Complete Bolt on AC kits for gts

[jaydog101]

I have just completed an custom AC setup for my 72 gt that does not require having to have the ugly and bulky ARA and GM consoles. And would love to put together these kits for others that are interested in Air Conditioning for their GT. It would include everything that would be needed to install the complete system (compressor brackets, crank pulley and all.) This kit also requires that you remove your spare tire. Anyway I am trying to find out if there are enough people interested in these kits. They would have to sell somewhere between $1500 to $1700 to cover the time it takes to make these kit a perfect bolt on for the Gt. So let me know if you would be interested.

Jason

[Philip Avonds]

Yes I would be interested, do you have any photographs of the installation?

[opelgt722002]

Did you run the freon lines under the car to the rear or through the inside of the car ?
Are all the vents in the rear of the car ?

[opelenvy]

For an attractive functional A/C in a GT that is a great price. I would be interested in the details and pictures as well.
A/C in Central TX would be nice!

[jmbinjax]

Heck yeah I'm interested. Would like more details and photos to know what the modifications would be. I could live w/out a spare.

[jaydog101]

I am glad to see the interest and I will be taking photos and posting them but I have to say that I am not great with the computer in fact it took me forever to figure out how to send this thread so I will have to have some help with loading the photos. And it will be after christmas before I will be completely finished with the install. I am also having a new little girl the first week of Jan. But I will get pics right after Xmas.

The lines are runing under the car because I didn't want to see them under the carpet. The evaporator is placed in the spare tire compartment with the vents being mounted on the rear deck (so bye bye speakers if you have located them there.) the compressor is mounted low on the passanger side of the block, condensor infront of the radiator and dryer on the side wall where the stock air cleaner went through to the battery compartment.

I will try to remember all of you that are intrested and keep you updated on all the details. We have lots of other questions that we will be asking before the kits are put together. Like do we cut and grimp the hoses to fit or leave them long in case you want to route them differently?

Keep posting your intrest we have decided that if we get at least 10 people that want them we will definitly make them. We also understand that since you can't see them yet you will have lots of Questions and thats okay but we are just looking for intrest. we will get pics up soon.

Jason

[Aardvaark]

I'll be interested in what compressor and how you mounted it low on the
passenger side as I just did a custom mount of a Sanden 7 piston on the
passenger side low down on my '75 Manta as you may have found in this
forum section.
You may have a market selling the compressor mount and crank pully
for Manta and Ascona owners, too, as there are several options for
evaporators and condensers for them using aftermarket components.
-Mark

[jaydog101]

Sanden is correct in fact it was your trunk system that inspired the kit

[Jappetto]

May I ask how close you are to offering your kit, I am just getting ready to install a new motor, and I really want to do the AC at the same time. I have gathered several parts to fab something up myself, but I would much rather buy a pre-made kit. Thanks.

[gtzero]

I think the location of the dryer excludes anyone with an F.I. conversion. Might the dryer be mounted anywhere else?

Congrats on the little girl.

Manny

[Sparky73]

Anymore information on this? I'm sure if we kept this forum alive, we could get 10 MORE interested people. Also.. those pictures sure would be nice and make or break the deal on who all wants one!

[namba209]

Manny, on the GM setup the drier is mounted inboard of the MC and on the condensor bracketry. Should be a simple fix to extend the hose to go across the front of the condensor to the drier and back to the pump. I know the GM setup has the hoses under the driver's side floor pan, could be the ARA has them under the passenger side floor pan.

[robert foster]

Jason, count me in on your a/c system. rafoster43"at"msn.com or 1-509-670-8879

[blancojp]

Howdy all!
I don't see why, other than preference, you would need to locate the A/C unit in the rear of the vehicle. If that is your preference, there are several kits I have used in the past which work quite well and are all under $1k. But one of the major flaws of having A/C on a GT is the existing forced ventillation through the front and rear. On a standard hot Florida day, with the A/C on max you will sweat inside the car.

I will be installing A/C on Stealth but it will be an indash unit, replacing the heater core. All of the forced ventillation points will be closed and the stock vents will be replaced with new units. The pros are you will have a nice installation which will not require lots of hoses running the length of the car. The cons are you will have to remove the dash and dash pad to install in the same location as the heater core.

I will also be using a small Sanden rotary compressor which is about 1/2 the size of an alternator.

[blancojp]

This is the unit I plan to use on Stealth, it is an offsided cube that can be fitted to the heater core area with ease.

[wrangler]

Looks like a workable plan, ... would like to see pics of the install (in & out of the cab) and how well it works for you on those hot summer days! I assume you still ude the existing heater lines?

[opelenvy]

I have been wanting to do the vintage air route for years. Eager to see how that pans out.
On another note. I took my clock out and was trying to get it working on the bench and put my dash back in. One could run a duct and put a vent in the old clock hole.

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by opelenvy I have been wanting to do the vintage air route for years. Eager to see how that pans out. On another note. I took my clock out and was trying to get it working on the bench and put my dash back in. One could run a duct and put a vent in the old clock hole.

The center vent goes on the area where the heater controls are at.

[roosterrusek]

Lesse...Atlanta Ga, hotter that Hades at times...have a wife who would like AC so she will ride in the 71GT in the summer...yup...Paulie is interested

[PROPEL]

Originally Posted by opelenvy I took my clock out and was trying to get it working on the bench and put my dash back in. One could run a duct and put a vent in the old clock hole.

With a vent like this? I'm doing something similar on my Spyder. The flexible hose is also available to fit the stock GT duct vents.

[opelenvy]

Originally Posted by PROPEL With a vent like this? I'm doing something similar on my Spyder. The flexible hose is also available to fit the stock GT duct vents.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was picturing in my head!

[blancojp]

Hello All!
I have narrowed down the A/C system to it's final stage. The company I deal with in Taiwan has made a few adjustments which I believe will work well for the GT.

Here are the spec's for two individual units:
1) The fisrt one is an indash heat/cool unit which replaces the existing heater/fan assembly. This unit will have a frame which bolts on to the original Opel location and has a 13.7Kbtu capacity.

2) The second unit is for those who want to install the air handler in the rear. It is compact and still allows you to maintain all other items in the rear package tray and also the spare tire.

There are a few more items which are being resolved at this time like compressor, hoses and condenser. These will be sorted out by the time I get Stealth back from paint.

From what I got so far, the kit will be in the $900 range delivered.

[Aardvaark]

Jason. Any progress on your kit?

JB. How is your GT A/c project comming along?

A/C season will be over for another year before too long.
It would be great if a kit for the GT were available.

Thanks gents.

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Jason. Any progress on your kit? JB. How is your GT A/c project comming along? A/C season will be over for another year before too long. It would be great if a kit for the GT were available. Thanks gents.

I got all the parts in and I am starting with the installation now that the car is back in my shop. I am installing this unit at the stock location however my unit is heat and cool so I have to make a few adjustments to the sheet metal.

The Opel compartment where the heater goes has several voids which needs to be filled out. This is part of the forced ventilation system which opens up to the bottom from the passenger side wipper area. In order to have a good seal and not let any water/outside air into the passenger bay, this area needs to be sealed. Since I removed the heater tray from inside the car, I now have extra holes and other openings which I have to fill as well so a bit of work still ahead.

Other than that, it is a straight forward installation from the air unit to the bulkhead connectors, from the connectors to the a/c engine components and you are done.

[Aardvaark]

Sounds good. Pics if possible?