So how hard is it to add A/C back in the car?

[joesregalproject]

Air conditioning is the only thing I genuinely hate working on, be it in cars or the house. I get the general idea of how it works, but I dont really care to have anything more than a basic understanding of it.

That said, if I buy a car and the A/C doesn't work, I'm not going to bother fixing it. I have all the components for A/C on my G Body and the system has Freon in it and it still doesn't work, so I pretty much quit playing with it after that.

I guess it depends on how much knowledgeable you are with A/C systems and how badly you are sweating when you're in the car. Like anything else, it can be done, just how badly do you want it?

 

[Clutch]

So I have had my 78 Malibu wagon for a little over a month. It looks like what most people do on the gbodys is take out the AC. Under the hood the only thing that's left is the Dryer. I would assume i would need a compressor and a condenser. What else do you think i would need? I don't have a pic of under the hood at the moment but i can get one soon. Anything else i need to check to see if i have? It has working heat and it works amazing lol.

I would get a parts car

 

[Texas82GP]

Air conditioning is the only thing I genuinely hate working on, be it in cars or the house. I get the general idea of how it works, but I dont really care to have anything more than a basic understanding of it.

That said, if I buy a car and the A/C doesn't work, I'm not going to bother fixing it. I have all the components for A/C on my G Body and the system has Freon in it and it still doesn't work, so I pretty much quit playing with it after that.

I guess it depends on how much knowledgeable you are with A/C systems and how badly you are sweating when you're in the car. Like anything else, it can be done, just how badly do you want it?

Location has a big impact on motivation. Here in Houston A/C is non-negotional.

 

[Longroof79]

I agree with Jared. Down here in the sunshine state, it's a necessity. I suffered for years without working A/C in my wagon. All I can say is, it's so much nicer cruising in comfort. As we age our tolerance changes.

 

[zdeckich]

I would get a parts car

I dont think i want to spend $500+ on a parts car and then only to replace more than half of it since most of it will probably not work or is bad and will have to replace it anyways. Better to buy new and save alot of time and headaches.

 

[zdeckich]

Location has a big impact on motivation. Here in Houston A/C is non-negotional.

No different here in Fort Worth lol.

 

[L92 OLDS]

No different here in Fort Worth lol.

Unless your G body is a dedicated drag car removing the AC is a hack job in my opinion. There are many that pull AC just because of the cost involved to get it working but it definitely reduces the value of the car no matter where you live. I am in Michigan and wouldn't do without it. Most G body's I have seen with the AC removed have stinky sweat stained seats and sagging headliners from having the windows down all the time 😱

 

[zdeckich]

Unless your G body is a dedicated drag car removing the AC is a hack job in my opinion. There are many that pull AC just because of the cost involved to get it working but it definitely reduces the value of the car no matter where you live. I am in Michigan and wouldn't do without it. Most G body's I have seen with the AC removed have stinky sweat stained seats and sagging headliners from having the windows down all the time 😱

I agree for the most part. I think when the previous owner took out the 305 and put in the 350 it was easier for him to get rid of the AC rather than hook it all back up and try and get it to work. But sagging headliner and sweat marks i think would be fairly common in a almost 40 year old used car lol.

 

[zdeckich]

Here is a few pics of whats in the car. I didn't take any more pics because it was getting dark out.

This is behind the glove box door.

 

[TURNA]

A quick look and it looks like all u need is a compressor, lines, and possibly a condenser.

A little bit of wiring and you are good.

is the a double grove pulley on the crank?