Adding AC

[cervelorod]

Seems I see most people removing the AC from the 1.6's, but I would like to add it.  I recently added a turbo to my 1.6NA, and it gets hot here in the summer.  I think I have a few extra ponies I could spare to keep cool.  Would the best option be sourcing parts from a donor car?  I can't find anything aftermarket.

Thanks,
Rod
1990 Jetta II, turbo'ed NA

[R.O.R-2.0]

just get parts from a mk2 with a/c. the cars with a/c are more common anyways..

[Quantum TD]

The "easiest" way to do it is to get the parts from a donor car:

Condensor, evaporator, hoses, interior boxes, controls, wiring harness, brackets, pulleys, etc.

The nice thing about a MK2, is there is no cutting involved. The car was designed from the factory for AC installation.

Another plus to the MK2 diesel is that the alternator/compressor bracket is the same. You'll need to find the upper alt bracket, alternator, pulley, and lower compressor-tensioner bracket off a diesel. Should be pretty easy to locate, and you won't have to remove your injection pump to swap the bracket.


Also, most of the parts from a gasser will work. Things that will not:

1) Engine and possibly interior harness: a 1990 Jetta should be CE2. So, engine harness should be plug and play with your existing car. Or, the connectors may already be there (unlikely). So long as you find a 1990-1992 donor car (with CE2), you should be good to go.

2) AC hoses: I know for certain that the low-pressure hose is diesel-specific. The high pressure lines might interchange with gasser ones though.


If you need, I have MK2 diesel AC hoses.

[R.O.R-2.0]

The "easiest" way to do it is to get the parts from a donor car:

Condensor, evaporator, hoses, interior boxes, controls, wiring harness, brackets, pulleys, etc.

The nice thing about a MK2, is there is no cutting involved. The car was designed from the factory for AC installation.

Another plus to the MK2 diesel is that the alternator/compressor bracket is the same. You'll need to find the upper alt bracket, alternator, pulley, and lower compressor-tensioner bracket off a diesel. Should be pretty easy to locate, and you won't have to remove your injection pump to swap the bracket.


Also, most of the parts from a gasser will work. Things that will not:

1) Engine and possibly interior harness: a 1990 Jetta should be CE2. So, engine harness should be plug and play with your existing car. Or, the connectors may already be there (unlikely). So long as you find a 1990-1992 donor car (with CE2), you should be good to go.

2) AC hoses: I know for certain that the low-pressure hose is diesel-specific. The high pressure lines might interchange with gasser ones though.


If you need, I have MK2 diesel AC hoses.

pretty positive you need a diesel specific bracket, just because of the pulley offset difference..

[trav1856]

Yeah, you need the diesel bracket..mainly because the off-set, but also because early gassers were York style, and the diesels were the sanden/bosch style. (round)

[R.O.R-2.0]

yup, that too.. didnt the SUPER EARLY gas cars get the compressor up top, and the alternator under it, in the stock location?

and the diesel cars got bosch compressors, and they were low mounted, with the alt up by the IP?

[trav1856]

yup, that too.. didnt the SUPER EARLY gas cars get the compressor up top, and the alternator under it, in the stock location?

and the diesel cars got bosch compressors, and they were low mounted, with the alt up by the IP?

That's the way mine is. The alt is mounted near the IP and the compressor is mounted where you'd expect the alt to be.