• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

MGB Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Share this page

JodyFKerr

JodyFKerr

Jedi Knight
Offline
Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Hey all,

My whole saga of trying to find something that isn't a modern lump of plastic to be my daily driver is starting to get depressing. My issue is that in Arizona, to be a DD, the car *must* have A/C.

I've been finding many nice MGB's for sale that I would have otherwise jumped on. So, I started researching through BCF last night, and then later on the intertubes. I ran across these aftermarket AC unit from BritishAC.com

Has anyone installed one of these? If so are they happy with it? It's based around a Sanden compressor, so there's none of that York malarky involved. Yes, I know that a/c robs power, and all that fun stuff, but driving around in 100+ degree heat for 3+ months of the year without it is just masochistic.

Thanks!
Jody
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

OK, I just saw this post else where.
Where did I see it?
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

With all the mini cars out there now, with 4 cyl engines, I see no reason that a good setup could not be fabricated to an MGB. I would think the only problem would be the under dash blower assembly. If there's one out there designed for an MGB, I think I'd be looking hard at it. All modern AC units are pretty efficient. One thing you must remember though, they don't work as well in a convertible as in a hard top, but they do work! Just my 2 cents worth. PJ
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

I think you could get MGBGT's with OEM air conditioning. Also, in the hot rodder world they sell electric air conditioners for cars - probably a much easier conversion, not too expensive either +/- $500 as I recall.
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

JPSmit said:
I think you could get MGBGT's with OEM air conditioning. Also, in the hot rodder world they sell electric air conditioners for cars - probably a much easier conversion, not too expensive either +/- $500 as I recall.
Click to expand...

No MGB came from Abingdon with a/c....hence no true OEM units.

These were dealer installed units, usually York units.
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Here is some feedback gathered from the Web about MGBs and A/C systems, hope it helps:

"I am planning on installing an air conditioning system in my 67 GT. British Air sells a kit for the MGB; has anyone had any experience with this company? If so, your comments and advice are welcomed. Or, for that matter, any comments re A/C."

Nostalgicairparts.com is another company for A/C.

"I think those "two" companies are the same company. They just call their British a/c division a different name, I think. I've heard very good things about these guys, and I imagine you'll be very happy with that a/c kit. If I had a BGT (as I once did), I'd definitely put a/c in it. There's not much airflow in the car like there is in the roadster, and it can get pretty miserable in there on a hot day in a traffic jam."

"Those are one in the same. Nostalgia owns British. They are a great company to work with and provide a good product. They used to or still do make some of Moss's ac system. Made my own brackets and used their compressor and hoses. I got good information from the owner when every I needed it.."

"Met a guy at Belleville that had a Brtish AC unit installed. He loved it. I'm going to do the same to my GT when the time comes."

"I have the kit in my B and have posted many times about how much I like it. I just thought I would add last week in 99+ heat I had 39* at my center vent with top up."

"I bought the Moss kit and installed it in my 74.5 GT. I had to make several changes to make it work. I then found Nostalgic air and they were furnishing most of the parts to Moss. Moss gave step by step instructions, extra spacers and a set of brackets for mounting alternator to the compressor. If I had known about Nostalgicair I would have saved a lot of money. I also put in a fan shroud, and an aluminum radiator to keep the temp at normal on the gage."

".....for the Moss/Nostalgic/BritishAir units you don't have to cut through the firewall, just drill a couple of holes on the removable access plate on top of the bulkhead (most models have a charcoal canister sitting over this plate). Because the plate is removable, it's easy to get good clean holes by drilling on a drill press instead of freehand in the engine bay. A pre-drilled replacement access plate would be nice, though."
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Peter,

Thanks for the info! Apparently my Google-fu is weak compared to yours.

I have, subsequently, gotten myself off on a different tangent. So, it looks like I'll be putting off adding an MGB to the fold for the time being, but there is one a few miles away that I have my eye on, and for whatever odd reason, LBCs seem to follow me home, whether my wife is happy about it or not. :smile:

Jody
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Jody, don't know if it's the fact that the TR guys read the MG forum or We just blew you off there?
Sorry
 
Re: Adding "modern" A/C to an MGB

Don, If it's a separate MG forum site, then I most likely don't know about it because I'm not presently an MG owner. :smile: I tend to stay on BCF mostly except for Jensen stuff.

Jody
 
Back
Top