Adding AC Back to the Spirit- is it worth it?

[Sethyboy85]

My Spirit came with AC but when it got swapped to a bastard 8 valve the AC was deleted.

Now I have everything from firewall in side but nothing from the port on firewall out.
Living in Texas now I forsee needing to restore the AC, as I plan on selling my truck (my AC vehicle here shortly for cash for my wedding)

How much of a pain in the arse is this going to be?
Also trying to keep it under $500 I have the ability to vac/charge so that doesn't need to be figured in.
If I can't do it less then $500 and have it last several years I will probably just go buy a beater with working AC

[turbovanman²]

Only you can answer that question.

To me, not having a/c was fine when I was a kid, but now, wife, kids, its not an option anymore.

[bigbarneycars]

Go to car-part.com and find a donor within your striking distance that has everything from the bulkhead to the condenser...BTW If you do not put that dash in between car and part you'll be going some place else

[135sohc]

Rolling down the windows only goes so far...

[ScottD]

A lot of times you can find spirits in the junkyard with newer lines and compressor. The h valve low pressure switch clutch switch and receiver dryer are all inexpensive brand new thru rock auto. I fixed the ac on my spirit last year and i am in the process of fixing it on my omni i think it is worth doing.

[mr glenn]

can the AC lines and compressor be swapped into the spirit from a shadow ?

[135sohc]

This thread got me motivated to finish mine. Never put the belt/idler back on mine after the rebuild last fall, did it tonight after cleaning all the rust off the pulley grooves. Even for the 90 seconds it ran before I turned it off and went inside after confirming it would work. Felt great to have that cold, dry air billowing out of the vents... Something I havnt had reliably for 5+ years.

---------- Post added at 10:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

can the AC lines and compressor be swapped into the spirit from a shadow ?

Yes. you just have to watch the years and compressor types as the bracket changed once, hoses changed a few times as well. Best to avoid the 94-95 stuff as its sort of a unicorn setup. Hoses are not available for those years except from chrysler and they are $$$. 91-93 for AA, AJ, AG. 92-93 for the p body are IMO the best years for parts interchange and the Denso compressor.

[tryingbe]

I spent probably over $1000 to make the a/c functional on my GLH.

You bet it's worth it.

[ScottD]

can the AC lines and compressor be swapped into the spirit from a shadow ?

The compressors are largely the same.

Check rockauto.com and see if the part number for the lines is the same between shadow and spirit.

[bigbarneycars]

Shesh! If I'd looked at your location I would have responded more accuratly. Have you tried those bone yards on So. Congress just north of Wm. Cannon? ...If you strike out there head down I-35 a few miles. Theirs a huge ALL MOPAR YARD IN KYLE, Jer

[Vigo]

Wait a second here.. AFAIK if you get stuff at shop cost you could replace EVERYTHING on the engine bay side with new/reman parts-store stuff for about $500.. I think the old style compressor is about $130, the condenser is like $100, the expansion valve is ~$30, the drier is $20, and the lines iirc come as one piece and are probably $50-100. 2 lbs of 134 and some oil is ~$30. OH AND I FORGOT THE BELT FOR A BUDGET BUSTING $10.

So.. under or around $500 to get it all in nice new packaging from a parts store, let alone a junkyard!

And yes.. if you havent been through the summers around here yet.. you will SOON LEARN the NEED for ac lol. I mean, i DD'd without ac while working in non-ac auto shops a few years ago but frankly i wouldnt have done it if i wanted those interiors to stay nice (and non-odorous) and i ALWAYS walked straight from the front door to the shower when i got home.

I know where to look in SA for used parts if it comes to that.


Big Barney where are you located?

[Sethyboy85]

I think I will get everything new from Rock Auto but the compressor, ebay that. Now I need to look and see if the engine harness has the necessary connectors.
My car is a Bastard RT so who knows exactly what year harness it has and from what. I feel like it's a 90 shadow but who knows what was cut off of it.
Thanks guys, I feel inspired once work slows down and my wedding is all paid for to tackle this project.

[Vigo]

itll be easy, lemme know if you want some help when the time comes.

[Sethyboy85]

itll be easy, lemme know if you want some help when the time comes.

I will be in San Antonio tomorrow but for work and hopping Lowe's stores, although on the Moto. I will be working the I-35 back up towards Austin and stop in Kyle maybe I can swing by the mopar yard and have a look.

[RoadWarrior222]

Well A/C does about 5% better for mpg vs windows down on highway, so at current gas prices a $500 install will pay for itself in about 5 years ... in gas ...

Whereas it would save about a half gallon of gatorade per day, at about $3 per, in a 180 day A/C season, that's it paid off in a year

[bigbarneycars]

Hi Vigo. Mothers Proving Grounds is in Chelsea. Mi. an hour west of Detroit. So that you won't lay awake at nite wondering, My wife and I lived at the west end of Wm. Cannon at the corner of 1826 an Galiant Fox 'tween '94 and '99. And was a member in good standing of S.A. Mopar Muscle Club and loved the get-togethers held in Bastrop 'tween the S.A. and Houston clubs every spring. And we've been to the city park in Boerne for more then one Charger get-together too. FYI, I left two Plymouth Scamps behind in one of those yards on So. Congress when we moved back to Michigan too. Say Hi to Wes and Geri Peeper if you know 'um. They used to run that Mopar Club in S.A. when the fall meets were held in the dealership ah little north of the Pig Stand. SORRY, Didn't mean to walk all over this thread, Shoulda P.M.d it. Just have lotta good memories of our years in the Lone Star, Jer

[Vigo]

Thanks for the response. Im always looking for T-M people in south/central texas (that's why i asked), and every once in a while one pops up or moves in that i didnt know about.

As a native San Antonian living in San Marcos the last few years i find my idea of 'local' has expanded to include a lot of the places you mentioned.. feels like everyone within 100 miles lives in my area! Houston is still a 'trip' but ive got a handful of friends and acquaintances from there too that are active on T-M.

Hope you're enjoying Michigan. Texas is making me smile right now with the spring green-ness but i'll be cussing every day when we hit 100 degrees in a few weeks.

[bfarroo]

The problem is there is no aftermarket lines for the Spirit. At least for the 89, I've looked. Custom or used is the only option.

[RoadWarrior222]

can the AC lines and compressor be swapped into the spirit from a shadow ?

My thought is that the P body ones would be just a little short and something with a little longer nose might be a better donor. Then if those turn out long you can bow them a bit... they're real hard to stretch.

[Turbo3Iroc]

Where you now live A/C should be a requirement.