Hi - has anyone successfully retro-fitted air-con into a Mk1? Looks like it is possible to source all the required bits from the various breakers but is it a feasible job or just virtually impossible?

I guess the original system used a different gas so can it be modified to meet current regulations?

GaryB

Not impossible but extremely hard. To do it properly you would need to swap the entire chassis harness from an AC equipped car, virtually strip the whole car to install the various parts and it would take a very long time to complete, no to mention AC lines which would be a nightmare to fit. You *could* in theory clag AC onto the car in a non Toyota fashion with your own wiring, own home made pipes and switches etc, just fitting the essential hardware to the engine and up front, still a big deal to do though.

Doable but not easily, i'd search for a Pinewood Mk1 (the only UK dealer to offer an AC equipped Mk1 NA) or buy a Supercharger model if your heart is set on AC.

Is that correct about the Pinewood dealer ? as I have a UK car 1990 mk1 with Factory Aircon and I'm sure that its from a differant dealer (off to check now) although the original owner worked for Toyota and got it fitted for £1100 instead of the £1800 public price is this also correct or have I been told porky's

Chris

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Mk1b *5, White Coupe Jan90 114k, Mica Blue T-Bar April90 90k, Mica Blue Jan90 78k Factory Aircon, Gunmetal grey T-bar 88 103k,
Breaking Mk1b,T-bar (red/pink/rust) 88. 5 mk1's

Anything is possible Chris, especially if the guy worked for Toyota, we have only ever seen Pinewood cars with AC though.

In addition to the factory fit aircon Toyota did also sell a dealer fit kit too, so while unlikely it is possible that any UK car could have had it fitted. The kit is obviously no longer available though

Well just checked my paperwork and I'm still in the dark about the original dealer but hey the air con blows ICE cold

Went out and fired it up, left it running and got lovely and cool then got out and started to sweat

Chris

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Mk1b *5, White Coupe Jan90 114k, Mica Blue T-Bar April90 90k, Mica Blue Jan90 78k Factory Aircon, Gunmetal grey T-bar 88 103k,
Breaking Mk1b,T-bar (red/pink/rust) 88. 5 mk1's

Very interesting thread

BTW, I visited my local car air-con specialist and he basically told me that the most difficult thing in carrying a non-factory installation is the compressor mount, everything else can pretty much be found.So I sourced one from the states for 50 USD

There is an A/C mr2 mk1 compressor on ebay (UK) NOW

Not mine but thought I would share

Chris

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Mk1b *5, White Coupe Jan90 114k, Mica Blue T-Bar April90 90k, Mica Blue Jan90 78k Factory Aircon, Gunmetal grey T-bar 88 103k,
Breaking Mk1b,T-bar (red/pink/rust) 88. 5 mk1's

I managed to gather/buy the following(during the past few days)

4A-GE AC Compressor mount from a US Spec AW11(60 pounds shipped from the US)
Rebuilt AC Compressor + new drier (180 pounds incl shipping from the US)
Mk1a Heater panel with the AC switches on (25 pounds shipped from the US)
Brand New Evaporator(50 pounds)(sourced locally)
Brand New Condenser (60 pounds)(sourced locally)

Problem is that I can't think of what else do I need?!?!?

Any tips???

Going by Mr Woods post a Wiring loom

But I have been looking at my car and without taking it apart cant really see the differance in the loom

Where the compressor plugs in might be the give away though just not had a good look yet

Chris

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Mk1b *5, White Coupe Jan90 114k, Mica Blue T-Bar April90 90k, Mica Blue Jan90 78k Factory Aircon, Gunmetal grey T-bar 88 103k,
Breaking Mk1b,T-bar (red/pink/rust) 88. 5 mk1's