Hi, I am wanting to fit factory air conditioning to my hq coupe, I installed a hz woodgraining gts dash when I did it up, my dash wiring loom is a Hj statesman so it would have the wires for the air. Is it possible to install the full set up without taking the engine out, I have two set ups one out of a Hj statesman and the other a hz kingswood. When I did it up I was half way through putting all the vents under the dash then decided it would take to much power off the engine, I wish I did it now.

did this on my hq tonner.
first problem is you relly need the hq air con dash pad as it has the extra hole for the vent. then you need the ducting that goes behind the dash, it is different to the other models as the shape of the dash is different.
there are various regulators and electrical relays you must get.
normally the right hand air vent is blocked off but this seems stupid to me so I left it open.
you need the left vent duct as is has the vacuum operated flaps.
i intended to modify one for the right side as well.
you need the air con operating switch off the dash, it has an extra speed and the switch for the air con.
you need all the wire cables that go from the switch to the air box etc they are different to the standard ones.
possibly some bits could be modified to fit but i would be inclined to buy a q with the air fitted to get all the bits.
the box in the engine bay is pretty straight forward to fit .
you have to swap the interior air box over it is totally different .
make sure you check the heater radiator properly before fitting it as it is a pain to have to pull it again if it leaks or is blocked. might even pay to get a new one.
depending how original you want it, you can fit the original monster delco compressor which works very well. however it takes a lot of space under the bonnet.
i used a vk compressor half the size and worked fine.
theres probably stuff i have forgotten but thats as far as i recall.
i note you have fitted the later dash but not sure just how much of it you have, so the hq dash pad may not be needed.

Edited by user Saturday, 24 November 2012 11:28:14 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

As you have fitted the HZ dash to your HQ you can easily fit the air con. You need to change the controller and add the wiring and vac units.

The under bonnet can be fitted with engine in, I did it on one car, but think I may have had the LH head off at the time.

You will also need a new lower fadscia as air con cars do not have the vents, which also means you need to blank off the driver's vent.

Warren

Yes the lower panel is the one below the steering column.

Non air con cars have a vent operator on each side, air con cars have the knock outs in place.

Warren

with the q 6cyl the easiest way to fit the airbox is not to remove the motor,but remove the left hand guard , no need to completely take it off just undo the top bolts and the rear and lower bolts and pull the guard away from the body.

When you have the HZ's firewall in front of you with the aircon in it, put it side by side with the HQ and you'll find little dimples in the HQ's firewall that show you where to drill the required holes. The ones you'll find hardest to do with the V8 in place is the 3 x overlapping holes to make the slot for the heater hoses. Maybe you can drill these from the engine side with like a 3mm drill, and then englarge the holes from inside the cab. If the HZ still has the under dash and firewall insulation grab it too and put it in. You will also need to drill an extra hole for the under dash cowl vent and the driver's side blanking plate. The non-aircon ones only use 2 x screws, the aircon have 3. Make sure you put sealant or some paint around the holes after drilling them.

If I was you I'd strip the HQ, and then pull the HZ apart and transfer it all across as you go, much easier than trying to put the jigsaw back together later.

Cut the firewall out of it complete with dash and bring it home!

HK1837 ,I was just looking at the "my sandman" site and found your write up on fitting HZ air con you did a year ago, just the info I needed. Cheers

I have decided I will pull the motor out, I'll give it a regasket and a check over then a repaint, was looking at the smaller compressor but if it doesn't work as good ill rebuild the original. Thanks for all of the replies

Hi All, I'm having some problems with the factory air in my HQ, not blowing very cold. The inlet door doesn't seem to be working, no vacuum. Should this door be open or closed when air is operating? Currently it is open and seems to be struggling with cooling the outside air, does this sound likely? Appreciate any advice, thanks, Phil