12vdc AC Compressor on Amazon, Looks interesting if you have an alternator to run it. Options

[Steve]

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/acl...ct=1&adurl=
Just add Under Dash Evaporator, Condenser and dryer!
Example install, but mine is a Benling

[technicalninja]

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Some trucks have DUAL 200-amp alternators!

It's a BITCH to figure out which alternator has gone bad, and many shops replace them together.

They are not inexpensive.

You could upgrade the 914s electrical system with the hotrod alternators found on this site.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=195244

Use two big assed 12V batteries. Diesel Truck SIZE.

This might work in warm environments where highs seldom exceed 95.

I think the alternator would have a shorter service life and you might have to go serpentine belt to provide the torque the alternator will require.
The alternator might require updates to its cooling system as well.

Lot of extra stuff and weight IMO.

When the Chinese compressors turn out to have 6-month service lives...
You might regret going this route.

Clay Perrine is going this route; he has his head on straight and his dad was involved in the engineering of automotive AC systems. He has a better chance of pulling this off than anyone I know, and I will be watching his progress closely when he walks this path. He's down here in North Texas as well so the test climate is appropriate.

I'm going old school "modern" and will be using a serpentine belt driven variable output compressor that is significantly over-sized for the 914 cabin.
I will be using multiple small condensers and try to use the original under dash unit as it is not a bad design IMO.
I may initially use a mechanical variable displacement compressor instead of a PMW controlled one. This compressor can be "tuned" usually and offers most of the benefits of a truly modern computer-controlled compressor without any wiring or computers at all.
VWs from 1995-2005 had a bunch of these.
Best version for me would be a mechanical variable scroll that doesn't care about direction of rotation.
The Delphi V5/V7s are this style; they are too big IMO and need to rotate clockwise.
Those square York compressors that the 914 originally used did not care about direction of rotation. One of a very few compressors that will live fine either direction.
All compressors except vane style will actually work (pump) either direction. They just won't live very long the wrong way...

One NICE thing about variable displacement compressors is that they always try to apply exactly the perfect amount of refrigerant to attain a specific pressure on the suction side. Once your car cools down the Variable will ALWAYS have the lowest power consumption and create the minimum amount of drag on the engine. These were engineered and installed with fuel economy as their focus. Properly configured these can create the very lowest system temperatures as well. Only downside is that they are more expensive, fragile, and fail sooner.

If it's a variable scroll you cannot tell it's on at all and you usually do not need to add throttle to maintain a steady idle.
It's "transparent"...

It is worthwhile to note that the Mitsubishi fully electric compressor is a variable output scroll. It's just driven by an electric motor.