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Posted by: carcus Aug 28 2016, 11:39 PM

I see they make several kits and I know they made some for the VW bug also back in the day. Do these things actually cool the car down or just slow it down and are a waste of money? I see the kits are kind of expensive and I am sure the install costs some money also. I would think I could get an engine rebuilt or the syncros in the transaxle rebuilt for about the same price. I have never been in a 914 or seen one with AC in it. What are your opinions on getting one installed? If they do not really cool the car with cold air or bog the engine down......or just waste of money. This is for a future project.

Posted by: PancakePorsche Aug 29 2016, 12:42 AM

Upgraded A/C will contain late model, much more compact and efficient compressor like a Sankyo or Denso. The original York unit was a big beast and a dead dog.

I would absolutely love a nice 2.0 with air. I plan to consider using a electric compressor from a plug-in or hybrid car.

Posted by: porschetub Aug 29 2016, 01:57 AM

Robs power from the engine ,expensive to fit,I don't really like A/C and happy to wind the window down ,and yes it gets hot in my part of the world.

Posted by: JawjaPorsche Aug 29 2016, 03:40 AM

Our 914's were not meant to have AC. Our tops come off. AC robs engine power. My two cents.

Posted by: dlee6204 Aug 29 2016, 06:00 AM

Depends on where you live and how you drive. If you drive it everyday in a hot environment then it would be worth it IMO. If you drive it only a few weekends out of the year then it probably doesn't make sense.

Driving 95+ heat here in the south in the middle of summer is no fun specially when you drive it daily which is why I added it to my car. I then moved to the mountains and no longer have a need for AC.

Posted by: Amphicar770 Aug 29 2016, 07:06 AM

The "real feel" temp around here was well over 100 for many days this summer. I would not have been driving the 914 on those days if mine did not have air.

I have the dpd system but replaced compressor with a rotary and hoses with modern barrier hose. Kept it R12. It gets ice cold fast on hottest days. With the rotary compressor, the horsepower loss is negligible.

Posted by: McMark Aug 29 2016, 08:04 AM

Modern A/C compressors don't rob HP. They're so efficient now that the effect on the engine is negligible.

Posted by: GeorgeRud Aug 29 2016, 11:37 AM

I had a friend with AC back in the 70s, and it was quite nice. With the small passenger compartment, it does cool just fine.

As with all aircooled Porsches, the compressor location and hoses are more complicated than front engined cars.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Aug 29 2016, 11:45 AM

AC in a car is kind of like heated seats. Many can criticize it as not needed. Until they have it in their car, then it becomes totally necessary.

Posted by: zambezi Aug 29 2016, 11:50 AM

I agree, which is why I am doing both in my 914.

Posted by: mepstein Aug 29 2016, 12:00 PM

I'm doing a 6 cylinder suby swap. It will have heat and a/c. I don't care how many hoses, holes and wires it takes to make work. It's a must have in at least one of my 914's.

Posted by: 76-914 Aug 29 2016, 03:25 PM

Smart man. Especially if your wife or kids are part of the scene. My wife ( who always feels a draft ) was one Happy Camper @ Rt 66 this year. It was 29F the first nite and 97 on the return trip. The first nite she sat in the car with the heater and the heated seats turned on until the Motel room warmed up.

Posted by: carcus Aug 30 2016, 01:33 PM

Thanks all for the input. Much appreciated.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 30 2016, 03:59 PM

Fitting everything in can be a challenge. Mounting the compressor where you can get a belt to run it, while keeping it out of the way of the other critical components, can be a challenge. The dealer-installed AC hacked up the right side of the engine tin and the engine shelf, which allowed re-ingestion of heated cooling air, which isn't so great.

The bits that actually cool the air down (evaporator and fan and such) are also a bit challenging to fit. The dealer kits put the whole shebang under the dash, which makes life hard for people with big feet. Or medium-size feet, for that matter.

All that said, AC is something which a lot of us don't want to live without. I tolerate it in my 914, but not in my other cars.

--DD