zeiss150 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Hi Z people. OK I've spent a few hours searching and I haven't found what im looking for so here go's... Has any one put a honda civic A/C system into a 240Z. Or how about a sentra, eclips, escort, carrola, 240sx, or any other small car system? I'm gonna put a/c in my Z before the summer and I wanna know what the best, cheepest, and easiest mod is. I was thinking about getting rid of the card board glove box and putting the condensor where that would be (since I never use it I might as well hide the condensor there, If i can?). I was thinking about just using the stock ZX compressor and hooking up another cars condensor and all the other stuff. So what has been done How much did it cost and how hard was it? Keep in mind I'm also gonna be converting to a turbo motor. Thanks Z people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverenough Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Do a search for vintage air. There are a few people that have used their kit with good results and have posted pics. You get all new parts to work with and a more modern system. I'm sure you can adapt the zx compressor the the vintage air parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 ... I was thinking about getting rid of the card board glove box and putting the condensor where that would be (since I never use it I might as well hide the condensor there, If i can?). ... I'm going to assume you meant evaporator as the condensor goes in front of the radiator. I used a Vintage Air Mini system and the evaporator fit in place of the stock heat/ventilation unit allowing me to keep the glovebox. I'm sure you could piece something together using parts from other cars, but you're going to have to really know what your doing, and you will probably e runnning into problems making everything work together. If you've got the time and ability, then give it a shot and let us know how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 One of the members in my Z car club retro-fitted the AC system from a first generation (1981-84) Maxima into his 1972 240Z. This Maxima used the L6 engine so the AC compressor and it's mount bolts right up. He hacked together a box for the evaporator and was able to mount it in between the stock 240Z blower fan and heater box. It’s not pretty, but it does seem to function. I don’t recall how he handled the temperature adjustment controls. He used rubber hoses instead of the hard lines which made the installation easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeiss150 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 Yeah your right the evaporater not the condensor. I know about the vintage air but I was hoping to do it for less than one of their kits. If I wanted to spend a grand I would just buy one of their kits from MSA. The HybridZ part of me wants to make a sentra or civic AC work. I would love to know more about the maxima convertion. I'm sure that someone on here has frankenstiened a bad ass A/C system in to a 240z. I do know about the honda blower mod and that is a given. Thanks for the replys and keep the ideas comming. Matt- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Factory 280Z's have pretty good a/c from what I've heard from people here in Az. I have aftermarket 240 air though, not the greatest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BronctailZ Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 From what I understand, most a/c parts are designed to work with each other so if you have a condensor thats not matched with the evap, fans or expansion valve you may not get the best cooling or you may run into freezing evaps etc. I've been fixing Auto a/c as a side business for 8 yrs now but have not mixed & matched much. Also the other problem with a/c is you really can't test it too well until you get everything installed pumped down and charged. I would just hate to do all that work and then still sweat. Just my thoughts. If you put it together and have any troubleshooting questions let me know. I don't know everything but have seen a lot. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Not to hijack but... does anyone know who makes a really good ((freezing cold/affordable/reliable)) system that fits a SBC and/or BBC 240Z? I'm aware of Vintage Air and some others but they're pricey. Maybe there's a DIY solution?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Not to hijack but... does anyone know who makes a really good ((freezing cold/affordable/reliable)) system that fits a SBC and/or BBC 240Z? I'm aware of Vintage Air and some others but they're pricey. Maybe there's a DIY solution??Vintage Air and Hot Rod Air are the two main players. The prices may seem high, but I think it's actually pretty resonable for what you get. As noted above, getting components that are meant to work together is a big plus. Although I purchased all my components from Vintage Air, mine is definitely a DIY solution. The only thing I had done was the fittings crimped on to the hoses and then the system leak tested, oiled and charged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 BARTMAN... How much $$$ did you save by DIY vs. having one of Vintage Air's shops do the install? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 BARTMAN... How much $$$ did you save by DIY vs. having one of Vintage Air's shops do the install?I don't know how much they charge for an install, but I think purchasing everything and installing it myself was somewhere around $1200 total. This includes compressor, condensor, evaporator, all lines and fittings, control panel, dryer, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Did you get the driver's side compressor mount from Vintage? If not what setup are you using. I understand the compressor for a Z28 will it in a Z in its stock Camaro, lower passerger side position. Your engine is a thing of beauty. I don't know how much they charge for an install, but I think purchasing everything and installing it myself was somewhere around $1200 total. This includes compressor, condensor, evaporator, all lines and fittings, control panel, dryer, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Did you get the driver's side compressor mount from Vintage? If not what setup are you using. I understand the compressor for a Z28 will it in a Z in its stock Camaro, lower passerger side position.Your engine is a thing of beauty. Thanks for the compliment on my engine, hopefully the exterior will match soon. My compressor mount is from Bowers http://www.bowersrodshop.com/info_pulley.htm The stock Z28 LT1 compressor will not fit in it's original location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Thanks for the compliment on my engine, hopefully the exterior will match soon. My compressor mount is from Bowers http://www.bowersrodshop.com/info_pulley.htm Nice and compared to some I've seen not all that horribly expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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