Rear A/C in an 80?

[elmariachi]

Mot,

1. Where are the condenser/fan assembly and the airbox shown in the first 2 pics of post #18 mounted? Behind passenger side interior trim in front of rear wheel?

2. Post #16 is for the center console cooler/fridge? Is that required for OEM rear AC?

Excellent addition to this thread BTW. CDan will be sorry he missed this.

 

[mot]

Mot,

1. Where are the condenser/fan assembly and the airbox shown in the first 2 pics of post #18 mounted? Behind passenger side interior trim in front of rear wheel?

2. Post #16 is for the center console cooler/fridge? Is that required for OEM rear AC?

Excellent addition to this thread BTW.

IIRC, they are mounted in the right-rear coerner of the vehicle; by/near the sliding window. Is it where the factory sub resides in the N. American-spec 80, perhaps?

 

[mot]

2. Post #16 is for the center console cooler/fridge? Is that required for OEM rear AC?

Excellent addition to this thread BTW. CDan will be sorry he missed this.

Sorry, missed it the first time.
It is for the console cooler/fridge.

I used to "ass-u-me" that it was a necessary part of the rear AC system until I got to take a look at an 80 with rear AC without the cooler console last summer.

I have expressed my interest before and am still very much interested in making this happen IF I can source all the necessary parts for cheap.

Still, a long shot, I guess.

 

[elmariachi]

IIRC, they are mounted in the right-rear coerner of the vehicle; by/near the sliding window. Is it where the factory sub resides in the N. American-spec 80, perhaps?

Yes, that's where that thing they called a subwoofer is.

Some of your diagrams appear to be for the front air system as well (top two graphics in post #14?) I think someone needs to analyze these and try and figure out what would be needed. I'd also be curious if the compressor is the same part number.

I am not trying to hijack the thread that was started about non-LC alternatives, I am just trying to understand how the OEM system works and is installed so we can debate what might be an alternative. Me personally, I'd go the OEM route with these parts.

How readily available might the larger components be there in Japan from a wrecked truck?

 

[elmariachi]

I pasted your pictures together and oriented the top black edge of the output vent where it would appear to exit the sidepanel and connect to the clear air tube. So this is about what it would look like inside the fender well.

 

[LX_TREME]

Nice but the first pic of post # 13 – ( 9108- ) GX, VX and VXL model -> Illus No 1 of 2 might have problem to install those onto left hand drive cruiser, the rest of pics explanation may be easy to install them.Mot let me know when you have those in Oak/ Light brown interior Sometimes I just don’t like work on the small aluminum pipe’s damn … I just refilled the ac Freon not too long ago…

 

[mot]

I'd also be curious if the compressor is the same part number.

I'll try to look it/them up sometime (soon? )

How readily available might the larger components be there in Japan from a wrecked truck?

Of course that's where I got mine from.
They are available, but as it is true elsewhere in the world, many wreckers charge an arm and a leg for them, not to mention there's no guarantee that they actually worked before they were removed. But I felt(feel) comfortable about my chances with most of these (rear) AC components and the ones I've obtained might be some of more expensive parts, new.

 

[mot]

I pasted your pictures together and oriented the top black edge of the output vent where it would appear to exit the sidepanel and connect to the clear air tube. So this is about what it would look like inside the fender well.

Nice work!
Slow morning, is it? LOL!!



LX,

I'll be on a look-out for you.

 

[elmariachi]

Nice work! Slow morning, is it? LOL!!

If you only knew.

So Mot, you actually installed this on your 80? Sorry if I missed that. If you have an idea of what is involved and want to shoot me some prices, I might be game for trying it.

 

[TX_TLC]

Am I the only one that thinks the clear plastic duct is rather redneck looking? Why didn't the hide it behind the trim panel?

 

[elmariachi]

Am I the only one that thinks the clear plastic duct is rather redneck looking? Why didn't the hide it behind the trim panel?

Probably because it was an afterthought. Come on, don't you think the clear plastic is innovative, in a Lotto Texas meets Habitrail sorta way? Get a couple ping pong balls with numbers on them and a hamster.....now THAT'S redneck.

 

[mot]

So Mot, you actually installed this on your 80? Sorry if I missed that. If you have an idea of what is involved and want to shoot me some prices, I might be game for trying it.

No, I have not done the mod, and being the 1/2 man that I am, I don't think I am actually capable of doing it myself.

It's just that I've always wanted to try it upon my return to the US so I have been on a look out for used components.

The guy I bought these parts from said that it was too much work to get the piping, etc... ripped out, etc... so that's why I didn't get them at the same time. Hard to tear out probably means hard(er) to pop in!

But the piping, IIRC, did not cost THAT much.

I'll try to get to the compressor issues, maybe tomorrow. It's a national holiday tomorrow (TODAY!!! ), but I have to get up relatively early (It's past 3:00 in the morning)

 

[97 FZJ80]

I looked into this rather extensively with Mot a while back. There are a lot of little pieces that are not easily sourced used and retrofitted onto an existing 80 with no rear AC. Things to consider are:

Freon lines. From post #14 picture #3, it appears that Freon line just T off from the front evaporator to the rear evaporator. There doesn't seem to be a valve to control the rear freon flow when according to the rear AC on-off position.

The headliner would have to come off to fit the bracket to hold the air ducts. (Post #13 picture #2) With the replacement cost of the headliner, I wasn't sure this is a viable option.

I'ave also looked into other ways to get air into the rear - such as roof mounted evaporator tied into existing AC from Vintage Air and adding air vents to the existing front evaporator air ducts. Most of these were rather complicated and no practical on the 80.

Some intesting thought that I contemplated to improve cool airflow to the rear.

Cut a hole on top of the 95-97 dash right above the center airvent. Put luvers so that it directs the air at an angle to hit the roof and bounce to the rear of the cabin. This was used in various Honda civic wagons and small Japanese vans (MPV, Mitsu van/wagon). A fan can be added to this vent to aid in air flow.

Another idea is to reroute the vent below the steering wheel to the rear, either to behind the center console or behind the bottom of the B-pillar (a la Infinity FX vents).

Add a blower motor to assist in the airflow for the center vent. This increases the airflow to the rear.

I'm still in the process of installing the JDM aux AC condensor fan using Hella fuse block/relay block. In the mean time, I'm shopping for a good tint job for the rear windows of the 80.

 

[LX_TREME]

In the mean time, I'm shopping for a good tint job for the rear windows of the 80.

Get the titanium tint

 

[elmariachi]

The guy I bought these parts from said that it was too much work to get the piping, etc... ripped out, etc... so that's why I didn't get them at the same time. Hard to tear out probably means hard(er) to pop in!

Let me know, I am interested. I would probably not use the overhead venting system, rather concoct something else. If I had the rear unit, getting the lines from Oz or Japan wouldn't be a big deal.

Can you tell I am bored?

 

[TX_TLC]

Probably because it was an afterthought. Come on, don't you think the clear plastic is innovative, in a Lotto Texas meets Habitrail sorta way? Get a couple ping pong balls with numbers on them and a hamster.....now THAT'S redneck.

Very true...the ping pong balls would be sweet!

Let me know, I am interested. I would probably not use the overhead venting system, rather concoct something else. If I had the rear unit, getting the lines from Oz or Japan wouldn't be a big deal.

Can you tell I am bored?

Are you thinking more or less ? How about using a beer can, on its side. Slotting it with a knife and holding it together with duct tape and rubber bands. For the ducting I have some rain gutter down spout tubing.

 

[elmariachi]

Are you thinking more or less ? How about using a beer can, on its side. Slotting it with a knife and holding it together with duct tape and rubber bands. For the ducting I have some rain gutter down spout tubing.

I have a bombed out Kirby G4 vacuum cleaner with a cool flex hose. I could make it so you could plug it into the side panel...maybe suspend it from the ceiling with a bungee cord...then whoever needs air can just grab the hose. Maybe even devise some attachments for drying hair etc.

Seriously, rather than have that clear tube and overhead apparatus I would prefer to run a couple of vents on the passenger side interior panel, one for the 2nd row and one for the 3rd and be done with it. All we are talking about is making life more manageable for the little s in the back, right?

 

[TX_TLC]

I have a bombed out Kirby G4 vacuum cleaner with a cool flex hose. I could make it so you could plug it into the side panel...maybe suspend it from the ceiling with a bungee cord...then whoever needs air can just grab the hose. Maybe even devise some attachments for drying hair etc.

Seriously, rather than have that clear tube and overhead apparatus I would prefer to run a couple of vents on the passenger side interior panel, one for the 2nd row and one for the 3rd and be done with it. All we are talking about is making life more manageable for the little s in the back, right?

Don't know about the second row seat, I think the front A/C probably cools that area enough so the main concern is the 3rd seat? I always sit in the drivers seat...it is plenty cool!

There is a ton room in the rear side panels (behind the rear doors) that you could run ducting and put a directional vent on the face.

IMHO the cool ones are where the venting/ducting is in the door and when you open the door you can see the rubber boot that seals the ducting. Very smooth and clean install.

 

[elmariachi]

There is a ton room in the rear side panels (behind the rear doors) that you could run ducting and put a directional vent on the face.

Ideally, if all this would fit behind the stock panel, then all you would need is to close off the top hole that feeds the Lotto machine, fab up a splitter and run two hoses and ducts.

 

[97 FZJ80]

Here is a cheap and quick solution.