Guest 73LT1Z Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I'm on the impossible quest to get the final AC parts for my '75 280Z/LT1 conversion. I specifically bought this car since it had factory AC (I'm in FL & it gets pretty hot here). I've fabricated a mount & have been able to recycle the F-body LT1 AC compressor to the Vette bracket. I even found a 90 degree fitting to adapt to the Datsun fitting on the firewall (more on this below) & have obtained custom hoses from the comp to the firewall, the firewall to where the dryer will be, where the dryer will be to where the condenser will be, and where the condenser will be to the comp. My quest started in December 2005 with RJays, (http://www.rjays.com) in order to get a condenser, compressor (rear exit Sanden before I gave up on this hard to find item), dryer, hoses, fittings, and a bracket for the dryer. After ordering online on December 18, I finally received a response on December 30, followed up by the required LD phone calls. I gave up on them in January since it took soooooooooo long to get a response. Next up starting on January 12 was Old Air Products, (http://www.oldairproducts.com) from whom I had already bought several items. The hangup was the fitting on the firewall. After measuring it inside & out and snapping a digital picture of it, I was hopeful I was on the road to getting needed items. Last contact was January 24. After weeks of non-response, I self-educated myself about AC fittings & found a part elsewhere (http://www.surpluscenter.com/) that appears to adapt a female o-ring hose end to the female flare fitting on the Datsun firewall. I also adapted the LT1 compressor so as to reduce the parts needed burden (the rear exit Sanden is not that rare of an item, but getting it from the same vendor as the other stuff was not possible). Strike 2. My most recent experience has been with Street Rod Garage (http://www.streetrodgarage.com/). I ordered online items that were shown as available. Paid right away w/ Paypal January 30 & got a receipt. Tick-tock Tick-tock Tick-tock After doing alot of other work on the Z, I realized the AC stuff I paid for never arrived. Sent an email on February 15, no response as of February 20, so more LD phone calls. Turns out my order is "awaiting payment" and the guy I talked to can't help me, the other guy has to call me back. They have apparently called twice (caller ID) w/o leaving a message. It's called customer service- anyone familiar with it??? On the good side of things, if you need an AC hose or fitting, go to Ray Everitt's website, http://www.rayeveritt.com/. You can make up custom hoses online, and his prices are reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Sounds like quite an ordeal. I looked at that site you posted for AC hoses and fittings and it does sound like a good resource. I have everything now except for the hoses that I was planning on getting from Vintage Air (everything else is from Vintage Air, except I'm using an LT1 compressor like you are). So you think it would be better to get my hoses custom made with fittings installed from Ray's? It looks like I would need to find out my thread sizes, but then I'd be getting completed hoses (instead of pieces of hose and various fittings). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73LT1Z Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Best bet is to take the car to a shop & let them measure, cut, & make the hoses- I doubt it would be much more cost than what I did. I'm not in a position to do so, and the hoses are only "1 more thing" while I'm doing the other stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastzcars Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Sorry to hear that your having so much trouble. I only delt with vintage air, and they were great. But I did spend alot of money with them for there system. Bartman, as far as the hoses. I got the hose kit, installed the fittings at there locations and ran the hoses to there location, then I added a extra 1 1/2 inches, just in case. Then I took the hoses to a place called "Mr Hose" and they crimped them fall for me for $30 labor. That was 4 hoses. It really wasn't that hard to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73LT1Z Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 The parts finally arrived from Streetrod Garage after I filed a complaint with Paypal. The only issue is the drier has no pressure port for the trinary switch... par for this project. Fortunately, these are inexpensive & available elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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