Roof aircon installation

[Peninsulakid]

Wondering if anyone has any advice on fitting an internal roof aircon system from an American petrol caravelle into a UK diesel panel van. Is it possible? Is it loads of work etc.

[v-lux]

Shouldn't make all too much going petrol to diesel, its just a pump to wrap a belt around i guess. Bit fabricating involved i guess but shouldnt imagine it would be that difficult.

Probably more difficult getting hold of one. Might be one coming up for sale in Cornwall soon......

[Aidan]

anything is possible, twill be a fair bit of work, biggest issue I think is that the us aircon will be for wbx, so unless you have the diesel fittings from a late diesel westy with air con I think you'll struggle to get it fitted at the engine; mind if you run a later TDi engine that comes out of a car with aircon you may be able to do a mixed system that works, like using the scooby p/s pump with our p/s system
take a good long look at Vagcat or Etka or Etos to see what the parts are like and compare to what you have

[Peninsulakid]

Thanks for that gents. Van already has an AAZ but not sure if the car it was on has aircon. Van is with Dr Lee at the moment so will ask him if he can have a look at the engine. There is a complete aircon system with T25 direct on their ebay shop for £275. I know that not cheap but if all the parts are there and its only the install could be quite a nice luxury item.

[..lee..]

rich yoooou`z a crazy doooooood.

[Peninsulakid]

Reckon I'm in pretty good company with all you hardened syncro guys.

[jed the spread]

rich yoooou`z a crazy doooooood.

Mad for it isnt he?

jed

[syncropaddy]

I broke a Caravelle with air con and I still have some bits left. Its a big job as there are so many bits and bobs to fit and most are held on to the body by welded studs. Lots of pipes and wires but nothing is impossible

[silverbullet]

Just make sure that you get absolutely all of it, the wiring and relays are scattered about and don't forget the 3-speed fan switching. You'll probably want the big fan with the stud terminal (not plug) too...
Don't be suprised by the odd crack in the ducting or home-made reinforcing plates inside - they all crack and the early ones were infamous for falling down! Never happened to me. Yet.
If you need a bit of advice or pics we have 2 a/c buses for reference.

[toomanytoys]

WTS^^^^

The ducts are quite fragile wher ethe mount to the body, I have 2 complete systems and lots of the mounting holes are fractured/enlarged.. lots of wiring runs about too.. pipework.. if you have a pattern fitting, then you can get flexi pipework made up.. BUT its not cheap.. Fit a new drier unit too..

[Aidan]

I have one or more of the control switches in stock from a front section I had off CJ, again all the fitting holes were damaged

and if you are tall then you will find the lower mounting of the sun visors a pain especially if loose in their clips they fall down and obscure the view

[syncrodoug]

What's wrong with opening quarter lights?

[Peninsulakid]

Just got in and read the last few posts. I'm 6'1" , bearing that in mind re the sun visors, and all the bits that could go wrong reckon the best advice is "open the quarter lights". Van doesn't have opening ones but sounds like they will be a lot easier to fit. Bet Dr Lee has just breathed a huge sigh of relief after reading this, but pretty sure I can find another mad cap idea for him. Cheers for all the advice everyone.

[syncroandy]

What's wrong with opening quarter lights?

[v-lux]

pretty sure I can find another mad cap idea for him

Now that doesn't surprise me in the least,