Help with A/C repair, Anyone done this? Options

[shadygrady]

The a/c in my 73 2.0 does not work. It needs several things including a compressor. Are there more efficient new ones out there that are bolt on or have new mounts? I plan to convert to R134. I was thinking of taking the old lines and getting new ones made locally.

I know most of you will say you don't need a/c, take the top off. But my better half who helped me buy the car likes a/c so that is not an option. So any advise and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[914rrr]

The a/c in my 73 2.0 does not work. It needs several things including a compressor. Are there more efficient new ones out there that are bolt on or have new mounts? I plan to convert to R134. I was thinking of taking the old lines and getting new ones made locally.

I know most of you will say you don't need a/c, take the top off. But my better half who helped me buy the car likes a/c so that is not an option. So any advise and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Amen on having AC, especially in the south. There is no way I would use a 914 as a daily driver there w/o AC. When I lived in FL, my daily driver 74 2.0 had a DPD AC system with the old school piston style compressor running R12. That system blew ice cubes, and really didn't drag the engine down all that bad. Sooo, old style equipment with new lines could work.

One side benefit is that it will defrost your windows in seconds.

You MUST replace the AC lines. R134 runs at a much higher pressure than R12. The OG lines were barely adequate when new for R12, 30+ years later, no way.

I know a guy in FL who is deveolping an all new AC system for 914's. Supposedly the compressor mount (using a small rotary compressor) is below the engine sheetmetal and you don't have to cut anything in the engine bay to install it.

He has installed AC systems in aircooled VW's for years. Link to follow.

http://www.gilmore-enterprises.net/GH/index.htm