TheSamba.com :: View topic - Adding aftermarket A/C for $1500. Possible?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:43 pm

So I'm in the market for a westy, and seem to find a lot without A/C. Would it be possible to add an aftermarket system for around $1000-1500?
I called up VintageAir, and they don't have a kit for the westy, plus I plan on doing a Bostig conversion, so I'd want it compatible with that.

I searched here, but didn't turn up much as far as prices.

Any help or guidance on where to look, or who to go with, would be much appreciated.

-Josh

Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:50 pm

Best I found was a guy in Florida that has done quite a few. He wanted $4,500. He said it was quite a job. If you must have air while you drive I suggest finding one that has it already.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:10 pm

Here's a recent thread with guys who chose to dump their A/C to get an extra shelf. Maybe one them can help you out...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6097250&highlight=#6097250

Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:43 pm

Ahwahnee wrote: Here's a recent thread with guys who chose to dump their A/C to get an extra shelf. Maybe one them can help you out...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6097250&highlight=#6097250

Sure, no problem. When you pick up the old A/C parts from me, I'll give you the $6000+ in receipts that the PO had in A/C maintenance over 20 years. Perhaps you can turn them into a large, paper fan to give yourself a breeze while you're sitting at red lights.

Heat wave? What heat wave? Give the A/C rippers a rest, will ya? :wink:

Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:18 pm

That was my original plan, but I hear the old systems are garbage, and not really worth updating. Better off with a complete aftermarket system that's new, instead of trying to re-vamp a 20+ year old system.

I've seen some pretty nice looking aftermarket setups. I don't see how people are cruising around without A/C. Maybe it's a Florida thing, but when it's 90+ outside and humid as piss, that A/C is the first thing you turn on after you start your car. Tunes being a close second.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:28 pm

I went back through my links I saved when I was looking into it. Here is one that I never called on. I'd be interested if you do find a reasonable solution.

http://www.iceac.com/index-1VWBus.html

Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:47 pm

subter wrote: I went back through my links I saved when I was looking into it. Here is one that I never called on. I'd be interested if you do find a reasonable solution.

http://www.iceac.com/index-1VWBus.html

Yea, I called them earlier. Guy said his kit was for the earlier buses, and that it wouldn't work for the Vanagon/Westy. Said he's been thinking about making a kit for the Westy, but that was about the extent of info I got from him.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:47 pm

You'll have a heck of a time finding a complete AC system--that you have to install for $1500.00--

I'm almost positive your about 2--2500 too light on the accessory pricing expectations.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:34 pm

SpeedoJosh wrote: So I'm in the market for a westy, and seem to find a lot without A/C. Would it be possible to add an aftermarket system for around $1000-1500?
I called up VintageAir, and they don't have a kit for the westy, plus I plan on doing a Bostig conversion, so I'd want it compatible with that.

I searched here, but didn't turn up much as far as prices.

Any help or guidance on where to look, or who to go with, would be much appreciated.

-Josh

I installed on of Vintage Air's Gen II universal kits. The Evaporator, controls, and condenser alone cost about $1200, add a few hundred dollars for a salvage compressor and the mile of hoses you will need and another few hundred for someone to charge it for you. If you install it yourself, its a pretty big job you will save quite a bit but would still probably run you $2,500 to get all working.

Good Luck,
Brian

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:41 pm

Quick Question--
why in the world would a guy go to the expense of buying an entire AC unit--and then toss in a used and more than likley abused compressor of unknown origin?

This is the heart of the unit and would be a very foolish move.

Bump the price tag up a few hundred for the heart--
I'll bet he'll be close to 3 grand when it's all said & done in reality.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:47 am

A couple folks have put in the Vintage Air set ups. It's a fair amount of work but it can be done. It's nice for the front seat occupants but not a lot of air gets to the back. Here is a great write up with pictures that I used as a reference. Mine had no AC to start with.

https://sites.google.com/site/blakeheinlein2/vanagon-airconditioning

Like Scubabrian said, more like $2500 just for the parts, charging, etc. If you are putting a new system in, buy a new compressor! It would be pound foolish not to.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:16 am

A big bonus with a vintage air unit is a real modern dehumidified
defrost. I installed a vintage air into my wife's 65 mustang
convertible. Still cost 2,500 and it was all bolt in parts. The
guys installing units into Vanagons are brave. If you need a/c
I would get one that had it already. Even then an existing
system could need a 1,000.00 of work to get it working right
if its been neglected.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:27 pm

JPrato wrote: A couple folks have put in the Vintage Air set ups. It's a fair amount of work but it can be done. It's nice for the front seat occupants but not a lot of air gets to the back. Here is a great write up with pictures that I used as a reference. Mine had no AC to start with.

https://sites.google.com/site/blakeheinlein2/vanagon-airconditioning

Like Scubabrian said, more like $2500 just for the parts, charging, etc. If you are putting a new system in, buy a new compressor! It would be pound foolish not to.

Thanks for the link. Looks like it can be accomplished for around or just over $2000.
One question for you. Did you have to add that weird box around your gear shift, or is that something else entirely on his westy?

Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:48 pm

SpeedoJosh wrote: JPrato wrote: A couple folks have put in the Vintage Air set ups. It's a fair amount of work but it can be done. It's nice for the front seat occupants but not a lot of air gets to the back. Here is a great write up with pictures that I used as a reference. Mine had no AC to start with.

https://sites.google.com/site/blakeheinlein2/vanagon-airconditioning

Like Scubabrian said, more like $2500 just for the parts, charging, etc. If you are putting a new system in, buy a new compressor! It would be pound foolish not to.

Thanks for the link. Looks like it can be accomplished for around or just over $2000.
One question for you. Did you have to add that weird box around your gear shift, or is that something else entirely on his westy?

It looks like an automatic transmission. If you're looking at manuals, you won't see "that weird box".

Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:22 pm

Cool. Didn't know if it was container an added component of the A/C unit or not.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:42 pm

SpeedoJosh wrote: Cool. Didn't know if it was container an added component of the A/C unit or not.

If it were me, I would be patient and find one with A/C already installed and put the money into getting the existing unit working well. Much less work. There are plenty of things you'll end up fixing/updating/improving in a Vanagon. Adding A/C is one of the more difficult and expensive projects. Good luck either way you go.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:53 pm

Josh:

Your Bostig should come with a decent compressor. That is a start that can save some money.

Here is what I am doing on my 1986 Syncro Westy in the midst of an SVX conversion. It is a fair bit of work, but doable.

Compressor: Free with my SVX engine I am about to install

Condenser: $89.00 from Nostalgic Air. 16 inch by 24 inch parallel flow.

http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/air-conditioning/...er-741.php

Fittings and Receiver-drier: $115

http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/air-conditioning/...re-657.php

Barrier Hose: $150

Evaporator: Free from a friend - - 1980s 1990s Audi 5000 or 100 or 200;

The Audi Evap will fit behind the glove box with some trimming of the evap box and trimming of the glove box too. Then, I plan to cut off the right side of the Audi air box to allow it to pull air through the Audi evaporator. This will require me to install flaps that block off the fresh air intake side of the air box so that the air box draws air only through the evaporator.

In the cooler months, the flaps can still be opened to properly defrost the windows without running AC. What I like about this concept is that the stock Vanagon airbox stays, the Audi Evap unit is cheap in every salvage yard, it is a CCOT system, so there is no thermal expansion valve and it is slightly more fuel efficient, the condenser is a modern parallel-flow unit that can handle R134A, (if i decide against RedTek - - not likely). If it does not work out, all the parts will still be usable for an after-market evaporator system.

When underway with the install, I will post pics.

In the past, I have had a number of Audi 5000, 200 and S4 cars and they all had a high heat loading with all the glass and the AC was always able to freeze your nipples off, so I expect that this large evaporator will do the job for a front-mounted AC system.

We will see about the rear occupants!

Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:07 pm

Money permitting I will be going through the stock rear A/C in my van. Has anyone ever added a front A/C unit to a van and kept the Rear A/C? Something like modern Caravans have?

Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:01 am

SpeedoJosh wrote: JPrato wrote: A couple folks have put in the Vintage Air set ups. It's a fair amount of work but it can be done. It's nice for the front seat occupants but not a lot of air gets to the back. Here is a great write up with pictures that I used as a reference. Mine had no AC to start with.

https://sites.google.com/site/blakeheinlein2/vanagon-airconditioning

Like Scubabrian said, more like $2500 just for the parts, charging, etc. If you are putting a new system in, buy a new compressor! It would be pound foolish not to.

Thanks for the link. Looks like it can be accomplished for around or just over $2000.
One question for you. Did you have to add that weird box around your gear shift, or is that something else entirely on his westy?

When I was doing my install, I emailed Blake a few times. I was confused by a couple of his pictures. It appeared that the second cluster cover was required to cover the center vent hoses. One picture showed the hoses coming out the ashtray area. That was not the case. It was only for the radio and gauges. The peice around his shift lever is also custom to his vanagon.

I did a few things differently. I wanted to maintain a stock appearance and was less worried about the stereo. I believe I accomplished a stock or as close to stock appearance as I could. I also mounted all my relays to the steel kneebar behind the lower cover so that they could be easily accessed if needed. I went with a Clarion stereo that has a remote head. The base of the unit is mounted behind the lower panel as well. The hardest part was the defroster vent attachment. Again, I wanted it to look stock. If you search my name in the gallery, you can see a couple pictures of my fiberglass defroster vent adapters. Below is the final look for a comparison to Blake's.

and the stereo head mounted to the headliner.

Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:04 am

That's pretty sweet!