TheSamba.com :: View topic - Air conditioning help & pictures needed for 1979 Westy

Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:51 pm

Hi guys, when I bought my bus Milly the previous owner gave me the under dash aircon panel & the compressor that bolts to the engine block. I'm thinking of refitting it however the cut out piece has been fabricated back on & there is no evidence of where it once was. I need help with pictures or diagrams so I can cut out no more than is really needed so I can re-introduce this usefull piece of kit. :D

Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:34 pm

You probably want to go with the newest smallest compressor you can get your hands on. A lot of these installations are pretty much butcher jobs.

Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:45 pm

Here's the compressor I used:

If you use this newer type of compressor you benefit two ways, less drag on the engine and you do not have to make cut-outs in your tin. Only had to drill one hole for an A/C service port.

Here's the compressor that came with the A/C kit:

It had one piston and was very heavy. If you are going to use this compressor (York) here are the cut out instructions:

Here are the rest of the installation instructions: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1979_bus_dpd_under_dash_ac.php

Also, there are some tin cut-out instructions in the 1976 installation manual:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1976_bus_dpd_under_dash_ac.php

Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:56 am

Wildthings wrote: You probably want to go with the newest smallest compressor you can get your hands on. A lot of these installations are pretty much butcher jobs.
Thanks good advice M8. :D

Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:58 am

Opossum wrote: Here's the compressor I used:

If you use this newer type of compressor you benefit two ways, less drag on the engine and you do not have to make cut-outs in your tin. Only had to drill one hole for an A/C service port.

Here's the compressor that came with the A/C kit:

It had one piston and was very heavy. If you are going to use this compressor (York) here are the cut out instructions:

Here are the rest of the installation instructions: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1979_bus_dpd_under_dash_ac.php

Also, there are some tin cut-out instructions in the 1976 installation manual:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1976_bus_dpd_under_dash_ac.php

Wow thats awsome info, exactly what I need. Where did you get the new compressor & is it easy to fit, will it pair up with the rest iof the standard aircon system?
:D

Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:25 pm

I'm still a bit unsure what to do in my bus, can people post pictures of their aircon units in their late bay's both in the cockpit & in the engine bay please?
:D

Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:27 pm

I'm still a bit unsure what to do in my bus, can people post pictures of their aircon units in their late bay's both in the cockpit & in the engine bay please?
:D

Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:36 pm

Here's mine. It's the original VW aftermarket assembly:

Compressor on the left:

Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:30 pm

Awesome, can you get a few close ups please?

Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:04 am

If you are posting close ups, would it be possible to see one from below the compressor, to get an idea how the bracket looks?

Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:34 am

mywifesghia wrote: If you are posting close ups, would it be possible to see one from below the compressor, to get an idea how the bracket looks?

May be the pictures and documents of my NOS A/C on my website could help you...
http://www.vw-t2-bulli.de/index.php?de-airconditioner

Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:54 am

Thank you.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:11 am

Anyone else got any aircon pics of stuff in a Bay :D

Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:21 pm

My van came with the under dash dealer installed system as well. They are fine as long as you never need to get at the wiring or anything else under the dash. Any work requires the evaporator/ducting unit to be dropped down or removed.

The original York compressor is a well documented power hog and very heavy. I am almost certain that it tweaked the fan shroud causing the cooling fan to rub on the shroud. There are several more modern units (Sanden) that take little power and are much lighter. The only item you need from the original is the pulley that fits behind the cooling fan. You could use the York mounting bracket as well. Obviously new hoses, a receiver/dryer and condenser(s) of your choice would be needed to complete the package.

Today, there are lots of much more compact evaporator units that fit under the dash and take up only a fraction of the space of the original 70's bulky technology. We can thank the hot rod industry.

While searching for an evaporator unit for my 76 Dodge B200 which is also a tight fit behind the dash, I came across this unit from Nostalgic Air. It is only 16" x 6.5" and 9.5" high. If one were to shorten the glove box by an inch or so, the unit would fit behind and below the glove box right up against the air box. You can then plumb your air vents under the dash and/or adapt them to the existing side vents.

And the good part is that you do not loose the easy access to items under the dash. Oh and for under $400.US you get the evaporator, switches, duct hoses and vents of your choice. http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/

Oh and if you ever plan to convert your bus to a water cooled engine, they have a complete unit that is not much bigger than this and includes heater and defroster components as well.

My thoughts.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:37 am

My '79 came with the same original setup that Westfabulous and rsbadura posted. I've got pics of all of it before I removed it but can't post them right now. That is the original VWoA dealer or distributor installed kit for that vintage.

Dirk

Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:27 am

Sage79 wrote: My '79 came with the same original setup that Westfabulous and rsbadura posted. I've got pics of all of it before I removed it but can't post them right now. That is the original VWoA dealer or distributor installed kit for that vintage.

Dirk

Interesting thing I noticed; the unit is a VWOA contracted product, but it was designed in Germany and the engine case adapted for it by VW. I have the original instructions for it, and they are in German and English, and it is clear that this was not an after thought by VWOA. An example is the hole in the fan shroud that everyone puts their green condensor wire through, that hole was intended for the mounting bracket to the AC Compressor.

Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:18 am

Westfabulous wrote: , but it was designed in Germany and the engine case adapted for it by VW. I have the original instructions for it, and they are in German and English, and it is clear that this was not an after thought by VWOA. An example is the hole in the fan shroud that everyone puts their green condensor wire through, that hole was intended for the mounting bracket to the AC Compressor.
I'm not so sure about the "designed for it", only one of the 3-4 brands of A/C kits installed on buses by dealers uses that hole, and why would they not make room for the compressor in the engine surround tin while they were at it?, I can't imagine any meticulous German engineer saying, "it's fine, just cut it out there" :P
The holes on the end of the shroud are for the governer when it's used as an industrial motor and the green wire hole on top is used when it's machined or lifted on the production line :wink:

Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:06 pm

Thanks guys keep your comments & pictures coming.
I'm thinking of fitting the original VW aftermarket assembly in the dash, I may go for a more modern compressor though.

Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:02 pm

chrisradioman wrote: Thanks guys keep your comments & pictures coming.
I'm thinking of fitting the original VW aftermarket assembly in the dash, I may go for a more modern compressor though.

Go for it. I love the OE accessory kit in my bus. I rarely run the AC, but it is awesome to have that high output fan blowing cool ambient air out of the 4 vents in the front. You don't have to be moving at highway speeds to get cooled. Having been to England many times (where chrisradioman lives I believe), our climates are almost identical. You won't actually need to run the compressor all that often.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:15 am

Westfabulous wrote:
Go for it. I love the OE accessory kit in my bus. I rarely run the AC, but it is awesome to have that high output fan blowing cool ambient air out of the 4 vents in the front. You don't have to be moving at highway speeds to get cooled. Having been to England many times (where chrisradioman lives I believe), our climates are almost identical. You won't actually need to run the compressor all that often.

Yep mostly its cold but we do get about 2 nice days a year :)

Westfabus does your bus have any roof vents like this?