Where can I go to get new AC parts for my 71 Comet GT restoration? Is there someone out there that sells a kit or do I need to buy the times piece by piece?. I need the whole enchilada: R-134 compressor, dryer, condensor, evaporator, expansion valve, etc. I am putting it on a 5.0 motor with V belts, but using the same brackets and pulleys off my original 302. What do you suggest?
I got the "Underhood Kit" from Classic Auto Air. They don't list one for the Maverick/Comet but they'll put one together for you. The kit included a Sanden compressor with adapter bracket, new condenser, hoses with fittings on one end and a bunch of fittings for the other ends. Cut the hoses, selected the fittings I wanted, marked the fittings and hoses for rotational position, and took them to a hydraulic shop to get the ends crimped on. I shipped them my evaporator which the cleaned up and checked. Also shipped them my dryer which they rebuilt. I later found new dryers at Rock Auto that are almost right -- mounting brackets are a little different. Haven't tried to install them yet so can't say how well they work. Found a new expansion valve somewhere. Think they could have supplied one but they thought the old one would work fine. Decided later to get a new one. Some guys recommend the newer style parallel tube evaporator. Might only be available in a universal fit. I ordered a serial tube evaporator that bolted right in with no mods. It works fine. While I had the heater/AC unit out from under the dash the heater core and blower motor were replaced. All the door vacuum motors functioned fine. I checked out or replaced everything in the under dash unit because I hope to NEVER pull it out again.
I got the same kit as JS. Cept I got the universal parallell condenser. I also replaced everything under dash cept blower motor & resistor - they ain't to bad to get at - thou I ain't lookin fwd to replacing them. Everything underhood AC related is new. I put a new heater core in and had to make a repair on the heater box where I damaged the drain spout removing the box. While I had the box out I replaced all the foam/rubber and painted all the metal components. Be sure to have the condenser checked for leaks and most important handle the 40 yr old box vry carefully. I used a foam rubber kit designed for a Stang, had to make some mods to make it work, but no one makes a specific one for our cars "as Im aware of".
