I will be getting my dream EF Si soon, but it doesn't have AC. I currently have an 91 Civic Si with full working factory Airconditioning.

How hard will it be to transfer the working AC from Car 1 into the next one that will be a keeper? What will be the cons if I take out the AC with the other car, as I'm going to sell it? I can only keep 1 car.

Thanks

 

It's not too difficult. The only part of the AC system that has ever given me issues is the compressor.

 

Physically taking out the A/C components is difficult, with the motor in the car. The high-pressure hard lines are the hardest to remove because they have aged and corroded at the aluminum fittings and because the radiator and radiator support are in the way of getting them out. The condenser is the 2nd hardest to remove, which the high pressure lines are attached to. That being said, I would suggest actually buying a new condenser instead of using the old one in your other car. You have to buy a new dryer, anyway. If you want to buy new flexible hoses, they aren't very expensive.
I can't believe that the hard lines aren't still in the Si, due to the difficulty in removing them. Even if they are there, they have to be flushed, though.

List of parts:
1) Compressor - $250
2) Dryer - $50
3) Condenser - $200
4) Evaporator/valve that I can't remember the name of that is attached to it. - $150
5) Pressure Cycling switch - $40
6) Suction lines - $65
7) Discharge lines - $80
8) Fan (If you only have the one for the motor cooling)
9) Everything associated with the electrical part of having the fan come on and the pressure cycling switch giving feedback yada yada (which I'm sure is still in the Si since they didn't sell one without A/C components.)
10) A/C o-rings kit (you'll have to buy a couple of the univeral kits to get the right size o-rings, or you can source an actual Honda kit.

If you are going to do this, I suggest breaking the law and going back with R-12. These cars simply weren't designed for R-134A. The evaporator is too small to give you really good cooling with R-134A. R-12 can still be had if you look around or can convince an A/C guy to sell it to you. Just be careful and don't get arrested.

This is a pic of my compressor, and flexible suction and discharge hoses after replacement. The replacement hoses that I bought from O-Reilly's didn't fit perfectly but they fit.

This is the pic of the old hoses:

 

You only need a Parallel flow condenser in these cars to make them good with R-134a. You also need some seriously good fans or your A/C will go to crap at an idle, but be cold while moving. The fans need to be sealed to the radiator, and the radiator sealed to the condenser in order for best idle performance. Or you can be lazy and do a pusher mounted on the condenser.

I got my P-Flow condenser from Ackits and it had the same fitting sizes as the stock condenser. I just had to bend the lines around and it worked. No custom hoses.

Also, replace the goddamn heater valve with a new one. Mine was bad when I took it out. I could blow air through it even though it was 'fully' closed. My A/C is down to 46f while moving with R-134a on a 94f degree day in Orlando. Idle temp creeps up past 55f-58f, though, because I haven't fixed my fans yet

And for the love of god, if you have to ask how to charge, just take it to a shop to charge the system. I learned the hard way that you literally can't cut any corners on A/C. It took me 6 years to realize this. This will save you much strife.

 

You will lose value on the car your selling without A/C.

With that said, the swap is not hard if the cars are the same, [same engines] However most of the parts are available to put A/C into your new car from bone yards, Performance Radiator and/or any auto parts stores.

Things like compressor, evaporator, expansion valve, filter/dryer and condenser I would buy new, the wiring, A/C lines. switching/relays mounting brackets I would pick up at a bone yard, [PicknPull] 94

 

As usual rich infos..thanks guys! This is what I was looking for. Cheers