air conditioning Options

[Dave_Darling]

I believe that DPD stood for "Dealer Products Division".

--DD

[RFoulds]

I have the DPD unit and a case of good ol' freon. I better sell the car before the freon runs out.

R - you can possibly convert to R134 without much changed out at all, perhaps only the "new" compressor (rotary?) from AA. I converted our 88 Westy & 85 BMW 325e over the past few years, and did so when I had to have compressor work done anyway - so the net difference was under $100.

Hopefully your York compressor in the DPD will last as long as the case of Freon, then die, so you can effectively change over then at little difference in what it cost to do the repairs due by then anyway.

Also, old Freon can still be had, but last I heard it was up to $50-100 per can! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
4-5x of those per car in my 2 was a big reason to switch, and easily makes a new compressor pay for itself quickly! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

You read my mind! Use up Freon, then change compressor. OR, sell Freon, (i have 8 cans) and buy new compressor.

[MCShack]

I know this is an old thread, but don't shoot me please. I have updated the information in case anyone should be searching about air conditioning for their old VW - Porsche - Audi etc. I have updated the links within the old posts for anyone that is interested. A search for Porsche 914 air conditioning will bring up the current companies that make and sell an aftermarket unit for your 914, specifically classicautoair.com, autoatlanta.com and retroair.com along with a few places that sell replacement parts for 914 heating and air conditioning units with wiring diagrams and more. You may come across an old court case involving these companies which can be found here:

https://casetext.com/case/heatransfer-corp-...kswagenwerk-a-g


OLD QUOTE:

"That all said - yes, your 72 is indeed a special 914 for having the AC since most did not - particularly if it is one of the 2 dealer sold & Porsche factory approved AC systems (both designed by the same guy BTW). The VPC (Volkswagen Products Corp. division of VW of America - VoA was the Porsche importer & servicer in the early days back then), and DPD (don't recall what the initials stood for)."

AND

I believe that DPD stood for "Dealer Products Division".

--DD

My updates:

DPD = Design Performance Dependability by Don P. Dixon of San Antonio, TX.

VPC = Volkswagen Products Corporation owned by VWoA of Fort Worth, TX.

I don't believe VPC was designed by Don P. Dixon (DPD) from San Antonio, Texas, but I definitely could be wrong and it doesn't really matter.

They are both long gone, but in their day they made aftermarket A/C units for VW's and Porsche (maybe Audi) which were distributed thru VWoA for VPC of Ft. Worth and by DPD of San Antonio.

Here's more than you probably want to know about Don P. Dixon and his air conditioning systems:

http://www.roadglue.com/docs/main_and_rest/air_condition.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20050308033040/...r_condition.htm


Ed Gilmore can rebuild your under-dash and/or supply you with a new compressor and modern system.

http://www.gilmore-enterprises.com/

https://www.gilmore-enterprises.net/

I hope this helps someone like me researching this subject.

[CaptainCrunch]

i am getting ready to spend about 3000 to have a system put in.
my car has never had it.

Steve - if you're doing one of the AA systems, I'd love to see a new topic in the Garage on how well that works out for you, pix of it installed, etc.

I may still hack into mine at some point after the resto to add one if I can't take the heat when I want to drive it, and my wife wants to come along!

Ditto on loving to hear what you think after adding the AC. I am in Dallas and AC will be a high priority here.

[Superhawk996]

I believe that DPD stood for "Dealer Products Division".

--DD

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I thought it stood for Defective Product Design.

Anthing that requires hacking up the car like either of these "accessory kits" did, was just plain 1970's era quality, poor design, and installer laziness. I will cut them some slack that compressors were much larger then but still . . .

I'm not saying I don't want AC. I really would like it. I just find the damage done to install it dosen't suit me. I still have holes in my chassis to fill becuase of the hacking done to it for AC.

[Front yard mechanic]

PS - here's 2 good pix of the VPC AC in Steve G's/smg914's (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) 73 914-2.0 to show the short center console & triangular gauges layout.....



You can find more pix of this beautiful 914 in the Originality & History Forum, under the Nailed Topics: "The few, the rare...." topic.

One sexy beast (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

I believe that DPD stood for "Dealer Products Division".

--DD

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I thought it stood for Defective Product Design.

Anthing that requires hacking up the car like either of these "accessory kits" did, was just plain 1970's era quality, poor design, and installer laziness. I will cut them some slack that compressors were much larger then but still . . .

I'm not saying I don't want AC. I really would like it. I just find the damage done to install it dosen't suit me. I still have holes in my chassis to fill becuase of the hacking done to it for AC.

You don't live in Texas where not having AC limits the time you can drive the car. Here having AC in your car is way more important than having a working heater. Driving Elwood (the factory 6) in mid summer when it is 105 degrees is an exercise in water weight loss. It is very draining, and a long tour is out of the question. So he stays home during the summer.

The DPD unit worked great in Frody (Betty's 914), and made it really nice to drive in the summer. I am going to rework the compressor mount to put it on top of the motor so I don't have to hack the new engine shelf on the right side. Other than that, it is going back in as it was.

Igor (the 4.0) is getting an evaporator that will replace the fresh air blower, modeled on the one Larry Hubby built, and an electric compressor. All the parts will be modern, more efficient designs. This should give me a really nice AC unit, and I can drive Igor year round.

Clay

[Superhawk996]

You don't live in Texas where not having AC limits the time you can drive the car. Here having AC in your car is way more important than having a working heater.

I understand completely. Midwest is 90F+ and 90%+ humidity in summer. Have had many sweaty drives in my teener back in the day. When I first got my Miata with AC, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I'm with you to put the compressor up top. Hacking the tin and the shelf is simply unacceptable to me and leads to other problems (rust, engine heat recirculation, etc.)

[ClayPerrine]

You don't live in Texas where not having AC limits the time you can drive the car. Here having AC in your car is way more important than having a working heater.

I understand completely. Midwest is 90F+ and 90%+ humidity in summer. Have had many sweaty drives in my teener back in the day. When I first got my Miata with AC, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I'm with you to put the compressor up top. Hacking the tin and the shelf is simply unacceptable to me and leads to other problems (rust, engine heat recirculation, etc.)

I grew up in NE Ohio, so I know about the heat/humidity combo. But nothing beats a Texas summer day where it is 105 in the shade. Texans consider the best parking space to be the one with the most shade, not the one closest to the door.

And 914s vapor lock with the engine off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

[aturboman]

I'm adding A/C to one of my 914-6 projects. No cutting sheet metal in the engine compartment was a requirement. Small modern compressors are very helpful.

In So Cal its a necessity and with a big 911 engine its not a big drain on power either.

[mrholland2]

So are there ways to run the lines to the front that don't require the holes through the longs? I'd love to see pictures of other methods just out of curiosity as I don't have a 914 currently, but would likely want A/C in one when I finally can afford one again. (I probably would only ever run the top off at night, due to easily getting sun-sick--massive headache and nausea if in the sun too long--too many years of being in and teaching marching band)

[aturboman]

Yes it can be done.

Essentially the lines run in the same position as the evap canister lines along the left longitudinal, ends up very tidy with no cutting; just enlarging a couple existing holes.

The car in not yet assembled but I'll post photos when it goes together chronicling the process.

[Superhawk996]

Yes it can be done.

Essentially the lines run in the same position as the evap canister lines along the left longitudinal, ends up very tidy with no cutting; just enlarging a couple existing holes.

The car in not yet assembled but I'll post photos when it goes together chronicling the process.

YES! Please post photos. I like what I see so far. I'm more inclined to put it on the /6 conversion.

I've been toying with how to run lines in the tunnel but when I had my tunnel apart I didn't do it and there wasn't much space in there for a large suction line. Not saying it can't be done but I punted.

Likewise, I'd be more inclined to put the condensor up front with a oil cooler and/or bumper modification.

[aturboman]

Yes it can be done.

Essentially the lines run in the same position as the evap canister lines along the left longitudinal, ends up very tidy with no cutting; just enlarging a couple existing holes.

The car in not yet assembled but I'll post photos when it goes together chronicling the process.

YES! Please post photos. I like what I see so far. I'm more inclined to put it on the /6 conversion.

I've been toying with how to run lines in the tunnel but when I had my tunnel apart I didn't do it and there wasn't much space in there for a large suction line. Not saying it can't be done but I punted.

Likewise, I'd be more inclined to put the condensor up front with a oil cooler and/or bumper modification.

I likely have some fit-up photos; I'll see if I can dig them up. The system was put in and taken out a few times during development, nature of custom fabrication.
Here are a couple more compressor photos:

[mrholland2]

Old thread that might be of interest:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...92917&st=20

[ClayPerrine]

I likely have some fit-up photos; I'll see if I can dig them up. The system was put in and taken out a few times during development, nature of custom fabrication.
Here are a couple more compressor photos:

The parts are well manufactured. I did the same thing years ago on my 2.4L six. And I found out that the magnesium timing boxes are not strong enough to use for a compressor mount. It cracked and created a hell of an oil leak. Expensive to fix too.

Just my experience. YMMV.

Clay

[gereed75]

Clay, Where did the chain case break? A bigger plate that engages more chain case cover studs and maybe ties into the motor mount might distribute the stress enough to work out. Turbomans bracket also uses the valve cover studs. Looks pretty beefy.

[aturboman]

I had the same fear of cracking the chain housings; the stock M6 studs are too small.

I took a que from Porsche's 3.2 A/C set-up and update the chain box mounting and surrounding studs to M8.

Plus the chain housings and entire engine is an all aluminum 3.0 turbo so much stronger than the original Mag motors.

Also the cover is milled flat so the bracket is supported over its entire surface area and not on the thin ridge at the outside of the cover.

[Steve]

Electric AC is an option, but expensive. Around $800.00 for the electric compressor and another $1k for a 175 watt alternator.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?aut...;showentry=2901

[ClayPerrine]

Clay, Where did the chain case break? A bigger plate that engages more chain case cover studs and maybe ties into the motor mount might distribute the stress enough to work out. Turbomans bracket also uses the valve cover studs. Looks pretty beefy.

Mine was on the other side of the motor, mounted to the RH valve cover, and to the smog pump mount. The additional stress from the belt tension broke the back out of the mag timing cover around the smog pump mount.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-1143-1145331290.jpg)