AC on MK4 with Coyote

[Real Time]

Hi all,

Any suggestions on what unit for air conditioning in the MK4 with a Gen 3 coyote.

I see that North Racecars seems to be on the list.

I have not read anything where somoene has done it.

Thanks in advance
George

[GoDadGo]

Reach out to Henry R. (65 Cobra Dude) because he's done it.

https://youtu.be/sUAnYcvbxyE

I still can't believe he was able to stuff so much crap under the hood of a MK-4.

[k-roy]

Short answer is I don't know. Trying to ask the same question, I emailed Richard at North Race Cars and had the reply "call me, it will be easier". Never a good sign. He said that you can, but it takes a lot of modification. This issue is that on the Gen 3 coyote, the CMCV gets in the way. If you really want AC, you can do a CMCV delete kit which will buy you the room you need. IMHO, why get a coyote if you are going to take the CMCV off. It helps with better gas/air mixture and torque at the low RPM range.

Long Answer.
Ask me again in a month. I am going to put in a vintage air mini into my roadster with a Gen 3 coyote. With a firewall forward kit, you have 3.25"-3.5" to play with between the firewall and the CMCV. I purposely dropped the engine in to see how much room I have, before I removed the engine.
176308
176309

I bought the mock up unit, cut it down to fit, and it will "fit". The other end does fit, but I can't take a picture and hold the unit in at the same time.
176310

The support bar for the dash hoop will need to be removed. To get the the hoses to the top, the unit will have to be rotated/titled forward. To get the evaporator to clear the CMCV, it will have to still be moved forward a bit. Then one heater hose will have to be on the inside of the firewall, while the other will be outside. Might have to cut a hole in the bottom of the firewall forward kit to get the A/C drain plug to clear. Randy has pictures of how his Vintage Air Evaporator went in and he made it work, but it was with a SBF (I think).

Again, ask me in a month. :confused: I might be able to give you more information. I had every intent to have the engine in and the A/C evaporator in by Thanksgiving and first start by Christmas, but I have had to work 100 hours a week for the last month, which slowed my roadster build to a crawl. Hopefully at Christmas I can give you an update if you want.

The North Racecar A/C has been put in the past with a Gen 3, but also needed modification.

[65 Cobra Dude]

Thanks GoDadGo,

I used the Vintage Air Front Runner system. Its a bit expensive but works like a champ and fits perfectly in a MK4. It also gives you power steering.

Henry

[Real Time]

Thank you GoDadGo, K-Roy, and 65 Cobra Dude,

I will certainly be following your threads, and will likely reach out as my time comes.

My build date is in January so I'm starting to get a little excited about it all.

George

[toadster]

I am installing A/C in my MKIV, the initial decision was to use the Type 65 Coupe A/C setup, which is a Siroco HVAC unit
https://www.siroco-hvac.com/en/product/boreal-b-hvac-evap/

installing it where you'd typically install the heater box, it's a bigger component for sure than just the heater
176347
already way down the rabbit hole, but in hindsight - probably would have chosen a more compact unit...
needless to say, the whole Coyote install is TIGHT, so this makes it even more challenging...

176348

the pic above is with the blower motor removed, need to be creative or maybe find an even smaller blower motor for the core

[topherchrisb]

I've been going back and forth between one of the vintage air units vs a restomod unit. The restomod is much more expensive but there are more configuration options between the bantom, cyclone and their RHD counterpart models. You can also get a smiggin smaller depth wise when dealing with that coyote engine on their cyclone model. I recently ordered a mock up unit from vintage for the mini just to understand what I'm going to be dealing with. I haven't ordered my engine yet but feel I should be far enough along in the build to do that within a couple months.

https://restomodair.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RESTOMOD-AIR-S-SERIES-SYSTEMS-COMPARE-PAGE-10-10-22-1.pdf

[toadster]

oh - one thing to note, if you remove the CMCV valves from the back of the engine, you save about 5.5-6 inches of space!
with my setup there's NO way it would have fit like this with the CMCV/IMRC valves attached

176382

you can see the differences here: https://cobradreams.com/2022/02/28/gen3-coyote-cmcv-imrc-removal/

[Real Time]

Thanks GoDadGo,

I used the Vintage Air Front Runner system. Its a bit expensive but works like a champ and fits perfectly in a MK4. It also gives you power steering.

Henry

Thank you Henry,
It looks like I'll be going with Mike Forte's PWR. Steering and AC unit.
What did you use for the evaporator/blower, and how was the fitment?
George

[Real Time]

oh - one thing to note, if you remove the CMCV valves from the back of the engine, you save about 5.5-6 inches of space!
with my setup there's NO way it would have fit like this with the CMCV/IMRC valves attached

176382

you can see the differences here: https://cobradreams.com/2022/02/28/gen3-coyote-cmcv-imrc-removal/

Thanks for the follow up!!
It looks great. I'd hate to take those valves off if I could get away with it. I hear you loud and clear about already being down that rabbit hole.
Good to know that this is an option that is doable.

George

[Gizmosrcool]

The restomod unit looks nice. I also have VA mock up kit and have it to try and see if I can get it to fit and work, when I work on my build this summer. I'll be doing a 427 so a little bit of wiggle room. No matter what you got, its a tight fit. Good luck.

[Real Time]

The restomod unit looks nice. I also have VA mock up kit and have it to try and see if I can get it to fit and work, when I work on my build this summer. I'll be doing a 427 so a little bit of wiggle room. No matter what you got, its a tight fit. Good luck.

Thanks for pointing out the Restomod unit.
I agree it looks nice and I like the bluetooth contol.
I get that it's pricey. $200 for the mock p kit is pretty annoying...lol.

It will be on my short list.

George

[dbo_texas]

Thanks for pointing out the Restomod unit.
I agree it looks nice and I like the bluetooth contol.
I get that it's pricey. $200 for the mock p kit is pretty annoying...lol.

It will be on my short list.

George

FYI that $200 mockup kit from Restomod is refundable - you just ship it back and they will refund your $200 deposit.

[Real Time]

FYI that $200 mockup kit from Restomod is refundable - you just ship it back and they will refund your $200 deposit.

Good to know THANKS!!

George

[Alan_C]

I hate to be the naysayer, but be sure the AC will do what you want. I have ridden in a MK4 with Coyote and AC, not impressed as the cold air from the AC is just sucked out IF you do not have a roof. The AC works well in a Coupe because you have an enclosed space. Before you commit to adding the AC, see if you can find a builder in your area with AC in the roadster sans roof before you decide.
The AC just makes the already tight engine compartment than much tighter and add complication.
Just something to think about and it is not a cheap or simple add on to do right.

[DW66]

I have North Race Cars A/C in a MK4 with a Gen1 Coyote and it works good. I can point my vents towards the foot boxes and it certainly helps on hot days. Maybe not Arizona hot days...

[Alan_C]

If you are only interested in cooling your footboxes and legs, I get it. Just don't expect much in a cooling effect on your torso.
Sort of the same problem I had with my heater, great in the footboxes, not much from your lap up and useless for your face and head. I thought the heater was worthwhile even with its limitations. We all do what we think is the right approach, do what you desire and pocket book can afford.

[DW66]

I agree. Waste up doesn’t get much heat or A/C until the top is on. Heat works awesome with the top on A/C is fair. I highly recommend the top to extend your driving season.

[Real Time]

I agree. Waste up doesn’t get much heat or A/C until the top is on. Heat works awesome with the top on A/C is fair. I highly recommend the top to extend your driving season.

I'm really digging the 427 hardtops
http://www.427hardtops.com/

[Alan_C]

The 427 hardtop is the first that I have seen that is not butt ugly. My quick review of their website has a lot of nice pictures, but what is the price?

[GTBradley]

I'm really digging the 427 hardtops
http://www.427hardtops.com/

Me too! I was perusing their website last week and got interested in the rear fender rock guards (spats) you see in many of their photos. Don't bother asking where they get those, I asked and they are all made to fit by the kit manufactures themselves.

BTW, Paul had a nice picture of the A/C pump on his Coyote on the PS on a Coyote thread (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44732-Coyote-PWR-steering&p=510981&viewfull=1#post510981):

[Real Time]

The 427 hardtop is the first that I have seen that is not butt ugly. My quick review of their website has a lot of nice pictures, but what is the price?

I’m sure it’s a pretty penny but agree their site has some nice pics!!

[Madfor67]

This is a great thread. Please keep more info coming.

I've been researching A/C system because I actually have 427 hardtops. Here is the thread I started -> https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44500-427-Hardtop

I won't be installing the hardtop until Jan 2023, but I'll update that thread once I do.

I also looked into Restomod and the FFR's 65 Coupe A/C system, and I'm leaning towards the FFR's 65 Coupe A/C because it might be possible to mount it under the passenger side footbox.

[Madfor67]

The 427 hardtop is the first that I have seen that is not butt ugly. My quick review of their website has a lot of nice pictures, but what is the price?

High $4K's through a group buy. High $5K to mid $6k if purchased and imported just one.