Putting A/C in a formerly-A/C car

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Jarlaxle

Jarlaxle

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Title says most of it...late (74-6) Duster, factory A/C car, pretty much everything except the under-dash unit is gone. In a perfect world, I would prefer the factory system...but I know that hunting down everything needed would be very difficult, probably expensive, and take forever. But...will any of the aftermarket units (Vintage Air, Classic Auto Air, others?) work in a factory A/C car?
 
I have an absolute complete setup in a 75 duster v8 car. One stop shopping here.

Shipping is an absolute pain in the *** but it depends what you want to budget for a factory setup and how close you are to Colorado 81005

Because it's so complete and original I was not really motivated to get rid of it but if it's something you gotta have, I can certainly part with it and run the car without a/c. It's still sealed, not open sitting open anywhere, even the condenser is in good shape and sealed.

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I did the classic auto air and the under dash unit shows below the glove box. Positives are that it is all new parts and the new 134a so no conversion or finding someone with R12.
 
Classic Auto Air's "Original Air" division has "underhood upgrade" kits- everything from the firewall forward. If all your interior components are intact (heater/air box & evapaorator, vents, controls) then this will get you all you need; with all new, modern components.
The bad part: only currently available for B bodies. But give them a call- they offer A body parts too, and may be able to piece together a kit for you. I wonder how much is actually different under the hood between A and B bodies anyway... a couple of hard lines with different bends?
Use the "Contact Us" icon on the left side of their page and find out:
MOPAR - STAGE 2 & 3 | Original Air Group
73-74 Charger/Satellite A/C Performance Upgrade Kit Small Block STAGE-2 | Original Air Group
 
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Princess Valiant said:
I have an absolute complete setup in a 75 duster v8 car. One stop shopping here.

Shipping is an absolute pain in the *** but it depends what you want to budget for a factory setup and how close you are to Colorado 81005

Because it's so complete and original I was not really motivated to get rid of it but if it's something you gotta have, I can certainly part with it and run the car without a/c. It's still sealed, not open sitting open anywhere, even the condenser is in good shape and sealed.

View attachment 1715957686

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Click to expand...

Thanks, but I'm not sure how practical that would be, and just shipping it would probably cost as much as an aftermarket system.

Professor Fate said:
Classic Auto Air's "Original Air" division has "underhood upgrade" kits- everything from the firewall forward. If all your interior components are intact (heater/air box & evapaorator, vents, controls) then this will get you all you need; with all new, modern components.
The bad part: only currently available for B bodies. But give them a call- they offer A body parts too, and may be able to piece together a kit for you. I wonder how much is actually different under the hood between A and B bodies anyway... a couple of hard lines with different bends?
Use the "Contact Us" icon on the left side of their page and find out:
MOPAR - STAGE 2 & 3 | Original Air Group
73-74 Charger/Satellite A/C Performance Upgrade Kit Small Block STAGE-2 | Original Air Group
Click to expand...

THAT helps! That looks like EXACTLY what I might need! Worst case, I can get hoses and hard lines made locally, if I need to...just need dimensions, which shouldn't be that big a deal.
 
Professor Fate said:
Classic Auto Air's "Original Air" division has "underhood upgrade" kits- everything from the firewall forward. If all your interior components are intact (heater/air box & evapaorator, vents, controls) then this will get you all you need; with all new, modern components.
The bad part: only currently available for B bodies. But give them a call- they offer A body parts too, and may be able to piece together a kit for you. I wonder how much is actually different under the hood between A and B bodies anyway... a couple of hard lines with different bends?
Use the "Contact Us" icon on the left side of their page and find out:
MOPAR - STAGE 2 & 3 | Original Air Group
73-74 Charger/Satellite A/C Performance Upgrade Kit Small Block STAGE-2 | Original Air Group
Click to expand...
Yeah I bet it is just the bends in the hardlines...which they gave for the A body. The hoses are no longer pre-made. You have to cut and make them yourself. I purchased a crimp kit from Vevor for a great price.
 
Jarlaxle said:
Thanks, but I'm not sure how practical that would be, and just shipping it would probably cost as much as an aftermarket system.



THAT helps! That looks like EXACTLY what I might need! Worst case, I can get hoses and hard lines made locally, if I need to...just need dimensions, which shouldn't be that big a deal.
Click to expand...

just shipping it would probably cost as much
remember when you buy a kit from a manufacturer, unless you can arrange a pickup, you pay shipping. You also pay sales tax and their profit margin.
Maybe see if the seller will only sell you the parts that you need that are not available new, like the under dash box and the connections that interface with the dash controls and maybe the compressor mounts. I would go with a modern parallel flow condenser, new compressor, new hoses, new dryer, new expansion valve. The new Sanden style rotary compressors are more efficient, but the piston style compressors also work well and I have heard they are not that hard to rebuild.
For the hoses, if new direct replacements are not available, most areas have a hydraulic hose shop or a commercial - HD truck AC business that can make the hoses, you may need the OE hard ends from the AC lines.

With all of that said, I installed a Classic Auto Air system in my 68 Barracuda, and it works great. The install was not that bad, Classic had a staffed help line that gave good answers when I got stuck. I do remember the kit was for a non AC car only as there is a difference in the firewalls on the AC and non AC cars, not sure if that applies to your car.
 
89on35s said:
Underhood AC thread


Not sure if this is an option but I used mid 80s Dodge truck AC parts and a few aftermarket pieces.

Cley
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Have a part list?

my68barracuda said:
just shipping it would probably cost as much
remember when you buy a kit from a manufacturer, unless you can arrange a pickup, you pay shipping. You also pay sales tax and their profit margin.
Maybe see if the seller will only sell you the parts that you need that are not available new, like the under dash box and the connections that interface with the dash controls and maybe the compressor mounts. I would go with a modern parallel flow condenser, new compressor, new hoses, new dryer, new expansion valve. The new Sanden style rotary compressors are more efficient, but the piston style compressors also work well and I have heard they are not that hard to rebuild.
For the hoses, if new direct replacements are not available, most areas have a hydraulic hose shop or a commercial - HD truck AC business that can make the hoses, you may need the OE hard ends from the AC lines.
Click to expand...

I'm not worried about hoses-the local NAPA makes them. I'd be fine with an original system, but getting it and having it installed would probably cost a fortune.

With all of that said, I installed a Classic Auto Air system in my 68 Barracuda, and it works great. The install was not that bad, Classic had a staffed help line that gave good answers when I got stuck. I do remember the kit was for a non AC car only as there is a difference in the firewalls on the AC and non AC cars, not sure if that applies to your car.
Click to expand...

There is. All A-bodies (and almost all RWD Mopars) use a different firewall stamping for A/C and non-A/C. Unfortunately, Classic Auto Air replied to my email with a one sentence dismissal. "Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we offer anything past 74 for MOPAR."

So...74 to 75 Duster, what is the difference in the A/C systems?
 
Leave all of your underdash stuff where it's at and build from there. Replace any needed underdash parts with NOS parts, find some R12 and you will be very cool!
 
lemondana said:
Leave all of your underdash stuff where it's at and build from there. Replace any needed underdash parts with NOS parts, find some R12 and you will be very cool!
Click to expand...
I have the same chance of managing that as I have of flapping my arms and soaring through the air.
 
It's too bad that the aftermarket doesn't have something that will work. The heater boxes are quite simple and the engine side could be close to the same from the early 60's to the mid 70's.
 
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