Just found this website.......fantastic !!

Probably been asked before, but would anyone out there have advise on sourcing and installing Air Conditioning into a well loved '75 2ltr combi camper .....("Olive") who's based in southern Queensland?

( I know we might be asking too much of the old girl, but it gets pretty hot in summer !!) Many Thanks

Hello - and welcome!

A frequently asked question amongst us non-air conditioned VW owners! The answer is, as always, nothing is impossible, it just depends how much money and effort you are willing to throw at it!

There was a optional, dealer fitted A/C system fitted to some of the Bay window Deluxe Kombis. It was produced by a company called DPD (who no longer exist unfortunatly) and was mounted on the roof of the Kombis (the compressor was still fitted to the motor, just the blower section was fitted to the roof). I am told that they work very well, however they are getting quite old and many of the systems have broken and not been repaired. I am planning on fitting one of these systems to my Twin Cab (if/when I every get it finished!) You would have to buy one of these second hand if you wanted one... the other issue with these system is that, as they are roof mounted, they don't always fit easily in vehicles with pop-top camper roofs.

It may be easier to adapt something from a late model car to do the same job - there are a few of us looking at doing something like this in our Beetles in the near future. The advantage of doing this in a Kombi is that space (to fit the components) is not too much of a problem. This method is not going to be just a bolt on system, but if you are willing to take the time and make the effort....

Let us know what you are thinking of doing, it would make an interesting project......

R

PS: The following is a picture of the roof mounted 'blower' section of the DPD system. Pic taken with the unit still fitted to the donor vehicle - as you can see, it was a camper, and the roof mounted section doesn't fit very well around the pop-top area.

....another pic of the front section (from windscreen to the bit you can see in the top pic). Pic taken from the passenger side front door....

R

I have other pics of the rest of the system. If you would like me to post them, just let me know.

The roof mounted ones are the way to go if you can get one. They work VERY well. Some wreckers down south might be able to help you source one. Good luck!!

man I want one :<

...looks like a nice van Mick H!

Are you running the standard compressor or have you updated yours to a later compressor? If you have done the update, which compressor did you use? I am thinking about fitting mine with a compressor from a Commodore or Falcon....

I'm so glad to hear that they work well, I have spent a fair bit of time looking for a complete system to install in my twin cab, so it should be worthwhile!

R

If you put in a Subaru motor it should come with the air compressor on it.

...SUBARU!!!!:puke

...but seriously, I already have a just reconed 1800 Type IV which I will be fitting. The mounting of the compressor is easy (compared to mounting a radiator and hoses).

Does anyone know if the size of the compressor matters? I would imagine the bigger the system the larger the compressor would have to be, so this is how I come to the idea of fitting a compressor from a Commodore or Falcon....

R

Oh yeah, if you happen to find one of these DPD systems and decide to buy it, make sure that it has the pully that fits behind the Type IV fan with it. They usually get left off when an engine is rebuilt (if the A/C is not working in the van that they are fitted to). I fluked it and found a spare pully at a swap, but I will be using it to complete a partly competed system that I have...

Not Subaru

Kombaru!

!!! wot helbus said! i am in the process of fitting my subi aircon at the moment. unfortunately the compressor doesnt fit in the standard position, and the internal blower unit is ugly as sh1t, so i am in the process of fitting a new bracket for the compressor, and using an old 70s aftermarket unit out of a rambler up front between the front seats.

Hmmm......found some....................

again.........

Thanks Mick,

I'd never heard of the belts breaking (although I would imagine that it would be a bugger to get to when they do break) - is that pully standoff that you used from an air pump that were fitted to the US spec type IV's for emisions or is it from something else? As for it not being pretty, it doesn't look too bad! (I've seen worse!)

R

hey baybuscamperkid,

do you have any pics?

R

The air pully setup will break also as the pulley is to small and the design is to weak to be driving a compressor for an A/C unit. I got a friend to make it up for me for $60 including bits. It will only break if the bolts do or if the crank breaks. There is very little tension on the belt so not much load on the crank. No support bearing is used as the framework reduces the flow to the fan and it was not needed as i use a mega overkill shaft.....:thumb

will post some when i get the bracket sorted.

man where is the fun....

I have just sorted out the a/c for dad's 77 Kombi and it will be coming out the original vents as will the heat and you will not be able to see a thing ....

The mystery is solved and I will post pics and info once it is in and working. It took some brain power but I am now happy that I can keep it all looking stock and not bang my head or feet on things.

Baykombikid... if you put it in the walk through your feet will freeze ... hot air rises ... you need your a/c output as high as possible.

The main aim of my a/c fetish was to allow a/c to be used for demisting... I am a very happy camper, did a test fit in the 74 and all is gunna be awesome .......

Fantastic, can't wait to see the pics.....

Always thought Brad was a bit of a guru..........

Buggy, i will be running 2 vents back into the huge space in the rear, as there is currently no ventilation back there at all, and then plumbing an auxilary to the tube in the centre of the front that goes up into the standard vents.

if interested, the setup i am running looks near identical to the one in the ebay auction http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50138&item=2478030976

hth

As a "learner dubber" i'm still trying to work out how this reply thing works !! .......Hope this one works!! Could someone tell me how to reply to posts that are ..say in the middle of the list of posts ?? The "post reply" button seems to be only at the start and end of the list!!

Anyhow I didn't realise how helpful you guys can be! Like you other guys it would be interesting to see Brads follow up on his intergrated AC / heater system ? regards .......Aussie Combi

You can only reply on the end of the post (as far as I know). Just use the username of the person to which you are replying to make it clearer. You could also use the 'quote' button and copy and paste the other persons post into the 'quote text' box - it will then appear something like this:

Mmm... I have a couple of aircon units from XF Falcons in my shed, they were destined to go into my '66 International C1300 4x4, but didn't. There are several problems with this type of unit:

The underdash unit from a Falcon is quite large as it integrates the conventional hot-water style heater. I'm guessing they're a good two feet long (wide) and probably at least 10" x 12" (height and depth).

The compressor is the older piston style. Great to use as an air compressor, but very inefficient by comparison to compressors used in modern vehicles. (Incidentally, the old aircon compressors found on VWs were also the inefficient piston style.)

The control unit for the heating/aircon system operates pnuematically. They don't have little cables to open/close various ducts. Each 'switch' has a series of small air hoses attached which open and close the vents to floor/dash/demister etc.

These models also used the older style of gas, which is (legally) now no longer available. It is possible to use these units if they are rebuilt with new seals etc to suit the 'new' (legal) aircon gas.


I think it would be much more suitable to find a later model aircon unit, or at least the compressor, for those looking to fit their own homebuilt aircon system to a VW. The later compressors will draw a lot less power from the engine - an important factor with such a small engine, particularly in view of the fact that power = engine heat.

Mick,

As a matter of interest, how do you set your timing ?

i think alot of what you have said is very true kolin, the front unit is definitely hard to mount, but would probably go quite well beneath the rear seat. i will take a look, but as far as i know mine doesnt have heater incorp'd. i am using the setup simply because the majority of it came with the car (hence easy to mount and free) and the front end looks pretty cool, looks like soem serious equipment inside, all wires incorporated inside (no extra switches to add) and cheap. as for re-gassing mine had been re-sealed in the last 12 months to suit new gas, so that isnat a problem.