Air Conditioning!

[rocmoc]

This maybe a topic most will not have any interest but in the Southwest A/C is more important than heating. Has anyone installed A/C in a CJ5 shortie (pre-American Motors)? I have a '70 with the V6. I have not added power steering as the location for the power steering pump maybe needed for the A/C compressor. I have installed a '78 windshield and an fiberglass CJ5 hard top from the same era so I can control the environment in the seating area. What most do not know is we have thunderstorms in the summer that are nearly the same as what you see in Texas & Florida so for a short time A/C is a must (during the downpour and shortly after). I did try the search function and did not find anything. Thanks!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

[PistolDave]

I would be interested in the answer to this as well. My -7 has a factory installed A/C that is currently non-functional, and I am trying to decide whether to rehab it, or remove it and use the compressor for onboard air.

If a properly functioning unit will keep you cool with a soft top on a 100 deg. west Texas day, I would keep it, but if its just gonna be marginal under those conditions I will convert to OBA.

 

[wm69]

All you have is the compressor, condenser (little rad in front of your reg rad), and the evaporator/ underdash unit. Since the factory CJ setup just bolts to the bottom of the flat dash I don't see why you couldn't make a CJ7 or YJ unit work in an earlier CJ. Might take some fab work but the factory unit was basically a "figure out how to add it after everything was already designed" anyway.

I converted mine to R134 and it was really nice in the summer with the top up on rainy days. I liked it enough to get another used unit for my other Jeep. It's still in the shop uninstalled, and my existing unit has a leak in the condenser I have to get fixed, but it was COLD before it sprung a leak!

 

[DANsCJ7]

Right. I would add that rad cooling becomes a bigger issue. From personal experience I do not recommend pusher electric, but instead a good fan blade/ shroud combo can cool just fine. Shroud makes a big difference.

 

[mstar]

I have not installed air but I did mount a compressor for OBA system on a V-6 .Couple pics off the mounting bracket.I think you should have a double pulley on crank from earlier smog components.May be able to mount a AC comp. where the smog pump was.I used a three groove pulley on the crank and there was plenty of room for fan.You might want to take a look at what is available in the street rod aftermarket for components.They have some very nice compact units that would probably work in a jeep. Mike

 

[rocmoc]

Thanks mstar. The engine mount & location is what info is needed. The rest of the install is pretty easy. I assume you do not have power steering, CORRECT?

DansCJ7, Thanks for the warning. I have this solved with the grill/nose off a '78 CJ7 with the larger 3 core radiator, Ford dual sucker fans. If fact cools so well I have one fan on manual as two works too well most of the time. SO, there is plenty of room in front of the radiator and airflow.

With the new small high efficiency AC units now built for classic cars, installing AC is much easier. Just the mount & location that is not address by the makers of the new units.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico