From One A-body to Another (Air Conditioning)!

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vanleer mopars

vanleer mopars

Mopar or no car!
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Has anyone ever attempted to move an air conditioning unit from one A-body to another? The reason I ask is that I have a complete air conditioning system in my 1975 Dodge Dart (Parts Car), and I need to remove it and place it into my 1974 Plymouth Scamp. The only problem is the different years and engine size. Will This idea work?
Pic 1-2 is my Dart 318,
Pic 3 is a Slant 6 with Air Conditioning I found on Internet,
Pic 4 is my Slant 6.
If this will work, what Belt size do I need to find that will work for my Slant 6 with the new Air Conditioning System?
 

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The firewalls on A/C cars is different. You can either cut out the area from a donor A/C car and weld it into the non air car, or modify the existing one in the non air car. You will also need to locate the proper brackets etc for the compressor for a slant 6. Belt length will be one of your easier obstacles. If you use a stock 6 cyl compressor and mounts it will be as simple as ordering a belt for the same car as yours, but with air. There also may be a different lower pulley and alternator?
 
Air cars also had a bigger radiator and different radiator support, but again you should be able to modify the existing rad support in the non air car to accept the bigger rad and air parts.
 
I think the only difference in the firewall is the cut out for the Evap Tubes, you can use the seal from your donor car as a template to cut out the firewall if need be. I don't remember the rad supports being different between air and non air cars, just the radiator and the mandatory shroud if you run a/c.

Pretty sure the hole in the dashboard will accept the A/C control panel, you will have to do a little wire engineering too if non A/C car. Not that hard.

Swap in the 318 while you are at it so you can run the a/c while climbing a hill:)
 
I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that the A/C firewall is formed (shaped) different, the blower motor hole is a different shape (and in a different location?), and the rad support is different between 22" and 26" rad cars, but like I said, it is an easy one to modify.
 
Non A/C firewall
 

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A bigger blower hole and two holes (vertical) next to the heater and you're done based off the pictures provided from what I see.
 
I am currectly parting a 1975 Dart factory AC with power steering car with a /6.
I would have everything that is attached to the motor to set you up.
The car was complete less the disc brakes 2 days ago.
FWIW, it is a 22" radiator.
 
Thanks for everyone response ill check out the blower and firewall situation, also looks like I might have to go to DVAP and find some mounting brackets for a slant 6 for air conditioning. Unless someone has then for sale? Also good idea on the swapping out the 318 for the 6 but the Vin matches the Scamp with the slant 6 don't want to change it around to much.
 
Personally, I wouldn't put that big beast RV2 compressor in a retro-fit, especially if paying $$ for new brackets. Most rodders use small, efficient Sanden compressors. One company sells Sanden brackets for the slant, but I am too cheap. I found a Sanden on a Volare in the JY and grabbed the bracket. It also had a Saginaw pump bracket mounted on the end. However, I may not even use it since w/o pwr steering that block pad is available for a custom bracket (see Syed's post). It appears that a "York to Sanden" adapter I have would fit there nicely.
 
I have A/C compressor mount kits for the slant six, that uses the "Sanden" compressor. I notice you have a Clifford manifold. I don't know if any other compressor mounts will work with that manifold, or not. Mine do. Send me a PM if interested.
 
I did this last winter but I had a complete car to get everything for the transplant.I cut the firewall out of the parts car and used it as a template.Blower motor - A/C hose holes - drain hole - heat -air box mounting holes - heater hoses were also different location.The radiator from the A/C car worked fine on the radiator support just had to make some mounting holes with spacers the existing opening was just big enough for the radiator fin area
 
vanleer mopars said:
Thanks for everyone response ill check out the blower and firewall situation, also looks like I might have to go to DVAP and find some mounting brackets for a slant 6 for air conditioning. Unless someone has then for sale? Also good idea on the swapping out the 318 for the 6 but the Vin matches the Scamp with the slant 6 don't want to change it around to much.
Click to expand...

Rest assured a non numbers matching 318 will not be worth any less than a numbers matching six.
 
d55dave said:
I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that the A/C firewall is formed (shaped) different, the blower motor hole is a different shape (and in a different location?), and the rad support is different between 22" and 26" rad cars, but like I said, it is an easy one to modify.
Click to expand...

Thanx for posting that Dave, in all the years of scrounging parts off these cars I never noticed there was a difference. So the blower on a heater only car is actually mounted from the inside of the passenger compartment. Hard to believe they actually punched two different firewalls, but they did.
 
overlay on my 68 showing what had to be modified for the ac box to mount. In this picture i already had the other needed holes drilled. It may be a little different on the later model abodies, not sure.
IMG_0018.jpg
 
Alright I have been looking into this, Oklacarcollecto's may have a complete AC unit for a slant 6 from a 75 dart as well, he will get back to me as soon as he can, so that I dont run into more problems like pullies/mouting/tubing. We are looking into if there will be a problem with the evaporator/vent/blower from the 318 75 dart, and the 75 dart slant 6 AC unit he has for sale. Also if the mounting bracket does not work I may have take you up on that offer that Charrlie_S has for the Clifford Intake Bracket that will work.
 
I am out for now since the buyer hasn't paid or contacted me after I accepted his offer. People are busy now days. The Dart has to come out of the shop tomorrow since my helper has had engine problems with his car this evening. Nobody's fault just have got to have the shop empty now.
 
74DartSwinger360 said:
Andrew is a good guy Bill. I am sure he will get back with you
Click to expand...

I am not worried about that, I just have to have the car gone in the morning so I can get my helper's car in. His ole lady is giving him a ration of chit. Her nickname isn't Hurricane Cathy for no reason.

There are others that has parts so I wanted to open up that possibility since he was in a rush.
 
All right got all the parts from Oklacarcollecto's, I'mgonna have to take about three days off in a row to start this project, thanks again to Bill for going through and sending me all the parts. I'll be in touch with everyone if I run into any snags or completely get lost!
Van Leer
 
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