Hello I'm looking to do a b series turbo with ac in a ek and I'm just wondering who else is doing it and what are they using. Very interested in seeing the other setups an getting some ideas. My setup currently is a b20 with a gt3076 but probably gonna go to a gsr before I do this. Thanks in advance guys

 

Purchase a kit designed for A/C compatibility. You will still usually have to modifiy things to make it work though. Minor things but something like bending/moving A/C lines, condenser fan shroud cutting/replace with slim fan, notch the block, etc... it really depends on the kit. That is about the best anser one can give to your extremely vague question.

 

https://honda-tech.com/forced-induct...lease-2095625/

https://honda-tech.com/forced-induct...setup-2746138/

 

log mani or ramhorn/other styles that claim to work with ac will work


just a word of warning

it's going to suck *** in terms of space. it will be cramped AF lol, especially if u keep AC AND PS. AC performance will suffer due to heatsoak. Make sure to get heat coating/wrap/blanket everything as much as possible

 

My build is not quite completed, but its a go-autoworks A/C friendly ram horn 2.5"dp flared to 3"

clears the pump no problem, need to run a slim fan most likely gonna run it as a pusher, Only other issue for me was the hard line that goes arround the radiator. I will be converting to a AN hose line so I can route it properly..wasnt enough room between the Radiator and IC piping.

as mentioned heat soak sucks, heat wrapped manifold, downpipe, and I have a turbo blanket

If I had to do it over I would probably just ditch the A/C too much hassle and $$$

 

You can do freon in an AN hose??

also where in FL are you m8?

 

IDK Lol .....there is a soft rubber line comming off the pump which then goes to a hard line so I assumed you could. couple years ago a buddy did the same thing as far as I remember it worked for him

 

I'm doing a manual rack so the PS won't be in the way but I wanna keep ac cause it gets driven alot in the summer an sucks *** with no ac. How much does heat soaking effect the ac? Is it gonna stay at least cold or am I gonna have ac blowing ambient temperature air?

 

It heat soaks a lot, and over time your A/C compressor will cease to convert heated air to cooler air.. So it will become ambient.

If it's that hot of a day, drive something else, or be prepared with extra shirts and deodorant.

 

I just read those links that lightning posted an pretty much came to that conclusion. I guess I'm keeping two Hondas.

 

OR think outside the box and build a sidewinder manifold... it's been done plenty of times before.

 

Oooh, that might just be a good idea. Is it just the compressor getting heat soaked that brings these setbacks? I wonder if I cut a hole in my hood like gringo if that would help too.

 

Yeah I was going to say hood exhaust lol...but nah that's shitty for a street setup.
Sidewinder setups are kinda rare, but definitely will help avoid the major issue of heat soaking the compressor with your dp

 

Honestly, I've had my car boosted with AC for about 5 years now

The heatsoak becomes really apparent when you're in standstill bumper-bumper traffic

But once you're moving my AC is still ice cold

Do everything that your budget allows. Heat coat the manifold,turbo hotside AND downpipe and in addition wrap all of these as well and you should be ok

I didn't have the budget to heat coat any of my exhaust parts but I do have a turbo blanket and I also put a turbo blanket on my downpipe (yes blanket on the downpipe, I find this to work MUCH better than just wrapping the DP)

Getting a powerful fan for the condenser will work wonders as well like a SPAL or something.

I recently also put on a Evo style vented hood, have yet to see the difference performance wise since I put it on after summer passed here in FL but time shall tell

 

I did mock up on a friends car and we had to cut a small piece of the webing of the block near the trans to clear the turbo. But after we mocked it up he said screw it bought a top mount and a bigger turbo, and ditched the AC so more power could made. I am selling the turbo log manifold and downpipe if anyone is interested on the Jan fs thread.

 

The vented hood will help with the increased engine bay heat soak temperatures (I have one myself), but like your compressor, it (the car) has to be moving at reasonable speeds in order to get any true benefit.

It also depends upon the driver. that A/C compressor wasn't really designed to do street terrorizing at higher rpms incessantly for longer periods of time. That also contributes to its demise in its ability to cool heated air.

 

I think my buddy is still trying to sell a sidewinder Mani that he decided not to run a while back so I might try to pick that up and give the idea a go. I'm not to concerned on it always blowing ice cold I drive 30 miles a day one way for work and without ac in the summer it kinda sucks ***. The whole point of this is I'm considering building the daily an ditching the weekend warrior so the idea is a little in the speculation stage right now. Thank you guys for all your input it is alot of help. But what's a dp blanket? Is this a homemade thing or something I can pick up? Got any pics?

 

If you get a Hytech / "sidwinder" style manifold, you'll need to thermal wrap that like there is not tomorrow.

Muckman has (had? ) a setup using a Hytech / "sidewinder" style manifold, and although it makes the power needed, responsivenes will suffer if not using the correct turbocharger combination, or boost control isn't dialed in precisely. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if Muckman retained A/C. There definitely needed to be high heat coatings and /or thermal wrap applied, because it put a LOT of ambient temperatures everywhere else. The A/C compressor alone wasn't really as affected, but it seems like you're willing to spend $500 to save $50.

Muckman's build thread



Here's the video.

Some photos





Other's of Muckman's manifold install.







My Hytech manifold from 2003 on another EG project I used to own, using Air-to-water intercooling. No matter what I did, A/C just didn't stay cool enough... , so I gave it up, and made sure that I had a decent daily driver for the HOT days.



Hopefully Muckman can shed some additional light.

 

I remember muckmans build. That is what I'm really trying to do is a high comp with gsc t1s. What do you mean by good turbo combo? I have the same turbo as muckman iirc? Gt3076. And when you say willing to spend 500 to save 50 what are you referring to? I'm not trying to cut corners, I'm really looking to build a comfortable daily. How did you like that air to water setup? Does it keep consistent intake temps?

 

Understood, but Muckman had a slightly different than your GT3076R. It was a limited production that was available that was able to perform at about 55lbs/min, vs. your 52lbs/min. Again, you want to ask him about whether or not he kept his A/C. I don't think he did for the same reasons we're stating.

I keep forgetting that these time-tested phrases go over the heads of many younger people, even though they still have relevance. What I mean to say is that in your quest to keep A/C for your purposes, you may, in fact, make things not as much to your liking with these types of manifolds and other "hot parts" by way of responsiveness, use, purpose, etc. Even finding one nowadays is rather difficult, and must be made at this point.

You may want to just contact them.
products

This isn't about cutting corners. There are many approaches to achieve one's goal, but you have to look at the overall priorities that are more important to you other than just "A/C". I'm not trying to be cryptic. I'm simply saying that you're going through all this trouble with this manifold style and refitment of everything, just for A/C.

I think it was rather complicated just to perform my purpose with that car. The intake temperature improvements were shown mostly at idle and drag events when my brother was the driver ( I actually suck at drag racing). When it came to the street, however, those improvements weren't there because of the stop/go traffic. It wasn't much better than a good intercooler setup. Again I spent $500 to save $50 by doing that.. It was a good test, but it made me think that it was better to invest in the higher quality Air-to-Air than to go through that setup again.

 

I never thought the A/C was great on my OEM 90's hondas to begin with. Would always bog the car down big time and felt like ****. And it made packaging turbo stuff a pain too.

I think thats where hes getting lol

 

I've been debating on boosting my 96 hatch for the longest, but reading these threads is what sways me from doing so. Living in the Sandhills of NC, AC is a must in the summer, and the wife refuses to ride in the car if it's not there.

I've seen a few friends have mixed success with boosted/AC equipped civics, but they complain of the efficiency of the compressor and even worse, maintenance when the compressor decides to **** the bed.

 

You guys should talk to John @ LHT performance. He posted on here a long time ago about how to properly setup a turbo'd car with a/c. Contact him for details he won't steer you wrong. I'm currently building another turbo setup with a/c and I'm steering clear of pipe manifolds. They radiate entirely too much heat. Inline pro manifold, inconel wrap, and thermal dispersant where you can apply it. If you take your time and research carefully your setup will work just fine.

 

Adam, contact John at LHT performance. He'll get you setup properly.

 

Hatchy where you at?