Okay, finally the brown santa (UPS guy) came and delivered my new "S14 OEM Air Conditioning Installation System" early Friday afternoon, and after getting home Friday night from the movies I decided what the hell - let's start now.

I'm about 30 percent done as I type this, saving and hopefully completing the remaining 70 percent of the install tomorrow when it's daytime (and hot again).

I also pulled the dashboard out of my car (again) so that I can make sure all the ventilation doors are moving around as they're supposed to. This also made it easier to remove the old evaporator assembly. So far I got most of the old A/C system out, except for the last main hose running from the compressor, around the back of the KA, into the firewall.

Removing the compressor by myself at 1am was a little testy, as there's very little clearance to get to the mounting bolts. That and the bugger is HEAVY. Also, the damn KA fan shroud for some reason wouldn't come out easy (required to get the old condenser out). Luckily for me, the kit came with an instruction manual and it really has helped with making sure I got all of the old system out.


Tomorrow's task list:

1) Replace air temperature switch (behind the front bumper) with new part.
2) Install condenser, which should be a lot easier to do than to remove it - especially since the radiator isn't hot anymore LOL
3) Install receiver/dryer.
4) Install new evaporator assembly.
5) Run all the new hoses.
6) Inspect in-car ducting and air doors.

I snapped some pics because I was bored LOL

Dashboard out:


Another view of dashboard out:


Above shot of sparkly new A/C compressor:


Under the car shot of compressor:


Box full of all the old crap I took out:


All the stuff left for me to reinstall (not including the interior parts):


The big blue poster guiding me:


Okay sorry I was bored after I called it a night, and I am still all into using my digital camera

 

I'd love to see someone driving around without the dash, I thought it was suppose to come last week? or was that someone else...hm..good luck today black car,hot sun-sounds like a party. I gotta be all nasty and sweaty helping put up the plywood on the house..

I love using my digital cam as much as I love redbull..

 

Good luck with it raine, it's hotter then a biatch today. Maybe you can teach me a couple things of the A/C system install(I know 0)

 

sexy car... sexy car...

 

haha. so what happened to waiting for me to help you tomorrow?? lol...do you still need help tomorrow?? i got my celly back so give me a ring y0. and drive it w/o that dash!! hardcore weight reduction!!!

 

hey what about the freon? how will u get the compresser filled with it?... hahah or i might not know what the hell im talking about im kinda buzzed >.<

 

UPDATE:

Brandon - Eddie and I went junkyarding in the morning, and when I got back at 3pm I just said "what the hell" and went straight to the garage to finish the install.

Anyhow - I got everything back in, and guess what - at least my heater works now

Turns out part of my "whatever air is outside is the same air going in" problem was that the airmix door wasn't moving. With the dash out I found the airmix door motor and saw the harness plug halfway in, halfway out. Popped it back in and voila - airmix door is operational again.

So I got to test my heater at GMR about 2 hours ago (super packed... bunch of S13's and FC/FD's, plus a real R32 GT-R), and it's working. As for the freon - you're right. I replaced the entire (yes, all! LOL) A/C/ system with OEM new parts (basically everything but the plastic air ducts and a/c switch in the dash) but the kit does not come with freon (er, R134 stuffs). Monday I'm going to take my car to a local shop and have them leak test my install, then if all is good I'm going to get the A/C filled with the cold stuff.

Finally, my girlfriend can stop complaining ROFL

 

Well it all sounds/looks good.

 

sounds like u had fun. a real R32 at GMR???!?! whoa......well, it WAS a saturday night, so im not suprised it was packed.

 

you get pics of that R32? thats really surprising and i give you kudos for doing the install yourself, haha ^_^

 

no pics, but a bunch of witnesses. It was white with 18" FN-01R's.

 

SWEET. was that FC there that you beat?

 

no not last night

 

UPDATE:

... driving home this evening I saw a Kragen and decided to try something: I went in and bought 3 cans of refrigerant (I already had the connector tube and valve adaptor at home)... went home and attached the first can. Charged it up and it seemed like it was taking the charge, but yet no cold air coming out of the vents yet. I let it charge until the first can was empty, then proceeded with the other two. Right when the last one was done I went back into my car (I was outside chillin while it was charging up) and holy cowses it was freezing in there!!!

PROJECT A/C A SUCCESS!

I'm a happy camper now

 

Congrats man. Now you can escape the horrible heat while driving haha.