AC retrofit - Heater box removal

[jazzdude]

I am having AC retrofitted to my car and am giving instructions to the AC guy on what needs to be done. The stuff in the engine bay looks reasonably self explanatory, but where there seems to be some worry is getting the heater box out.

I have bought a used box from a Chim with AC and it looks huge, but looking under the dash, how does the other one come out?

Can anyone who has done this give me a step by step guide so I can describe the job to the AC guy? I know the dash doesnt have to come out but any tips would be very much appreciated.

Also can anyone tell me how the condensor is attached to the system. I see one pipe coming off the compressor that goes into the wing, but where does the return pipe run through and where does it go?

[bobfather]

Take the roof off, job done. Why stick ac in a convertible in thd UK. I can understand the need in a hot country

[jazzdude]

And as I happen to be in a hot country....

[johnh8]

To get the heater box out you will first have to remove the heater fan which is behind a panel on the lefthand side of the passenger footwear.The panel is 'L' shaped and slides out in the direction of the gearbox the heater fan is mounted in the angle of the L.You will have to remove the battery. On Chimaeras with aircon the front face of the fan panel is fitted with a damper and motor for the recirculation air.
The other pipe from the compressor goes through the fuel cooler then behind the engine and into the passenger wing to the ac box evaporator. From the evaporator it then goes through the inner wing to the condenser at the front.[url]There is a heat shield fitted between the compressor and exhaust.

Edited by johnh8 on Wednesday 25th May 22:31

[NZ fan]

I also have AC in my 95 5l chimaera [which i find very useful in NZ and wouldn't be without] great for de misting the screen on cold or humid days as well as cooling on the hot ones. so if you need any specific shots of the components involved ill be happy to oblige. I have a shot of the evaporator in the heater box etc. ill see if i can find them....

[jazzdude]

My car doesnt have a recirculation motor so I presume that the box will come out without removing the fan housing?

So once the battery box and ECU is out, is it a case of disconnecting all the pipes to the heater box and undoing a couple of screws? Does it then just drop out?

Also do the existing heater pipes need to be taken out before the pipework can go in from the compressor? And the hose that goes from the box, through the wing to the front of the car, how tricky is it to route this through the void above the front wheel, or is there a big hole at each end?

Any information would be very much appreciated.

[johnh8]

The fan motor sits under the ac box so I don't think it can go anywhere with the fan in place.I haven't had the ac box out just the fan.As for the pipe I don't think it will be much of a problem it's getting the heater box out you should be worrying about.

Edited by johnh8 on Thursday 26th May 21:21

[NZ fan]

These may help?

[jazzdude]

Brilliant thanks

I was looking at the box I bought and the side where your photo shows all those copper pipes, its covered with some sticky foam, which I was going to pull off. I am glad I didnt now I have seen that pic.

There are some ancilliary items on your box by the heater pipes that I dont think I have, so when I get back home I will check mine against that pic.

It is also interesting that nobody so far has mentioned that there are two separate matrixes. I nearly bought a new 'a/c matrix' from TVR-parts but it now looks like its the heater matrix.