewall forward kit and run a 347. I should have more room than using a coyote.

I chatted with Vintage air and their smallest unit is a "Gen II mini" and they also have the under dash units. Which I do not think would look good. They do have a mock up unit and I will order one along with a condensor. I figure worse case is if I bail on the solution, it only cost me the condensor, mock up unit, and a firewall. If the mock up looks good, I order the remamining vents, hoses, etc, and sort out the rest of the parts.

Are their any builds that use AC that anyone can think of and pop in the link? That will be helpful.

TIA. Tom

[JeffP]

Check with Vern (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?42694-Vern-s-Retirement-MK4-Build-Tread) Hes using a kit from Levy with a Coyote. (lrclassicsllc.com)

[Gizmosrcool]

Check with Vern (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?42694-Vern-s-Retirement-MK4-Build-Tread) Hes using a kit from Levy with a Coyote. (lrclassicsllc.com)
Thx Jeff. I’ll follow up with Vern and Levy. I am hoping to find build examples along the way. Thx for the post.

[wallace18]

Here are 2.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?21008-Bill-amp-Laura-s-MK4-build-thread
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?19828-Wallace18-quot-s-MK4-Build-Thread

[frd2]

Richard Oben - North Race Car

He sells a kit (he makes the aluminum housing and resells the AC components)

No glove box possible though.

Greg

[Randy's]

I configured my own system using Vintage Air components. I used the firewall forward kit and had to remove the middle support bar on the dashboard loop. Using Vintage Air's mock-up unit, I made a template to do the cut-out in the firewall. The unit "straddles" the firewall, 1/2 inside and 1/2 outside (in the engine bay). I created the air box cover using extra aluminum and sealed everything with 3M strip caulking. I am very pleased with the outcome and how effective it cools. I am in the Atlanta area so I know hot. The key is having vents that direct cold air into the footwells, they are on the sides of the under dash console, in addition to vents in the dash.

[k-roy]

I configured my own system using Vintage Air components. I used the firewall forward kit and had to remove the middle support bar on the dashboard loop. Using Vintage Air's mock-up unit, I made a template to do the cut-out in the firewall. The unit "straddles" the firewall, 1/2 inside and 1/2 outside (in the engine bay). I created the air box cover using extra aluminum and sealed everything with 3M strip caulking. I am very pleased with the outcome and how effective it cools. I am in the Atlanta area so I know hot. The key is having vents that direct cold air into the footwells, they are on the sides of the under dash console, in addition to vents in the dash.

Couple of questions for you Randy. With you AC system, do you get it with the defrost? Did you connect all three top air vents, the two defrost vents, and the two lower heat vents? Can cold air be run out of all those vents? (not very clear from their website). You stated you placed half of the unit sits into the engine bay, so approx 3 inches into the bay? Finally, did you have any interference with the gauges at that location?

I ask since I plan on using a gen 3 coyote and space will be tight, especially with the CMCV right there on the wall. I still have 3 months before delivery of my kit. For Tom, the North Race Car A/C kit by Richard Oben will fit with the 347, but is very tight with the Gen 3 coyote.

[John4337]

Look at Richard's system (North Racecars). He has a defrost plenum as well, works great.

John

[Randy's]

Because the unit "rests" on top of the square tube that the firewall attached to, I could not attach/run any duct work out of the bottom vents. So, if I select to blow air out of the bottom vents, the air just comes out of the openings in the bottom of the unit. It cannot be directed using directional vents. I did use the unit with defrost and there were no issues with running duct work and vents for defrost. The top air vents on the unit supply air to the vents in the dash and the vents in the under dash console. As I recall, I had to purchase a "splitter" (a hard plastic Y shaped piece of duct work) to run it like I wanted. My experience is that hot and cold air comes out of all the vents. You select the temp by adjusting the temperature knobs on the Vintage Air four button control that I used. There is a knob for heat and a knob for cold. Turn the heat knob all the way down and the cold knob all the way up for AC and do the opposite for heat. I know the coyote is much wider than the 347 but I'm not sure about the length. If the coyote is longer than the 347, the AC unit may not work. I only have a few inches between the unit and my air cleaner. The cavity between the dash and the fire wall is full, the duct work takes up a lot of space, but I had no issues with any gauges, etc.

[Gale K]

I used Richard's system, built a custom plenum for the bottom. Two vents blowing in pass lap, two vents blowing in drivers lap. Love it!

[Gizmosrcool]

Here are 2.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?21008-Bill-amp-Laura-s-MK4-build-thread
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?19828-Wallace18-quot-s-MK4-Build-Thread

Thx Wallace18. I will review the builds.



North Race Car - Richard Oben

Thank You FRD2, K-ROY, John4337, GaleK for the recommendation of Richard. I will drop him a note and check out his kit.


I configured my own system using Vintage Air components. I used the firewall forward kit and had to remove the middle support bar on the dashboard loop. Using Vintage Air's mock-up unit, I made a template to do the cut-out in the firewall. The unit "straddles" the firewall, 1/2 inside and 1/2 outside (in the engine bay). I created the air box cover using extra aluminum and sealed everything with 3M strip caulking. I am very pleased with the outcome and how effective it cools. I am in the Atlanta area so I know hot. The key is having vents that direct cold air into the footwells, they are on the sides of the under dash console, in addition to vents in the dash.

Randy. Your install is similar, if not spot on, to the one I spec's out using Vintage Air's builder series. Your AC build is nicely done. It does take up a lot of room. I guess they all do. The evaporator is the same. Do you recall which model/part # condensor you used?

While not common, it does look like a AC system can be shoehorned in, and many people use north race car. The Vintage Air builder series is an option. My thought is is comes down to the smallest/compact evaperator. On one hand the kit is nice. The other hand is parts availability from Vintage Air is nice. I'll really have to research and figure out which is best for me.

I appreciate all the replies. It is so helpful. Thank You. Tom