New A/C install

[dddonkey]

Hello All,

Long time lurker, new member. I have a 1978 Cherokee wide track with a factory A/C unit that is inop. The blower motor works, and the compressor clutch will power on, but I know that the refrigerant lines are bad and not holding a charge, and I would like to have A/C living in Arizona. I am looking for a replacement system but can't seem to find any complete drop in kits other than the BJ's off-road kit, that removes the heater. I see that the Vintage air makes a nice unit but you will need to piece it together, and I am trying to avoid that. I have reached out to The Jeep Farm here locally to me and they can install an upgrade reusing the factory blower unit and replacing everything else, but it is out of my price range at around 5K. I can do the work myself, just looking for a complete system where I don't loose the glove box.

I guess my question is, is there a complete system other than the BJ's one, and is 5K out of line?

Thanks for any help, and yes I have read through many, many threads on this topic.

[sonoraed]

Sounds like you'd be better just fixing what you have, cheapest kits I've seen are from Southern Air but any retrofit will be a major undertaking and requires money and time.
if you keep your existing system and doing it yourself you need at least a 134A gauge set, leak detector and vacuum pump with this equipment you can find your leak and fix it.
Look for equipment on craigslist and ebay I just bought a inficon TekMate leak detector for $100.00 on craigs avoid Harbor freight detector I have one and will sell it cheap.

[dddonkey]

Sounds like you'd be better just fixing what you have, cheapest kits I've seen are from Southern Air but any retrofit will be a major undertaking and requires money and time.
if you keep your existing system and doing it yourself you need at least a 134A gauge set, leak detector and vacuum pump with this equipment you can find your leak and fix it.
Look for equipment on craigslist and ebay I just bought a inficon TekMate leak detector for $100.00 on craigs avoid Harbor freight detector I have one and will sell it cheap.

Thank you for the response, that is what I was thinking. I do have a gauge set and a vacuum pump, so it looks like I may be just fixing the OEM unit. Looks like the hardest part will be replacing the condenser and dryer, other than that I can get some new lines made up, and replace the evaporator and expansion valve while I am in there, and for good measure just change out the compressor. Too bad Vintage Air does not make a 'kit' with all the parts needed.

[devildog80]

dddonkey,

What compressor do you have?

Sanden or York?

Have watched some vids on youtube where you can rebuild your compressor for much less than replacing.

Like rebuilding a small engine.

Price comparisons I have seen were $800 to replace, or $150 to rebuild.

Following this thread, as when I get ready to tackle my A/C some months down the road, might be looking you up to assist.....if you would!

[SJTD]

You going to 134 or keeping the R12 or some compatible replacement? 134 Requires a different oil and the system should be flushed to remove the old stuff.

[dddonkey]

Update!

I found a company Jeep Air, that sold me an almost complete kit minus the ducting (I have that) for around $740 shipped to my house. The kit includes

York to Sanden Conversion Plate
New OE Sanden SD7H15 Double V-Belt A/C Compressor
Grand Wagoneer CJ Comanche OE Parallel Flow Replacement Condenser with Drier (Remove Liquid Line Hose)
Universal R-134a Hose Kit (Remove BL1322 and BL1323-3) Male Binary Switch 3/8" - 24
Universal Binary Switch Pigtail
# 8 45 Degree O-ring Fitting
# 10 135 Degree O-ring Fitting R-134a Suction Port
# 10 90 Degree Flare Fitting
# 6 90 Degree Flare Fitting

Looks like I will need to crimp the fittings on the lines and charge the system but will not be a problem, I will also replace the evaporator and other small parts while I'm in there. The kit is call the "full size wagoner kit"

Thanks for all the help.

[SJTD]

Should post a link for posterity.

Be aware that some evaporators sold for Wagoneers are actually for the Wagoneer version of the XJ.

[dddonkey]

Should post a link for posterity.

Be aware that some evaporators sold for Wagoneers are actually for the Wagoneer version of the XJ.

Thank you for the info, as for a link there is none you need to call the company.

[Theodore]

Hey, dddonkey, am right there with you. Got all of the parts to replace my a/c & hoses from jeepair.com, except for the evaporator; found it at summit - not sure if jeepAir had one or not - the website showed one that didn’t look like what I have. Struck out finding someone local to bend the hardlines to the condenser & crimp hose fittings, picked up a set of tubing benders & crimper from Amazon & a set of 12-inch #6 & #8 straight lines from Summit.

Am shooting to get it put together this weekend.

List below is all the other non-JeepAir parts I found for my install on a 1990 GW.

Evaporator
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FSS-54613

Crimper
https://www.amazon.com/Mastercool-71550 ... B000WBQ4U2

Tubing Bender
https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Tool-37 ... op?ie=UTF8

Vintage Air #6 & #8 Straight tubing
https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1257 ... 110&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1251 ... C92&sr=8-5

Fin Comb for straightening bent fins on condenser & evaporator
https://www.amazon.com/Cenipar-Cleaning ... 117&sr=8-8

[dddonkey]

Hey, dddonkey, am right there with you. Got all of the parts to replace my a/c & hoses from jeepair.com, except for the evaporator; found it at summit - not sure if jeepAir had one or not - the website showed one that didn’t look like what I have. Struck out finding someone local to bend the hardlines to the condenser & crimp hose fittings, picked up a set of tubing benders & crimper from Amazon & a set of 12-inch #6 & #8 straight lines from Summit.

Am shooting to get it put together this weekend.

List below is all the other non-JeepAir parts I found for my install on a 1990 GW.

Evaporator
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FSS-54613

Crimper
https://www.amazon.com/Mastercool-71550 ... B000WBQ4U2

Tubing Bender
https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Tool-37 ... op?ie=UTF8

Vintage Air #6 & #8 Straight tubing
https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1257 ... 110&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1251 ... C92&sr=8-5

Fin Comb for straightening bent fins on condenser & evaporator
https://www.amazon.com/Cenipar-Cleaning ... 117&sr=8-8

Thanks for the links!

[letank]

Hey, dddonkey, am right there with you. Got all of the parts to replace my a/c & hoses from jeepair.com, except for the evaporator; found it at summit - not sure if jeepAir had one or not - the website showed one that didn’t look like what I have. Struck out finding someone local to bend the hardlines to the condenser & crimp hose fittings, picked up a set of tubing benders & crimper from Amazon & a set of 12-inch #6 & #8 straight lines from Summit.

Am shooting to get it put together this weekend.

List below is all the other non-JeepAir parts I found for my install on a 1990 GW.

Evaporator
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FSS-54613

Crimper
https://www.amazon.com/Mastercool-71550 ... B000WBQ4U2

Tubing Bender
https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Tool-37 ... op?ie=UTF8

Vintage Air #6 & #8 Straight tubing
https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1257 ... 110&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-1251 ... C92&sr=8-5

Fin Comb for straightening bent fins on condenser & evaporator
https://www.amazon.com/Cenipar-Cleaning ... 117&sr=8-8

Indeed, thank you for the links!

Thinking of reinstalling the AC... but will probably use a different set up... for the lines. Most newer AC do not have the sight glass, so that help in redoing the high pressure line to the evaporator and getting rid of another fitting.

How did you lay out your lines? curious about the condenser to evaporator layout!

Thank you

[Srdayflyer]

check with local a/c shops a good one fabricates their own in house, i took my original hoses to a shop near me 134 compatible, the were exactly the same , and only coet me 75.00 i couldnt beat that price, i flushed the r12 systen , recharged with 134 oil and recharged system, and now frosty cold sans the large area to cool down.

[letank]

check with local a/c shops a good one fabricates their own in house, i took my original hoses to a shop near me 134 compatible, the were exactly the same , and only coet me 75.00 i couldnt beat that price, i flushed the r12 systen , recharged with 134 oil and recharged system, and now frosty cold sans the large area to cool down.

Thank you, here most of the AC outfits have shut down... as for my system, I removed it over 10 years ago when one of the hoses blew...

[Theodore]

Indeed, thank you for the links!

Thinking of reinstalling the AC... but will probably use a different set up... for the lines. Most newer AC do not have the sight glass, so that help in redoing the high pressure line to the evaporator and getting rid of another fitting.

How did you lay out your lines? curious about the condenser to evaporator layout!

Thank you

Hey, letank, I routed things as close to factory as possible. Had to make up a way to mount the receiver/drier & upper hardline to the condenser; otherwise things routed as factory. Used a couple of pieces of 1” aluminum angle to mount the receiver/drier to the condenser & secured the hardline with a padded strap & self-tapping screws.

Here’s how the condenser & receiver/drier turned out.

Front:


Back:


In the GW:


Mastercool A/C line crimper:
Hint: run the crimper down all the way - past the mark; I ran down to the line on the first attempt & chased leaks; pulled the hoses & recrimped to the max - no leaks.


Hint: hang onto the #10 90 degree fitting that connects to the evaporator, and buy some beadlock ferrules to reuse it; no room for a normal 90.


Beadlock repair ferrules: here’s what I got from eBay - they worked ok, but were steel vs aluminum & were a little harder to crimp; may be worth looking for aluminum ones given where you are:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313071974959?m ... media=COPY

Also, for insulation, I found a 30’ roll of 1/8”x2” foam insulation at a local HVAC supply store to replace the asphalt/cork factory stuff.

[letank]

Hey, letank, I routed things as close to factory as possible. Had to make up a way to mount the receiver/drier & upper hardline to the condenser; otherwise things routed as factory. Used a couple of pieces of 1” aluminum angle to mount the receiver/drier to the condenser & secured the hardline with a padded strap & self-tapping screws.

Also, for insulation, I found a 30’ roll of 1/8”x2” foam insulation at a local HVAC supply store to replace the asphalt/cork factory stuff.

Theodore, thank you for all the very good pictures.