I live in Texas and am wanting to use my new '14 as, more or less, a daily driver and one of the things that is almost MANDATORY in a daily car in Texas is A/C.

I know that the debate rages wildly over the merits of putting A/C in a '14, but lets say that I've decided to take the plunge... What is best?

A.) An original Porsche solution that (such as this)
B.) Brand New after market A/C from a shop that has experience putting A/C in air cooled Porches and VW's

or

C.) Get over yourself and just suffer...

If anyone knows any such A/C specialists in the D/FW area, please let me know. I had the name of one when I had my previous car, but sold it before I got around to putting A/C in it.

As always, suggestions, comments and flames recieved with equal zeal!

Doug

I think you are probably better off with something newer, my understanding is that the older systems are less efficient and therefore can use a decent amount of hp. If you have a stock 4, you know that you don't want to lose that. More important, that lost hp is also going to cause extra heat.

Guys,

I understand that the new rotary compressors they use in A/c's today are pretty energy efficient (less HP to turn them). If you have an old style compressor- ditch that thing!

KP

Doug,

You are coming to Talahina, right? When you get there I will show you Betty's 74 1.8L with very cold A/C. It has a rotary compressor conversion, running R134A. I will also show you my AC system, but its not finished yet.

I plan on upgrading the condenser fans on both cars. Wes did this on Joe Yoder's car, and it makes a big difference in the amount of cold air the AC pushes out.

Unfortunately I'm not going to get to come to Talahina (no matter how much I want to!)

I'm not going to have the car by then, so it would be no fun just watching, plus I have a previous engagement that I can't get out of.

So for your A/C systems, are you using an NEW after-market kit, or have you upgraded an old kit to make it work better. I like the idea of buing the one listed on ebay (in my original post) simply because it was MADE to fit the 914 and it includes a Center Console (which I don't want to lose).

But if you have recommendations for kits that can link in to the main fresh air vents, or a local expert that could do it, then I'm all ears!!!

Doug

Doug, I had a 4cyl 2.0Li that had A/C. At first it had the old YORK Piston style compresor, nice but a power killer.
Then I swicthed to rotary one, WOW what a difference on a 4cyl engine.
I also had the air ducts re-routed to my freash air vents box and to the defroster.
Because in South Florida when it's hot and muggy, you don't want to add heat to a already hot night just to see out. P.S. when the system is runnign well and you don't have any hot outside air leaks coming into the car, it's better than most newer car. It has a lot less space to cool down.

This worked really well.

I will see if I can find some of the old photos of how I did it.

Quilmes

do what Clay says... the A/C in Betty's car rocks!!


or just suffer

The AC in Betty's car is a standard DPD unit. I put new O-rings in it, and replaced all the hoses. Then I put a compressor kit on it from ICEAC (www.iceac.com). It is a rotary compressor kit made to fit a Type-IV engine. It is an absolute bolt-on, no fabrication required at all. I recharged the system with R-134a, and I have not had to touch it in over 5 years. I have had the engine out multiple times,but the AC works great.


I plan to increase the AC effecency by putting a better fan on the condenser. But that has to wait until the AC is done on my 914. Hers works, the evaporator doesn't even exist for mine yet!

I am also interested in this topic, as I plan to add AC to my car. I bought a parts car that has some type of AC system. It has a compressor that looks to be a pretty simple mount on the cooling shroud near the battery. The Condensor is located on the driver's side portionof the front trunk. Air is drawn in through a cutout in the front behind the bumper, and exits through 6 holes into the wheel well. Has a plenum that separates the airflow. Spare tire still fits into the lower depression. Hoses are run along the depressions near the center tunnel. they stick out below the floorpan a little, but not too much. It has an interior system that goes along the underside of the dash. Any suggestions would be helpful also, as I can modify as needed. I like the idea of using the standard fresh air vents to save space in the car.

Thanks also, Joe O.

Here are pictures of the compressor mount I made for my six. It allows me to put the compressor on without cutting anything on the chassis. It mounts the compressor on the same side as the 4 cylinder, so the lines for the dealer installed AC don't have to be modified. It also has the added advantage of making the belt on the six easier to change.

The bracket is real heavy...

The second generation brackets will use aluminum for the material instead of steel, will not have a plate between the front and rear ears of the compressor, and will use one of the automatic tensioners to make sure the belt is held tight.

I might as well show my A/C project. Cleaned up the front trunk install & welded some tabs to the York compressor mount & installed a Sanden compressor. I plan on using r-12 or an r-12 replacement. The hardest part is done Just need to get some new hoses made & figure out the wiring.

I can see that this is not something that I'm going to be doing myself... I just don't have the skills to do the cutting/welding/ and A/C parts.

So, I'm now looking for someone I can have do it for me. Any recommendations for people in the Dallas/Fortworth (or even North Texas) area that can do this for me?

I want it done right, and I know my limitations...

Any help would be appreciated..

Clay, tat2d.. Y'all know anyone?

Clay,

Do you remember how much the compressor was? I looked at Ice AC's web site but no $ were quoted.

I too would like to put the AC back into my car but don't want to put that boat anchor of a compressor back in.

Thanks

sorry man, I'm a "suffer" kind of guy... Wes Hildreth may know someone... (H&H enterprises in Plano) if someone has a pattern for the parts to be cut and welded, I can do that...

Ok.. I'll try to look him up.. Is he on the board? Whats his nick?

Anyone else know how to go about this.. I'm just not confident on doing this and don't wanna F-up a perfectly good car.

D.

not on the board... call him (9724238526)

Thanks man.. I'll do that today at lunch.. I'll let everyone know what he said.

Doug

Well, I called Wes, and he is the man... He actually does it himself and used to work for the dealers back in the 70's so has YEARS of experience with 914's.

He said the hard part would be finding the DPD or VPC system (with all the necessary parts) to use as the basis. Than and parting with about $1800 to get it all installed, charged, tested working, etc....

Now all I need to do is find a complete DPD or VPC system..

ANYONE? :-P

yea, wes is the man!

Mark or Clay,

What have you done regarding T4 engine sheet metal over the Sandon rotary compressor? In you photos Mark, it doesn't appear the side engine shelf cut is nearly as big as the original dealer chop job. I'd like to see a clean installation that seals and also looks decent.

I didn't do anything. The hole is still there. The car runs a normal oil temp without it.


That's a future project.

Doug,

I have a complete system I took out of my '72 parts car . I don't know if it works or not, but it is all there. It is kind of rough looking. Let me know if you are interested, I'll sell it cheap.