I want to add a/c to my car, but knowing that at a shop it will be upwards of $1,000, I don't want to go that route. I was hoping someone on here could provide me with a list of all the parts that I would need so I can price everything out and start purchasing the parts. My car needs EVERYTHING to install a/c. Any help is welcomed. Thanks

 

Your going to need the following...ac harness, ac on/off dash switch,evaporator, all headlines, condensor, compressor with correct mounting bracket and pulley and drier. Go to a pick a part/junkyard. Pull everything regarding the ac as mentioned. The flex barrior hose going to compressor I would get new along with drier. In fact I would buy a new evap, condensor, flex line, compressor and drier.

 

do you have a set of ac manifold gauges and the vacuum pump as well? if not get or rent those when you have it all installed. Also a brand new o-ring set.

 

Adding pag oil and refrigerant should be done by someone who has knowledge of AC work. IMO, take it to a shop for a vacum and charge. Bad things could happen if charged to much of charged on the high side.

 

You are adding or repairing the A/C? If you're adding it, it wouldn't be worth it. Just buy another car with A/C installed. If you're repairing it yourself, it will still cost upwards of $1000.

I repaired the A/C in my 1991 Civic hatchback. I collected these parts over a year. I replaced:

1) Evaporator ($260 OEM, but you can't find them anymore)
2) Discharge hose ($55)
3) Suction hose ($60)
4) Condenser ($180)
5) Dryer ($60)
6) Compressor ($225 from Compressor O' The World, came with oil already in it.)
7) 2 12OZ cans of R12 ($40 on the black market) shhhhh!.......
8) Vac pump ($25 off craigslist, Harbor Freight brand)
9) A/C O-rings ($20 at Autozone. Had to buy multiple universal kits for the right O-rings)
10) Harbor Freight gauge set ($85 on sale)\

Total: $925, if I'm not forgetting anything.

I removed the A/C hard-lines and cleaned them, replaced the evaporator, discharge hose, suction hose, condenser, compressor, and O-rings, then installed the dryer last and sucked it down under vac for an hour. I let the system sit blocked off for 2 hrs, for a leak-down test. No leaks, so I sucked in almost 24OZ of R12 and checked my gauges against the temp, baro pressure, and humidity charts and I was good. Center vent temp was 33 degrees at 90degrees of outside temp and 70% humidity. I sold the car 2 years later, but damn that A/C worked great. If you go with R134, which my current car has, you only get 42-44 degree center vent temps.

 

You will want a donor car or a great deal at the junkyards. It's doable, but you might consider just selling and buying a different car unless yours is really special.

 

I'm interested in doing this to my Rex as well.

 

Why are people adding A/C to these cars at this point? Do you DD them or something? The cost of adding will be far more than what most of the cars are worth. Plus they are the old R12 units.

I took my original A/C out sometime back in 2002. All that crap weighed about 45lbs. Then again I never DD'd the car as it was only a "fun" car.

 

I added mine because I am getting older. Hitting 45yrs old in a few months and I am used to having AC. Didnt bother me back in '89 when I drove her off the lot. I was 19 and full of vim and vigor.lol Besides, as a dealer option and costing well over $1000 back then it was out of the question. Now I love cruising to meets slow and cool!

 

I drive my 88 every day. The R12 did work better but the conversion works well enough. I'm certainly more worried about my comfort than 45lbs of weight.

 

I'm assuming DD stands for Daily Driver if that's the case then Yes, mine is a DD. That is one reason I am looking into getting an A/C system installed.

Cost is not the issue, shoot I just had a transmission built for more than what I bought the car for. The issue is finding a complete unit to install. Are there any aftermarket companies that make A/C systems for our cars? If so chime in ..... for now I'll continue to search and see what I can come up with.

 

If you need ac parts, I have a couple complete AC Setups for sale far cheaper than 1000.00.
Mine can include new compressor, new condenser,new evaporator, new drier, then all of the hard lines, compressor bracket, AC Fan, Complete uncut AC Harness etc...
Contact me at 937-509-5613
I make this much easier than piecing together a complete kit.

 

I daily drive my crx as well. its paid for. it gets 32+ mpg. its a blast to drive especially with the mods i have done. I see enough heat in Houston, TX already AND I am a firefighter....AC is a must in any car I am going to commute in....fortunately i have not had to "add" ac though I have restored it in 2 crx's so far...WELL worth it imo. though i am running an alternative refrigerant that produces 42 vent temps at 70% humidity and 98 degree inlet temps.

 

Thanks for the offer, I will consider it for sure if what I found on Craigslist doesn't work out. Found a (supposedly) complete system including harness and A/C dash switch for 100.00 bucks. Person says it worked before removing from car but don't they all

 

eBay. Good luck with that.

 

So I just now went ahead and purchased the A/C system from HT member Civic2bBuilt, just waiting for it arrive.

Once I install it, I will post up and let you guys now how the install went and what issues I ran into as well as how well the A/C cools.

 

Awesome. I look forward to doing this to my hatch again in the next few months. 80 miles a day and 100+ temp is no bueno.

 

The TRS090 would be the way to go if you're building an all-new system. Having to replace the crappy TR70 every couple of years sure gets old.

The next time my TR70 craps out on me I'm definitely going to the TRS090.

They're much cheaper too.

 

Well it appears there won't be a write up. It also appears that Robby aka Civic2bBuilt has decided to not send me the A/C system we made a deal for and keep my 600.00 dollars I sent him on Sept. 9th 2015 via PayPal to
lil_pipsqueak_02@.xxxxx.xxx . Account is owned by K. Miller

Robby if and when you read this I want you to know I have texe'd you, emailed you and tried to leave a voice message on your phone but you haven't set up your voice mailbox. You have only responded once and that's to tell me that when you got home there was A PACKAGE (meaning ONE package) sitting at your doorstep saying "Return to sender".

You haven't sent me the pictures you said you would before shipping the system. You also said it would be a couple of boxes but yet you tell me that you sent the system but when you got home there was A PACKAGE (meaning ONE package) sitting at your doorstep saying "Return to sender", what happened to the rest of the packages? I sent you a message via PayPal asking for my 600.00 dollars back.

I have been patient throughout this deal, I have asked you via text if you are having issues collecting the parts but you have not responded at all whatsoever, no "Hey man I'm having issues with xxxxx and I won't be able to send you the A/C system" nothing. You left me no recourse but to open an incident through PayPal. Please just refund me my 600.00 dollars and we can but this deal behind us.

Thank you.

 

The seller is actually implying/claiming that he shipped your AC system, but that it got "returned to sender"??? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Total BS. Perhaps he really does have the parts and is just too much of a dope/oblivious to get them out in a timely manner. It seems to me like the most likely scenario is that the "return to sender" BS (aka flat-out lie) is an obvious ploy to try to buy time. But regardless there is no reason to not have shipped the parts within 3 weeks of payment.

I don't understand what it is about people selling an item, and then not being in position to immediately ship it. That has always boggled my mind. Even 15 years ago when I was a teenager I was always very cognizant of having items ready to go and shipping them immediately and then providing the tracking number to the buyer as soon as it went out. If I couldn't ship immediately (due to a holiday, or working or whatever) I always tell the buyer that up front and keep them updated.

What exactly was this guy supposed to send you for $600? He supposedly was giving you a NEW compressor ($350+), NEW evaporator ($60), and new drier and expansion valve (probably about $20). All that PLUS the hardlines and harness for $600 shipped?

Not to kick you while you're down, but that just doesn't add up. That just seems like once you add in shipping that it would be a totally negligible amount of profit for the seller so it should have made little sense to you as the buyer that you could get all of that from him for that price. Unless he wasn't really giving you new parts but rather crummy eBay remans or even used ones.

 

File a complaint on Paypal. You'll have your money back. They usually side with the buyer, regardless. If you are being honest, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

I sent Robby a message through PayPal early Saturday morning and as of today 10 a.m. still no reply. So yeah it will now escalate to a formal complaint on PayPal.

I've been with PayPal for more than 10 years now and have never gotten to this point in trying to get my money back. Usually all it takes is communication and the issue gets resolved rather quickly. I understand sh*t happens and I am a very understanding and patient person as long as there is communication.

Robby just dropped the ball in the communication department and well if he was/is in the business of reselling used Honda parts then he just lost one good customer, me. When I find a good seller I tend to stick to the one seller even if he/she is across the country, hell I still have contact with sellers across the pond (UK) which I did plenty of business when I was putting my 1958 VW bus together.

Anyway Robby just PayPal me my money and all will be good with the universe thanks.

 

Happy to report that Robby has started communicating with me and it appears a resolution is in the works. Stay tuned.....

 

.... Now even happier to report that my credit card has been credited with the "stolen" $600.00 and that Civic2bBuilt (Robby) was just full of **** trying to string me along telling me that the package was returned to him and the sad story that his (K.Miller) PayPal account had been frozen and he couldn't go racing because money in the account was unavailable due to me filing the claim with PayPal. Un-f'ing believable dealing with this clown. He even had the nerve to ask me if I would close the claim if he were to send me a tracking number, yeah right buddy, can you believe that ****?

Anyway just happy to have my money back and thank you to PayPal for giving me back the $$$.

 

Wow thats terrible. Good thing you got your money back. And so the hunt for parts continues..