Hooking up A/C on a AUI Falcon ute

[chooktinute]

Hi,
My AUI Ute didn't come with A/C and i was wondering if it is too much trouble to hook up the full A/C system onto it. Could i just find an au being wrecked and unbolt everything and bolt it on my ute?? And is the wiring already there in the wiring loom?

Cheers

[Beer Baron]

I don't know about the wiring but its definitely a dash out job to run ac lines.

[mongrelEF]

Hmm, wasn't aware A/C was optional anymore, should have been factory standard. Are there two silver pipes coming through the firewall on the passenger side of the engine bay? if not, as above - you'll need to pull the dash out and change the heater box. Wiring should be there.

[Rambunctious]

It's certainly a big job for the home mechanic, not only the dash stuff but you also need the hoses, front pully and belt, compressor, condensor, bracketing etc, and the dryer will need to be new, there is a filter in the line which will need renewing/cleaning, then you need to pay someone to evacuate the system and regass, all the time hoping the compressor seals are good and you are not going to lose all the gas straight up.
If you get it from another car you will need every bolt, nut, screw, piece of duct, probably fan and wiring etc etc , and you will need to pull it out yourself after taking photos so you know how it goes back in.
I did an install myself on a Holden Tonner in early 90s and the cost with a new compressor then was over $1000 with me doing all the work.

[Mr Hardware]

Hmm, wasn't aware A/C was optional anymore, should have been factory standard.

yeah aircon was an option on the utes
imagine driving a manual, no aircon, wind up windows AU ute
that'd be just plain strange

[chooktinute]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

yeah aircon was an option on the utes
imagine driving a manual, no aircon, wind up windows AU ute
that'd be just plain strange

This is exactly what i drive.....

Well it seems like a mammoth effort really may not worry about it!

[XRGhia]

Honestly, it's not hard at all....

Remove dash = 30 mins
Remove intake piping (4x10mm bolts, and 2x P2 screws) = 5 mins
Remove old heaterbox = 15 mins
Install new heaterbox = ^^^
Install new center "ICC" = 10 mins
Remove front bar, install AC condensor/AC Lines, install front bar = Give 1 hour to do that entire job
Remove thermo fans (2x10mm bolts), remove drive belt and AC idler pulley = 20 mins
Install AC pump, drive belt and thermo fans = 20 mins
Bolt up AC lines (if not already done) = 5 mins
Install intake = 5 mins

It isn't a real big job... I've done a full dash, airbox, pump and lines swap before and had it done in less than 2 hours.....

[mongrelEF]

True, though if you're not familiar with what you're doing, that time can blow out fast

yeah aircon was an option on the utes
imagine driving a manual, no aircon, wind up windows AU ute
that'd be just plain strange

Huh. Well, that's my new thing learnt for today....going back to sleep now :

[XARATE]

Surprisingly at some dealers a/c is still an option in FG and ranger utes.

[chooktinute]

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

Honestly, it's not hard at all....

Remove dash = 30 mins
Remove intake piping (4x10mm bolts, and 2x P2 screws) = 5 mins
Remove old heaterbox = 15 mins
Install new heaterbox = ^^^
Install new center "ICC" = 10 mins
Remove front bar, install AC condensor/AC Lines, install front bar = Give 1 hour to do that entire job
Remove thermo fans (2x10mm bolts), remove drive belt and AC idler pulley = 20 mins
Install AC pump, drive belt and thermo fans = 20 mins
Bolt up AC lines (if not already done) = 5 mins
Install intake = 5 mins

It isn't a real big job... I've done a full dash, airbox, pump and lines swap before and had it done in less than 2 hours.....

Yeah thats pretty good thats mostly the easy stuff all the 'unbolt this' and the 'bolt this in its place'. All the wiring was my main concern.. weather or not the wires were tucked away in the wiring loom ready to plug straight in