TheSamba.com :: View topic - All about dealer installed a/c in a 61-67 beetle

Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:15 pm

AlanInMass54 wrote: I just picked up one of these 62 - 67 style units! The round vents aren't too great. Is there a source for replacements that anyone knows of?
No repro parts available for the case or vents. They could be molded and cast from black plastic- are yours broken? I have a good set on the 62-67 a/c unit I have in the garage and could mold these.
Otherwise try looking for vents out of a 70's Toyota truck, late vw bus, Mazda miata, 80s jaguar or similar- something you could adapt.

I'm working on molding the vents, repopping the stickers and knobs, and making a blow mold of the case so it can be sold ready to go.
In the mean time you have to use a little ingenuity

Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:24 pm

GüteAndTite wrote: AlanInMass54 wrote: I just picked up one of these 62 - 67 style units! The round vents aren't too great. Is there a source for replacements that anyone knows of?
No repro parts available for the case or vents. They could be molded and cast from black plastic- are yours broken? I have a good set on the 62-67 a/c unit I have in the garage and could mold these.
Otherwise try looking for vents out of a 70's Toyota truck, late vw bus, Mazda miata, 80s jaguar or similar- something you could adapt.

I'm working on molding the vents, repopping the stickers and knobs, and making a blow mold of the case so it can be sold ready to go.
In the mean time you have to use a little ingenuity

Hello! Mine are both broken, yeah. I thought only one was broken but on closer inspection they both are. The knobs are good, sticker's faded. Center vent is fine, just the round ones are busted. Were they originally a silver/chrome finish? It looks that way in the accessory books. I don't even have the car for this thing…yet! If you make repros count me in for a set please!

Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:06 pm

If its the common system like the red one below, the bay window bus defroster vents look so close is isnt funny.

Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:45 pm

I've been tinkering with my new A/C unit. I powered the blower motor and it spins, but screeches like a stabbed cat. I went to remove the fan cage so I could take apart and clean the motor. Has anyone removed that set screw that holds the cage to the motor shaft? I can't budge the damn thing. Is it reverse thread?

Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:12 pm

Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:40 am

Wow I somehow missed this! That looks bitchin, if there were an LX Beetle that would be it. Did you ever get around to making the circular vents? I tried Bay Window ones but couldn't make them work.

Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:45 pm

AlanInMass54 wrote: Did you ever get around to making the circular vents? I tried Bay Window ones but couldn't make them work.

Have you tried contacting Ed at Gilmore Enterprises, he is making retro units and his vents may work. See below.

http://gilmore-enterprises.net/index.php/product/view/11/23

Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:51 pm

Trying to keep it all in one place.....
I see many use the sanden compressors now, so does anyone have pics of one installed in a pre 67 with a 1600DP ?
The previous owner of mine had it done (sanden 505)but the pulley has cut a hole through the deck lid....I need some reference before I go hacking at the bracket that's there now.

Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:18 pm

Installed in a '67 with a bracket made for a Sanden compressor. Bracket was modified to lower compressor.

Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:02 am

From all the pics I have seen it seems like there is more room with the later style deck lids (67+)and people get away using an additional belt to run the compressor.
Out of the couple pics I found with earlier style bugs was one is from Gilmore which uses one belt to run the ac/alt/crank and another from earlier in this thread as seen below...

Low Bräu wrote:

I used an old York style compressor bracket and modified it to work with a Sanden 505 rotary compressor. You basically just use the plateform. Those brackets used to be really easy to obtain from late model beetles. Most people just threw them away since you rarely saw a car with working a/c and a York compressor. With the 40 hp motor I had an a/c pulley riding piggy-back on the crank pulley and a second belt. Later with the 1776 I had to get the compressor to sit further back so I ended up changing things around and using one belt. I never had any issues throwing belts or keeping tension. I also recommend that you forget about running R12 or Freeze 12.

Good luck,
josh

So this leads me to believe that its just not possible to do unless running a common belt or placing the compressor top centre of the engine which I cannot do because of my carb.

Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:09 pm

Give Ed Muha call at Gilmore Enterprises. He can supply the compressor mount bracket for either a single or two belt system. He should be able to answer your questions about clearance on older bugs. I like to run two belts because there doesn't look like enough belt wrap contact at the crank or alternator pulleys on the one belt system. I may be wrong, but the one belt system may get some belt slip at high RPM. Ed should be able to address this concern also. Keep us informed on which way you go.

Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:16 pm

my 65 uses a two belt system,compressor on left side of engine bay, stock 65 decklid,clears the carb. The distributor drive tang was relocated to allow clearance of the distributor cap access, left heater tube port on fan house was relocated, as was sparkcoil This is a stock 1965 dealer installed unit. Granddad bought it brand new this way.

Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:42 pm

To get more clearance between distributor and compressor I use an angled distributor cap. I think it was original equipment on a Fiat. Not easy to find.

Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:23 pm

So I made up an adjustable bracket which allowed me to move the compressor (Sanden 505)at all possible locations while remaining in alignment with the belt and the only location that was close was down and low over the distributor....with the cap removed :( .

Even if I used the cap pictured above I don't think it would fit, and as is, its still very close to the lid so it may touch with any engine movement.

So single belt it is!

Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:28 pm

bluebus86 wrote: my 65 uses a two belt system,compressor on left side of engine bay, stock 65 decklid,clears the carb. The distributor drive tang was relocated to allow clearance of the distributor cap access, left heater tube port on fan house was relocated, as was sparkcoil This is a stock 1965 dealer installed unit. Granddad bought it brand new this way.

More than likely this is with the original style York compressor which uses a smaller diameter pulley where the belt rides allowing more space to clear the lid. There are pics on the page before.

Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:57 pm

balljoint, which groove on the A/C compressor are you aligned to use? You can move the compressor towards the fan housing to use the rear groove to give more clearance with the deck lid.

Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:58 pm

Yup...I'm using the outer groove

Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:58 am

I am assembling an A/C set up not using a kit.

Can anyone measure the Condensor sizes used on the early Beetle Air Conditioners?

Here is the parts drawing and a photo......

[/quote]

[/quote]

How close to original size is this unit Joel posted earlier?

Joel wrote: 2 would be too much, unless you staged the fans you would risk over condensing most of the time.

they are 4 row and about 4" thick which is why you only need one.

They market them as being perfectly sized for all their universal evaporator kits.

This is my condenser, its 7/8 thick and 20"x12"

.

Thanks!

Dave

Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:20 am

Brian Anthony wrote: To get more clearance between distributor and compressor I use an angled distributor cap. I think it was original equipment on a Fiat. Not easy to find.

You can reclock the distributor by relocating the pin that holds the dog drive in place. that is how my ac stuff clears the dizzie.

Bug On, Ice Cold!

Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:24 am

djkeev wrote: I am assembling an A/C set up not using a kit.

Can anyone measure the Condensor sizes used on the early Beetle Air Conditioners?

Here is the parts drawing and a photo......

[/quote]

How close to original size is this unit Joel posted earlier?

Joel wrote: 2 would be too much, unless you staged the fans you would risk over condensing most of the time.

they are 4 row and about 4" thick which is why you only need one.

They market them as being perfectly sized for all their universal evaporator kits.

This is my condenser, its 7/8 thick and 20"x12"

.

Thanks!

Dave[/quote]

I dont have the size handy, but the original style is a tube and fin type heat exchanger. these are less efficient than the type you have shown, so even if yours is a bit small, it maybe fine at doing the job. I highly recommend the louvered debris shield under the heat exchangers.

Bug On!