AC Kits and compressor drives, AC Compressor drives Options

[Mr.Vman]

1976 914 has the, "DPD" dealer installed AC. Still has what appears to be a nonfunctioning Mini Your compressor. Questions; Auto Atlanta has a ribbed belt compressor drive along with what appears to be a, Sanden like compressor. Any experience or information on that set up? Auto Atlanta also has, what appears to be a two condenser front trunk up grade kit. Any experience or information on that kit? I know the AC kits were marginal and should be not used, roll down the windows, take the top off. I get it. My plan is to make the AC reasonably function. Any other information or sources? I talked to Gilmore about a compressor mounting, also ICE, waiting for him to get back with me. ICE is knowledgeable about 914 AC systems. Thanks in advance, Steve V.

[technicalninja]

Don't accept Sanden "style or type".
Real Sanden is GREAT!
It's also reasonably priced anyway...

Cold hose for fittings, hoses, receiver driers.
Ranshu, Vintage Air, Old air products for real Sanden compressors.
Spal for fans.
Ranshu can probably provide a 134 rated expansion valve.

I live in Texas and run https://granburyautoac.com/

I highly dislike the front condenser mount for airflow reasons. Dual coring it (or remote primary condenser in rear) is a requirement in my book.

Without a GT style nose, I'd stay R12...

If you update to R134 make SURE to incorporate a high pressure cut off switch.
You can buy a receiver driers with an extra port for the switch.

Purchase hose fittings with real R134 service ports in them. I've had bunches of trouble out of conversion fittings to adapt R12 ports. Everything from leaks to not being able to depress valves due to the adaptor extensions. Pure SHIT!

Get real fittings and you will be happier...

[Mr.Vman]

Thank you for the reply. Plan is to replace hoses and obviously fittings. Replace/update front condenser or condensers in nose. Replace compressor on engine. Yes, have a trinary switch for high pressure shut down. I know the system probably is not the best but, will give it a go. Has anyone used the, AutoAtlanta condenser kit? Or the Sanden ribbed belt conversion? That appears at present the best way to go. Any other upgrade kits out there? Thank you, Steve V.

[technicalninja]

Another tip is to completely remove ALL of the original mineral oil.

Anything that gets re-used should be flushed. I use real AC flush (I'm brand specific, "MasterChem" by Santech is my poison) then double the amount of cheap alcohol.
Home Depot/Lowes/Paint store are my sources.

The alcohol removes stuff the flush won't get, and it clears the flush out of the system.
It evaporates quickly and leaves nothing behind.

On something poisoned (compressor failure and trash in system) I'll start with B12 (liquid version) before the flush.

Each chemical does a better job than the others on specific debris.

Make sure the condenser you choose is a modern multi-pass "flat tube" design. This style of condenser is 30-40% more efficient at removing heat as the refrigerant has to get CLOSE to the aluminum.

Any 134 conversion NEEDS this style of condenser. I've placed two flat fin conversions in the last month. A 93 Toyota Truck and an 88 Fiero.

The Toyota I could just purchase. One manufacture offered flat fin in the past. I believe I purchased the last one in existence. It had an "apology" note inside the box "It looks different, but it will work". It should have said "It looks different and works 40% better!"

I had to adapt a "universal" core into the Fiero. Fabrication and hose adaption was required.

I haven't seen the dual core from AA. If it's flat fin it's worth trying. If you need even more cooling, you have the option of adding a third condenser in the back.

All this trouble only happens when stopped. 30 mph usually solves the airflow issue.
Having the entrance and exit from the condenser directly together doesn't help "stopped" at all.

And, on a 914, running the condenser in the stock location, I'd want some sort of indicator light on the dash that let me know when the high-pressure cutoff activated.

Most HP cutout operate at 400+psi, only drop to 325 (or more) before they re-engage.
Re-engaging any compressor at 325 IS HARD on the compressor. It's HARD on the belt drive as well. Nothing good comes from bouncing one off of the HP switch.
It's common to see 425-cut off-325 in 10 seconds-on-back to 425 10 seconds later.
The damn thing just hammers the dogshit out of the compressor every 20 seconds.
Doesn't cool at all either.

A warning light that says "TURN OFF AC" should be included in everything in my book...

Staying R12 makes this far less likely to happen. It still CAN and most R12 systems do not have a HP cutout anyway. The mechanical solution is a blowout plug or spring-loaded pressure relief valve. Once the mechanical valves function the first time they usually leak from then on and it's worse with 134.

Lose a blowout plug in a receiver dryer or compressor at 500 plus and you WILL remember it.
Sounds like a shotgun blast followed by a HUGE cloud of "smoke".
The car "blew up and is on fire" is what you think.

The modern core will help the evaporator too. The modern stuff has "shrank" 50% over the years. Less can be more.
I've NEVER replaced the evap core on a conversion. The serpentine big tube stuff usually works fine even down here in Hell. I DO replace the expansion valve with one "tuned" for R134. They are actually pretty close, the R12 one will work but the correct one will be 2-3 degrees cooler.

Could you provide a link to the AA parts in question. I would check them out.
I seem to have some weird mental incapacity to find anything on his site and Google doesn't seem to either.

Rick

[Mr.Vman]

Still trying to upgrade the 914 AC. Auto Atlanta had online an upgraded AC compressor drive with grooved belt as well as an upgraded front condenser. Have phoned and emailed, Auto Atlanta, on phone was told would call me back, not yet. E mailed several times no reply. Phone again today, no phone answer. Is Auto Atlanta still open? They appear to have a good selection of parts, great cataloque. ICE in San Diego will get with me on a Compressor drive. Gilmore Enterprizes, got right back with me, they do have an AC compressor drive kit, less than, $725, V belt drive for a bus which might work. Gilmore might have an AC system for the 914, I need a new compressor, get rid of mini York and new front condenser assembly, not the entire assembly. I could probably make brackets, make a new condenser box with fan, just more time. Anyone else redoing the AC on the 914? Any success or use stories on the 914 AC? How does it work on a 90 degree day? Thanks in advance, Steve V.

[914rrr]

Some of this was addressed in a 2023 post:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...amp;hl=Ed+Mooha

See my comments about Gilmore Enterprises and Ed Mooha, founder of Gilmore Enterprises and previous owner.

Ed was a friend of mine and really knew his sh*t when it came to air cooled VW Porsche AC systems. New owner told me he had zero interest in building 914 systems. Damn shame, since Ed had pretty much the entire 914 system mocked up before he moved.