I fit a/cond for a living & some stuff is getting hard to find. Most companies that manufacture a/cond no longer exist because virtually all new cars get a/c as standard equipment.

The most difficult bits to get nowadays are the mount & drive kits. That means all the brackets, spacers, bolts, nuts, pulleys & belt etc. that mount the compressor to that particular motor. New compressors, condensers, evaporators, driers, hoses etc. are all easily available, I stock heaps of them.

The neatest & most efficient a/c system for an HQ, would be to fit a new modern underdash evaporator unit in place of the glovebox lid. Get a new Sanden style compressor & a new condenser then make custom hoses to suit. Find a 2nd hand mount kit off any VB-VH 6-cyl Commodore or HX/HZ/WB with Air International accessory a/cond (these original have Sanden SD508 compressors fitted) (I assume you HQ is a 6-cyl). Keep the factory 4-blade fan & add a 12-inch condenser fan wired thru a relay.

Dr Terry

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When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

Edited by user Thursday, 20 January 2011 9:51:21 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

OK, the only difference here will be obtaining a complete mount/drive kit from an HQ-WB 253/308 V8 to fit a normal Sanden style compressor. None of the Commodore kits will go close.

The dash unit that I use in HQs is from the era, with a black & chrome front panel. It suits 70s cars very well.

It is a costly install, parts & labour will set you back around $1800 incl. GST. This is using all new parts (except for the mount kit) & would come with 12 months warranty.

Dr Terry

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When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr Terry
HX/HZ/WB with Air International accessory a/cond (these original have Sanden SD508 compressors fitted)

Dr Terry

_________________________________________

When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

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Is this the same compressor that a 308 HJ Statesman would have? If so what are they worth, and I assume that the dryer needs to be updated from the original to suit the newer (R134?) gas?

quote:

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Originally posted by playwme

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr Terry
HX/HZ/WB with Air International accessory a/cond (these original have Sanden SD508 compressors fitted)

Dr Terry

_________________________________________

When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

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Is this the same compressor that a 308 HJ Statesman would have? If so what are they worth, and I assume that the dryer needs to be updated from the original to suit the newer (R134?) gas?

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No. That's why I referred to it a 'Air International Accessory A/Cond'. These units use the Japanese Sankyo (now Sanden) SD508 which was probably the most widely used aftermarket compressor.

The factory fitted system in HQ to WB use the GM A6 compressor. This is the bulky black unit often labelled as Frigidaire or Harrison.

Dr Terry

_________________________________________

When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

I wouldn't recommend replacing the GM compressor with another type, the money time & effort is not worth the outcome. While the Sanden compressor maybe smaller, lighter & use less power, the main reason for this is that they have less pumping capacity & therefore less output. The GM compressor displaces 12 cubic inch while the Sanden displaces just 8 ci, that must say something.

It is better to just repair, place or refurbish the original parts on the vehicle. I doubt that all of the hoses need replacement. The most common repair on these systems is a compressor reseal.

Dr Terry

_________________________________________

When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

Edited by user Monday, 24 January 2011 4:21:46 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

quote:

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Originally posted by states_man
thanks for the reply Dr T
I didnt think the old compressors would still be repairable these days, I thought that I may have to fit a newer one, glad I dont have to as the capacity of the new ones is a concern for me.
with regard to hoses, I was told that I would need to replace these as the new gas is to high in pressure, fact or fiction?

thanks
Brian

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The high pressure side of the system is marginally higher on hot days in traffic, but the hoses are designed for pressures much higher than that.

The main reason you hear that hoses need to be changed is that the older type hose is supposedly more porous to the newer R134a gas than it was to R12. R134a has now been around for over 18 years & I've yet to see any evidence of this 'porosity'. I've converted 1000s of cars from R12 to R134 with no issues at all in this area.

I think it's a bit like man-made climate change, once one 'scientist' puts forward a theory in print. it is then taken as gospel, without any serious discussion.

Dr Terry.

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When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

Edited by user Monday, 24 January 2011 6:21:24 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

LOL thats no problems. The more information the better.

We are lucky Dr Terry is willing to share his knowledge.

forgot t...the reason I used the VH compressor was I was running gas and the original compressor was too large and did not leave room for the gas setup.

Dr Terry is in the Sydney region, and his workshop is perfect for your needs.
Give him a call on 9644 2888

Cheers,

Mick
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Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate.

Dr Terry, can you rebuild Harrison Compressors? Is it cost effective or is a new one the only way to go?