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BJ8 A/C

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Cottontop

Cottontop

Jedi Warrior
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Since the original refrigerant is now almost unattainable at anywhere close to a reasonable price, I wonder if this unit would even work with the new environmentally sensitive stuff. Besides, I wouldn't want my feet to get a mixed message. They are use to being hot in a Healey.
 
[ QUOTE ]
But can it be aimed at your feet??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen one of these installed in a big Healey using a modern compressor and and modern refrigerants.The inside of the car will actually give you a chill they are cold!. Yes the side vents can be directed on to your feet---Keoke
 
One of the guys in our club, a Mechanical Engineer and machinist, has developed an A/C system for the
BJ Series Austin Healeys.

He is building brackets and accessories to use late model rotary compressors and inconspicuous underdash units.

Several of the Healeys in our club have them.

Here is a link to his web site - https://www.twoblades.com/

Contact him directly if interested.
 
Man, that's quite a price differnce, I've asked about info on a BJ 8.
 
Since the Healey coling system is sort of marginal, how does the addition of an A/C condenser in front of the radiator effect engine temps? Do you need to alter the radiator and/or fan?
 
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...inconspicuous underdash units.


[/ QUOTE ]

The last thing I need in Scotland is A/C, but as a former Houstonian I'm intrigued.

But the photo shown on the site makes the unit look not inconspicuous- or is that just the angle meant to show the installation? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Perhaps another shot from the driver's seat would be more indicative of its unobtrusive nature... meant to be a helpful suggestion....
 
I took several pictures at a low angle primarily to show the installation, not the drivers, passenger, or out of cockpit view.

When I see the car, probably next week, I'll take one from eye level and from standing beside the car.

While the underdash is not "hidden", it certainly is unobtrusive.

Here is a pic from slightly below eye level.

The owner has a Healey hardtop on the car and that A/C unit will RUN YOU OUT when on high. His wife often rides with a sweater and a laprobe.

Tim

0519.JPG
 
It is not easy to do but you can run the system that is being sold on e-bay with new type of refrigerant. What you would need to do is more than subsitute the newer refrigerant, R-134a, for the old refrigerant R-12. You need to also change the oil used with the R-12. It is hydroscopic, absorbs water, and thus does not like R-134a. I have done it with some success on an old Chevy.

How about that for usless info? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
This is the respnse I got from Mr. Blades:
Yes, the bracket I sell will fit any of the six cylinder cars. The
centerline of the pulleys is the same on all the cars. The unit I suggest
for the BJ8s is the Old Air Products CAP 700HC. You pull the Smiths heater
and replace it with the combination Heat/Cool evaporator. You can get the
whole a/c kit for about $800. I suggest the use of an electric fan (which I
mount on the front of the X-brace) operated by a trinary switch.
I have attached a word document with some considerations to be made when
deciding to air condition your Healey. I hope you find this information
helpful. Feel free to contact me for any further information.

Best of luck.

Bret Blades

(972)762-8148

I'm going to look into the Air Products thing. The guy on ebay is looking for $2,500, I don't know if he'll get it, (the way prices are going, he may) but then you'd have to install and convert to R-134a. I'll post a link to the Air Products info when I find it.
 
12many: Do you know of anyone that could do the oil and refrigerant conversion?
 
Well, the ā€œOld Air Productsā€ would work fine if it was a street rod or an old American car you were building. Iā€™m sure the products work great, but the visuals have a decidedly ā€˜modernā€™ look, at least to me. https://www.oldairproducts.com/shop/index.php?cPath=30000000_37000000

I think Iā€™m going to bid on the period piece and give up if the price gets even close to his ā€˜buy it nowā€™ price.

Has anyone seen one of these installed?
 
I do not know anyone in New York. The unit looks modular, in other words the compressor mounts in the engine compartment and the evaporator, the cooling part, mounts in the cockpit. You have to run hoses between the two to connect these two parts. That means that it does not have refrigerant in it when it is shipped and has to be charged after it has been put in the car. You need a person with a refrigerant license to do that. If the compressor comes without the oil already in it you need only to tell the guy to use r-134a refrigerant and the oil used with R134a, I believe it is called a PTO oil. If the compressor has oil in it you need to drain the oil and replace it. The trick is to get most of the old oil out. The hang up is that you will probably have a problem finding someone who is willing to do that. They are refrigerant mechanics, not engineers and thus are reluctant to "break the rules". I spent 17 year in the boat ac business and so I was just crazy enough to try it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Thanks for your reply.

I talked to a guy in Ft. Lauderdale today (James Dean) that's familiar with the old Coolaire units for English Cars. He sells a bracket for the kit, a modern compressor and a drier(?) for about four hundred bucks. He also sells a marine fan for the blower unit. (I'm assuming that's the fan for the evaporator, or dx coil, in architect talk.) The kit on eBay uses an older style piston compressor unit, so it would look 'period', but wouldn't be as efficient, apparently.

I'm going to think about it for a few hours. I go through Connecticut once a week or so on business, so maybe I'll stop and look at the unit. There are no bids yet.
 
Dar 100;

James Dean just may have one If he can find it in all that junk he has.---Keoke-??
 
Well Kinny Dar 100, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, However,he has a different perspective of whats restorable than the average Yank. He can get real upset with me when I call some of his parts terminal /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. But I did get some good Daimler parts from him a few years ago and the price was about right.Plus he sent me pictures of his wedding and his daimler which he had sold shortly thereafter.-Fwiw---Keoke
 
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