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 Blue65
 
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  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 01:57 AM | 
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Air conditioning for classic Beetles 
 
 
Hello I'm in Melbourne and the Summers get rather hot down here. It was about 40C in my car on a trip to the country... woaaaaaarh!!!! it felt
like a sauna!!!!  Apart from moving to Tasmania, where the summers are cooler, I'm thinking of installing an air-con unit in my 1965 Beetle. 
 
I dug up some old emails from usenet - see below - but has anyone here done it or knows any mechanics in Melbourne who could do it? 
 
Cheers!!!! 
 
************************ 
I just installed one of the I.C.E. units in my bug. A very nice kit. 
There were some areas of it that were difficult to do, but I kind of expected  
that. ..... I put a T4 oil cooler conversion on my new beetlemex engine just to be sure I wasn't overheatng it. I also did not mount the
sub-cooler condenser on the engine firewall - so as not to draw 
already warmed air from it into the engine cooling. I mounted it above the transaxle and added an additional 9" radiator cooling fan to it to
pull air thru it. The system has 2 condensers each with 
it's own cooling fan. The thing will freeze your kneecaps off (I have an under the dash blower unit). Good luck, its not that bad. 
 
 
************************ 
 
With all due respect, I think when it comes to air-conditioning, everyone should look to Singaporean Bug owners. We get 30C+, 90+% humidity here all
year round, so air-con is...  How we mount the air-con? Simple. Blower in the car. You have a choice of in front under the dash or behind in the
luggage compartment. Both ways make you lose some space, but I personally, I prefer Smurfette's luggage space setup. The space is usually unused
anyway. (Who climbs behind to stuff things there?) The rear setup is good also because the 
cool air goes all round the cabin, while the front setup freezes your 
knees and knuckles... :-) 
 
 For the compressor, we use a rotary type that is mounted on the LEFT of 
the carb, about where the alternator is. With this, there are no bubbles 
on the decklid. The brackets may vary from shop to shop, but the idea is 
the same. I've got pics of you guys want to see. Looks like a Judson 
SuperCharger if you ask me! :-0 
 
 And lastly, the condensor/evaporator is mounted under the pan, in front 
of the rear left wheel. Don't ask me why. They are just set up so. Over 
the years they get dinged a 'lil, but they don't leak. This way, you get 
to keep your spare tire spare and once the car moves, the air gets 
cold... fast. 
 
ALVIN 
 
 
********************************* 
 
To Chad, 
 
You can do it yourself like I did - cost approx $400AUS, have pics. 
 
I have air conditioning in my '62, it works great and I'm real COOOL! 
The underdash unit is an after market "Mark IV", small and neat, two 
stage fan and temperature control, ducts etc, the rest - ie rotary 
compressor (Sanden), condenser, receiver/dryer are from a Holden 
Commadore (local Australian built car). The condenser unit with twin electric fans is mounted in the spare tire well. Air scoops at the bottom and
escape holes at the back, sealed over the top to stop water entering the luggage compartment. The compressor is mounted to the right of the alternator
on a bracket from under the alternator stand. Extra pulley welded in front of standard one. Had to have a slight bubble put into the engine lid to
clear the electro-magnetic clutch on the compressor. Has a sensor fitted to shut down the compressor under 1000rpm (is adjustable, allows for easier
starting and idle. Does not effect the performance that much on my warmed 1600TP. Disadvantages are -  it only recycles the air inside the car (need
to 
open a window every now and then), and I have lost some space in the luggage compartment (now taken up by the spare wheel). Advantages are -  my wife
will now go travelling in the bug! 
From 
Grahame
 
 
 
 
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 Robo
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 06:44 AM | 
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I was wondering about a compressor off one of those little jap jobs, Suzuki Swift or Holden Barina, they only have 900-1300, motors, so a used
compressor off one of these should be OK for a Beetle, engine. 
   Any comments! 
                                                    Rob......
 
 
 
 
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Member of DMLRK.....Die Mittler Lebuns Resto Komeradschaft 
   
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 Bizarre
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 08:42 AM | 
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Using custom parts would be a lot better - BUT you have to do a custom job. Count on a lot of money if you think you are just going to take it
somewhere and get it done. 
 
ICE and a few others sell the kits but they are a couple of $k's when landed in australia. 
 
I have been thinking about this.  
Get a dual belt pulley 
Diahatsu etc compressor 
mount condenser above gbox - too much work getting a late spec US front apron with the slots already in. 
Mount the evap in a shelf on the parcel tray and blow up and return air could be slots beside it. 
 
Luckily i work in the AC buisness so i might be able to get someone to help me
 
 
 
 
Futue te ipsum!!! 
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 squizy
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 09:35 AM | 
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I've got a '76 Beetle Cab with standard air con. Perhaps hunt out a wrecked Beetle of similar year and pull out the kit. I'd try to
stay standard, even if the year of the componentry is different. Does anyone know if this would be compatible with an early Beetle. I can't think
of any issues, short of converting to 12v. 
 
Squiz......
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 Quickbug
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 10:00 AM | 
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Fit a rex engine 
 
 
 
:vader
 
 
 
 
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 Old Dubber
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 01:59 PM | 
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Well, you dug up an old email of mine.  
If you want pics email me
 
 
 
 
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 fatboy
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 02:37 PM | 
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Grahame, 
 
Would your setup work in a Kombi ?
 
 
 
 
" Captain Picard, why are there no Indians on the Enterprise ? Don't you need IT Support ? " 
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 Blue65
 
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|  posted on April 17th, 2003 at 04:40 PM | 
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hello grahame 
 
 
Hi, would it be possible for you to post the pictures of your air con in the Picture section of this forum? 
 
Thanks!:alien
 
 
 
 
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 Guy_H
 
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|  posted on April 18th, 2003 at 01:10 PM | 
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Available by special order - RHD AC kits with moulded under dash unit (suit all 58 up flat dash beetles), directs air both sides of steering wheel.
compressors & brackets that fit under decklid with no mods. Cost about $2500  
  
 
  
  
 
Email if interested guy@hardingeuropean.com | 
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 matara
 
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|  posted on April 19th, 2003 at 10:48 PM | 
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I have a full kit for sale 
 
 
I have a full kit for sale, similar to the Flat 4 ones shown above. Its the one with the blower that mounts in the parcel area, and has a remote
controlled on/off switch and cooler setting. Comes with a compressor, condensor, blower etc etc. Eveything you need. 
 
Only $250 which is a fraction of the cost of the above kit. 
 
Pics at:- 
 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_2.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_3.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_4.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_5.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_6.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_7.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_8.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_9.JPG 
 
http://www.matara.net/ebay/AIRCON_10.JPG 
 
Cheers 
 
Steve
 
 
 
 
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 penguin
 
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|  posted on April 20th, 2003 at 10:10 PM | 
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Steve/Matara 
you have U2U 
Cheers 
Chris (Penguin)
 
 
 
 
'Ah, whatever................' 
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 Blue65
 
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|  posted on April 22nd, 2003 at 03:29 AM | 
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Excuse me? 
 
 
| Quote: |  Originally
posted by penguin 
Steve/Matara 
you have U2U 
Cheers 
Chris (Penguin)  
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What the heck is a U2U ???
 
 
 
 
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 penguin
 
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|  posted on April 22nd, 2003 at 07:15 PM | 
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U2U 
 
 
Sort of like an email, but sent through the forum (I think thats the best way to describe). Look up in the top right of your screen, below the last
active line, you should see a message saying you have 1 new message. (I just sent you one) 
Click on it, and a new window will open, and you can open the message from there. 
Its also a quieter way of talking than posting it on the boards. 
Cheers 
penguin
 
 
 
 
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 Old Dubber
 
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|  posted on April 23rd, 2003 at 05:51 PM | 
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> Would your setup work in a Kombi ? 
> Fatboy 
 
maybe? 
 
 
> Hi, would it be possible for you to post the pictures of your air con in the Picture section of this forum? 
> Blue65 
 
Will get them together and put them in the members area asap
 
 
 
 
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