DPD A/C unit, can't find comparison

[badstuw]

A little while ago I picked up a DPD air conditioner from a local SoCal Bay window owner. It's in really decent shape and I've cleaned and repaired most of it. The evap coil inside is in amazing shape. The question I have is that I've never seen this model before. It remains center beneath the dash, butting up against the steering column and the other side ending about midway under the glove compartment. In the second picture, you can see the space for the e-brake lever and the e-brake pull shaft. I've mocked it up and its 100% meant for a bay window.

I couldn't come up with any posts or picture searches with this knob configuration, most models have the vents more spread out with the leftmost one going on the other side of the steering column and the blower fans more spread out. Unfortunately, the manufacture DPD label (picture 3) is pretty incomplete. Anybody have a comparison of this unit installed? I'm going to order the remaining components from Gilmore-enterprises, minus their under-dash unit, for a great deal. way better than piecemealing my own kit together for a good price.

[SGKent]

pretty common of aftermarket AC units for buses. The fly in the ointment with VW AC systems was never the front or overhead unit. The PITA was the compressor that was an after thought on an existing engine design rather than design the engine with a mount point for a compressor. Hence adding a compressor has always been cut here and add there. Today people expect cars to last 250,000 miles +. Back when these were made 100K was the design life of a car, and with VW's the engine came out multiple times during that time. That was true on many foreign cars of the period. The AC units weren't factory designed. There are many bay AC threads on this forum if you do a search. Today we wouldn't consider a car without AC but back then it was a luxury.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I have to be honest, I have seen a lot of VW bay a/c configurations, from the early bay unit that went into the jump seat to different under dash units, never seen that one.

I hate to bust your bubble, the big ones that go from door to door are barely acceptable by todays standards. I am not sure if that one would perform well in a bus. single cab, for sure...possible double cab so that unit may have been made for a truck, not a bus. I would focus a search on that...looking for info for SC or DC a/c units
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[Jetfxr69]

I have the latitude 44*N model. Works great with the side vent window cracked open.

OBTW, thats this fine May 9 spring morning.
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‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[badstuw]

[Abscate]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[ImAddicted]

[airschooled]

I have that exact AC unit in storage up in Vista. It has some sheet metal brackets and sheet metal screws dangling on it from the installation.

I can send you pictures of the brackets if you think that would help. It was given to me... You can have it if you want, just come pick it up. (I have the condenser that is contoured to the bottom of a bus as well, with the original two fans mounted on either side of the heater pipe. Free!)

I like the thought of this unit because it seems that you could still access a little under-dash wiring with it installed.

Robbie
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[badstuw]

[badstuw]

[tommu]

I have the Ccool evaporator and a kit from Gilmore. Skills is right in the sense that the length of hose you are given will dictate where you route them. Also - the squirrel fan, clips etc will be of the cheapest available on the market that meet requirements. The Gilmore kit works but if you knew what you needed you would find better quality components yourself. The one great thing they have is the compressor mount and it’s different to the DPD one.

I have a stock 2.0 and 142 webcam. I have an idle compensation valve that bumps the idle up a little (not quite enough) when the compressor spins up. I really do notice the A/C being on at low speed - it takes just enough of low speed acceleration to be annoying. On the freeway I don’t notice a thing.

Performance by modern standards for my single core evap unit is mediocre - but it keeps me and my passenger cool.

I mounted the compressor under the rear tin and the hoses go down and under rather than through holes to the left of the engine bay.

I say it’s worth it.
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[skills@eurocarsplus]

these a/c units will take the edge off for sure, no doubt. a dry 80* is better than a humid 80* any day of the week.

I guess what i'm getting at is don't expect miracles. the more people you haul the more heat load you'll have.
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[SGKent]

I didn't know one needed AC in San Diego. Last time I checked it was 63 degrees there. In fact they have one standard weather forecast from May to August - "Early morning haze and fog burning off by 1-2, with a high of 67 and a low of 63.... ." About due for the June Gloom there I would think.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[alman72]

you gonna source R12 or go with the new stuff?

[Wasted youth]

[SGKent]

[badstuw]

[badstuw]