Retrofitting Air Conditioning - can it be done (easily)?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

I'm off to Texas for a few years and am seriously thinking of taking the Griff, the only problem being that it doesn't have AC. As its almost suicidal to drive a car in summer without AC (and taking the top off doesn't help as you get sunstroke instead) its my biggest concern.

So, can AC be retrofitted?

BTW: My griff 500 is a 2000 model.

[Don1]

You can't import that kind of car into the US.... lots of threads about them. Sorry!

[Markh]

fatbutt said:

Hi all,

I'm off to Texas for a few years and am seriously thinking of taking the Griff, the only problem being that it doesn't have AC. As its almost suicidal to drive a car in summer without AC (and taking the top off doesn't help as you get sunstroke instead) its my biggest concern.

So, can AC be retrofitted?

BTW: My griff 500 is a 2000 model.

I hope so, I have just bought a complete A/C set up from a Griff to retro fit into my Chimaera

[phib]

Loads and loads been talked about on here, I hae had it done twice on Chimaera's both times by the factory ina about 99 and 2000 both times it cost about 3.5k + Vat

So it can be done !!

I have been looking for a Griffith to keep and hav found loads without aircon so did some research in to finding if it could be rtro fitted.

The best quote I had was about 5-6K + vat but they wouldnt commit to a final price, the main issue is that you need to take dash out etc an refit all new ventelation tubing and then seal them to the vents. The fiting of the pump / condensor is the easy bit.

The first time the factory retro fitted mine it took thre goe o get right as the tubing leaked all the time

Hope that helps
Phib

[Markh]

phib said:

Loads and loads been talked about on here, I hae had it done twice on Chimaera's both times by the factory ina about 99 and 2000 both times it cost about 3.5k + Vat

So it can be done !!

I have been looking for a Griffith to keep and hav found loads without aircon so did some research in to finding if it could be rtro fitted.

The best quote I had was about 5-6K + vat but they wouldnt commit to a final price, the main issue is that you need to take dash out etc an refit all new ventelation tubing and then seal them to the vents. The fiting of the pump / condensor is the easy bit.

The first time the factory retro fitted mine it took thre goe o get right as the tubing leaked all the time

Interesting, I bought the whole lot, for a lot less than that and its being installed as we speak, will post when its finished

Hope that helps
Phib

[Uncle Fester]

I have heard that you can import cars to the US if they are over 15 years old. But it's still loads of trouble. You need to do some serious research about this first. No point doing the A/C if you cant' get it into the US.

All I know is hearsay, best check properly.

[GreenV8S]

No idea on the exporting issue, but if you want a car the same as yours but with aircon, buy a car the same as yours but with aircon.

[anonymous-user]

Don1 said:

You can't import that kind of car into the US.... lots of threads about them. Sorry!

Since when? The main thread on the US forum was the one I started and it was pretty much okay to import a TVR...

[anonymous-user]

GreenV8S said:

No idea on the exporting issue, but if you want a car the same as yours but with aircon, buy a car the same as yours but with aircon.

Only bought this one a month ago, and only got the job offer last week (and I'm in Houston right now if you need an idea of how quickly this whole thing is moving along ).

To be honest, if I had an easy choice I'd flog it as it won't like the crap roads they've got over here anyway, but as I've just got it the get-out clause on the finance will cost me thousands. However, if, as seems to be the case, A/C is going to cost thousands then I'll just get rid of the car.

I love TVRs but they are far better in the land they were born.

[Cider Andy]

Markh said:

fatbutt said:

Hi all,

I'm off to Texas for a few years and am seriously thinking of taking the Griff, the only problem being that it doesn't have AC. As its almost suicidal to drive a car in summer without AC (and taking the top off doesn't help as you get sunstroke instead) its my biggest concern.

So, can AC be retrofitted?

BTW: My griff 500 is a 2000 model.

I hope so, I have just bought a complete A/C set up from a Griff to retro fit into my Chimaera

Did you buy any wiring with it? That would seem to be the greyest area to me. It has to be hooked up to the engine cooling fans and (I think) to the fuel injection ECU, to raise the idle when the compressor's running. Is the condensor mounting on to the radiator the same between a Griffith and Chimaera. If you manage to fit it and get it working it would be great to see a write-up of it.

[LordGrover]

phib said:

Loads and loads been talked about on here, I hae had it done twice on Chimaera's both times by the factory ina about 99 and 2000 both times it cost about 3.5k + Vat

So it can be done !!

I have been looking for a Griffith to keep and hav found loads without aircon so did some research in to finding if it could be rtro fitted.

The best quote I had was about 5-6K + vat but they wouldnt commit to a final price, the main issue is that you need to take dash out etc an refit all new ventelation tubing and then seal them to the vents. The fiting of the pump / condensor is the easy bit.

The first time the factory retro fitted mine it took thre goe o get right as the tubing leaked all the time

Hope that helps
Phib

Apologies for butting in - Off Topic.

Phib - do you use a wireless keyboard? I'm getting all kinds of grief with missed characters since I swapped to wireless - left unchecked my posts would look like yours above. Apologies if you're just a crap typist.

[Don1]

fatbutt said:

Don1 said:

You can't import that kind of car into the US.... lots of threads about them. Sorry!

Since when? The main thread on the US forum was the one I started and it was pretty much okay to import a TVR...

Thought only cars older than 20 years could be imported - anything older than that was down to emmisions... (I asked as well, due to potential move).

[Russell B]

fatbutt said:

Hi all,

I'm off to Texas for a few years and am seriously thinking of taking the Griff, the only problem being that it doesn't have AC. As its almost suicidal to drive a car in summer without AC (and taking the top off doesn't help as you get sunstroke instead) its my biggest concern.

So, can AC be retrofitted?

BTW: My griff 500 is a 2000 model.

Try contacting Mike Virgo (the ajp Griff) I think hes done it

[LordGrover]

Russell B said:

Try contacting Mike Virgo (the ajp Griff) I think hes done it

If he doesn't read this tonight, I'm seeing him tomorrow so I'll mention it.

[Markh]

Cider Andy said:

Markh said:

fatbutt said:

Hi all,

I'm off to Texas for a few years and am seriously thinking of taking the Griff, the only problem being that it doesn't have AC. As its almost suicidal to drive a car in summer without AC (and taking the top off doesn't help as you get sunstroke instead) its my biggest concern.

So, can AC be retrofitted?

BTW: My griff 500 is a 2000 model.

I hope so, I have just bought a complete A/C set up from a Griff to retro fit into my Chimaera

Did you buy any wiring with it? That would seem to be the greyest area to me. It has to be hooked up to the engine cooling fans and (I think) to the fuel injection ECU, to raise the idle when the compressor's running. Is the condensor mounting on to the radiator the same between a Griffith and Chimaera. If you manage to fit it and get it working it would be great to see a write-up of it.

Andy
I got a load of wiring with it, not sure how much use it will be as I have an after market ecu (Autronic SM 4, this has the functionality to run A/C) will keep you posted, I'm not doing it my self as I have two left hands when it come to this sort of thing, its being installed by Jamie at Castle Race Engines

[anonymous-user]

Don1 said:

fatbutt said:

Don1 said:

You can't import that kind of car into the US.... lots of threads about them. Sorry!

Since when? The main thread on the US forum was the one I started and it was pretty much okay to import a TVR...

Thought only cars older than 20 years could be imported - anything older than that was down to emmisions... (I asked as well, due to potential move).

Take a look: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...