Rear A/C in an 80?

[97 FZJ80]

All kidding aside. These fans actually work pretty well - although they look kind of bad. I had a friend with a RAM150 passenger van, the one with all the glass windows and no rear AC. A pair of these fans mounted strategically near the B-pillar really helped push the cool air to the rear.

 

[mot]

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?

Jim,



I've just looked up the ac compressor and it indicates that the '93 (May) through '98(Jan) FZJ's share the same compressor (88320-60580) and '95(Jan) through '98 (Jan) HDJ and HZJ 81's had a different compressor with 88320-60630.

I tried looking up their prices, but they did not show up.

Anyway, that part, if it is indeed different than the US-spec FZJ's compressor should be relatively easy to obtain, used.

HTH's and let me know if I can do more.

Mot

 

[elmariachi]

Mot,

What do you think the two larger evaporator/blower components will cost used?

 

[IdahoDoug]

If the whole point of this is to improve cooling in the vehicle, I'd think a proper system checkover/vacuum/recharge and condensor cleaning with degreaser and a power sprayer would restore it to factory levels. I've done this and gotten shockingly cold air out of my system.

Failing this, I think it would still be way cheaper and less complex to look worldwide to see if there's a higher capacity compressor available and simply install that.

Putting the entire rear A/C system in would, for me, be a very, very last step in this process. Cool to have one, of course - just not sure that's the real intent here.

DougM

 

[97 FZJ80]

The main purpose of the rear AC is to distribute the cool air more evenly to the rear of the vehicle. Since the condensor and compressor are the same for single and dual AC models, the total cooling capacity should be the same.

I had my AC tested for performance, and it consistantly gets over -35F depending on humidity. The problem is that in warm, sunny days, after the vehicle has been parked outside for any extended period of time, the rear of vechicle does not get adequate flow to cool off properly. The vents still outputs ice cold air, but the massive greeng house windows, combined with the heatsoak, often puts a 5 degree differential between the front passenger and the rear-most passenger area.

Some way to improve the AC performance are to get the windows tinted to reduce the green-house affect and get a light colored car

 

[elmariachi]

Putting the entire rear A/C system in would, for me, be a very, very last step in this process. Cool to have one, of course - just not sure that's the real intent here.DougM

There you go introducing practical, logical, prudent and thrifty thinking into my stream of bored consciousness.

 

[mot]

Mot,

What do you think the two larger evaporator/blower components will cost used?

Jim,

Let me see what I can do to find a parts FZJ and find out what they want for them. I cannot recall how much I paid for mine though, but I was gung-ho about getting them then, so might have been willing to pay a little more than I should have.

I'll let you know what I find out though.
I would appreciate it very much if you spearhead our effort in this rather ambitious project. I, for one, am not against using all OEM components, including the power ball tube though.

Mot

 

[elmariachi]

I would appreciate it very much if you spearhead our effort in this rather ambitious project. I, for one, am not against using all OEM components, including the power ball tube though.
Mot

I may get bucked off quick when I see the prices, but just let me know.

 

[mot]

I may get bucked off quick when I see the prices, but just let me know.

PM me and bug me about it if you don't hear from me in a while.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Just a random A/C history comment. I rode in one of the first cars in the world with factory air conditioning - a mid 50's Cadillac. A lot of the mechanism was in the trunk, and the air was distributed via two large clear plastic tubes sprouting from the rear window package tray (old terms) up into the roof. It then came out roof grilles. When you first turned it on, the tubes turned into tornado looking affairs as the cooled air was mixing and condensing, then finally made low enough humidity that it cleared again. It was kinda cool. So maybe you guys could forego the disco ball effect in favor of a daily dew point lesson for the kids. I'm sure they'd be thrilled...

DougM

 

[elmariachi]

So maybe you guys could forego the disco ball effect in favor of a daily dew point lesson for the kids. I'm sure they'd be thrilled...
DougM

Now yer talkin'

 

[pbuschbeck]

Hey guys, being the best post for the problem I have, I thought some of you could help.
I have the AC system that you are trying to install, but can't make the fridge to work.
The ac works great, but the fridge only blows hot air.

Any possible solutions?

 

[mot]

Any possible solutions?

Yes, sell the whole system to elmariachi and he can get it fixed.

Except he may not give it up after he gets it working though.

Sorry, but no idea what you can do to get the center console fridge to blow cold air. Has taking a look at some of the diagrams which have been posted helped at all?

Mot

 

[longuito]

Reviving this 6 year-old thread...

Hey guys,

I recently bought a 1992 JDM Cruiser with rear AC, swing out tire carrier and dual tank setup in order to "donate" to my 1997 LX. I have been looking for resources on how to retrofit the rear AC to the LX but unfortunately there isn't much to be found.

I will be starting this today with an AC technician and documenting the progress. Since I have both cars side by side, I should be able to accurately document exactly what it implies. If anyone is interested just stay tuned. Regards,

 

[lp2k]

seems that the 80 series has a lot of tricks up her sleeve, especially being a non - usa truck

 

[lp2k]

did you finish this install of moving the rear ac, the cooler box and the 2nd fuel system over ?

Hey guys,

I recently bought a 1992 JDM Cruiser with rear AC, swing out tire carrier and dual tank setup in order to "donate" to my 1997 LX. I have been looking for resources on how to retrofit the rear AC to the LX but unfortunately there isn't much to be found.

I will be starting this today with an AC technician and documenting the progress. Since I have both cars side by side, I should be able to accurately document exactly what it implies. If anyone is interested just stay tuned. Regards,

 

[Tapage]

should be fun the run of the factory AC lines going along your tranny hump ... with the tranny in place.

 

[longuito]

Hi guys,

Thanks for reviving this old thread. Yes I did, although I will admit that I would NOT recommend it to anyone. I do have my one of a kind LX450 , but it took much longer than expected and it ended up costing much more than anticipated, and bear in mind that I do live in South America where labor is considerably cheaper than in the USA, Canada Europe or Oz.

And yes, I had to resort to external labor once I realized I was in WAY over my head the only way to get the vehicles in working condition (and get my wife to stop nagging) was to hire specialists to do it.

As mentioned by the previous poster, running the AC lines was hell, but a not so distant second was getting the rear evap unit to work with the rear and front controls... And don't forget that that the ECU for the AC on the 1992 is different from the one on the LX. In the end, too many variables to look out for...

Because I did not do most of the work, I don't have as many photos as I would have liked, but I can post the ones that I have, and most importantly, the end results!

 

[lp2k]

If you wish to sell
Please notify me

 

[jhamby]

if you want A/C in the rear of your truck bad enough to try and retrofit it from a JDM spec truck, you might as well chop a hole in your roof and install an RV unit.

I'm in the process of removing all of the rear ac junk and it's tied in pretty well. The stand alone unit is plumbed in with all sorts of splitters in the AC lines above the rear axle. The wiring harness alone would be a PITA, not to mention re-doing your headliner and I have no idea if the mounting points would already be there.