A/C system worth, A/C Options

[RolinkHaus]

Just curious, what's this system worth? Compressor and bracket included, but not shown. Not sure if compressor works.

[DickSteinkamp]

I would have to say that if you absolutely need an air conditioned car that a 914 shouldn't be on your short list. The dash units were not very attractive and were intrusive, holes need to be cut in the body to run the hoses, the floor needs to be hacked out of the frunk for the condenser, the compressor saps what little power the stock engines have, they are old skool technology and cool only marginally.

Drive your newer car on those hot muggy days and save your 914 for "nice" days.

[Superhawk996]

I would have to say that if you absolutely need an air conditioned car that a 914 shouldn't be on your short list. The dash units were not very attractive and were intrusive, holes need to be cut in the body to run the hoses, the floor needs to be hacked out of the frunk for the condenser, the compressor saps what little power the stock engines have, they are old skool technology and cool only marginally.

Drive your newer car on those hot muggy days and save your 914 for "nice" days.

Agree with you completely except on the point of cooling marginally, my teener had a functional R12 system when i bought it. That baby blew cold and there really isn't much cabin volume to cool down in the 1st place. Was amazed that such an old system was still holding charge and worked!.

For those of us in the midwest, by the time you account for the snow days, and the hot muggy days, and the rainy days, that only allows for 15 days a year to drive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

I'm not so sure about trashing it. Things have a way of going in circles as tastes change. The A/C is an interesting period piece. I'm still contemplating how to get A/C eventually but with a modern compressor, tubes routed in the tunnel, and proper bulkhead pass through plates.

When I 1st got my Miata, I thought A/c was for whimps. Then I realized how great functional heat and A/C was. Or maybe I just became a whimp. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

I would have to say that if you absolutely need an air conditioned car that a 914 shouldn't be on your short list. The dash units were not very attractive and were intrusive, holes need to be cut in the body to run the hoses, the floor needs to be hacked out of the frunk for the condenser, the compressor saps what little power the stock engines have, they are old skool technology and cool only marginally.

Drive your newer car on those hot muggy days and save your 914 for "nice" days.

Agree with you completely except on the point of cooling marginally, my teener had a functional R12 system when i bought it. That baby blew cold and there really isn't much cabin volume to cool down in the 1st place. Was amazed that such an old system was still holding charge and worked!.

For those of us in the midwest, by the time you account for the snow days, and the hot muggy days, and the rainy days, that only allows for 15 days a year to drive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

I'm not so sure about trashing it. Things have a way of going in circles as tastes change. The A/C is an interesting period piece. I'm still contemplating how to get A/C eventually but with a modern compressor, tubes routed in the tunnel, and proper bulkhead pass through plates.

When I 1st got my Miata, I thought A/c was for whimps. Then I realized how great functional heat and A/C was. Or maybe I just became a whimp. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

It is completely clear that neither of you live in the Southwest, especially Texas. If you don't have AC, you don't drive 10 months of the year. Betty's car has a functional DPD system in it, and it is driven year round. But the heater is not hooked up. She says she doesn't need it. I plan on putting AC into my 4.0L car. With the 964 alternator, I can run an electric compressor and cut down on the lines running the length of the car.

Oh.. and we don't have a "Newer car" to drive when it gets hot. And the AC in Betty's car will turn you into a popsicle on a 100 degree day.

So don't go dissing the AC systems. They can be made to work quite well with limited power loss on the engine.

[DickSteinkamp]

It is completely clear that neither of you live in the Southwest, especially Texas.

Good point. AC is pretty necessary in many parts of the US if you want to drive your collector car often. We are spoiled here in the PNW. I think I ran the AC in my daily driver about 4 times this past summer. It's easy to forget that it is unbearably more hot and humid in other areas.

I like the idea of an electric powered compressor and new (Vintage Air?) evaporator, condenser, etc. Little power drain on the engine. Fewer holes to cut. Shorter hose routing. Efficient. Maintainable.

[ClayPerrine]

It is completely clear that neither of you live in the Southwest, especially Texas.

Good point. AC is pretty necessary in many parts of the US if you want to drive your collector car often. We are spoiled here in the PNW. I think I ran the AC in my daily driver about 4 times this past summer. It's easy to forget that it is unbearably more hot and humid in other areas.

I like the idea of an electric powered compressor and new (Vintage Air?) evaporator, condenser, etc. Little power drain on the engine. Fewer holes to cut. Shorter hose routing. Efficient. Maintainable.

The electric compressor is workable in my 4.0, considering it has a 180 amp 964 alternator. The factory 50 amp alternator in a /4 won't cut it for an electric compressor. But is a really good idea. All aluminum soldered lines, no rubber hoses, short plumbing runs between the compressor, evaporator, and condenser.

So, unless you have a high output alternator for your /4 or early /6, you will be running down the battery with an electric compressor. Plus they go for about 4K for the 12v models.