Add air conditioning to W123? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

carlivar · #1 01-30-2009, 12:54 PM

How difficult would it be to add air conditioning to a factory non-A/C car? I am in Southern California so non-A/C can be pretty rough.

Are the holes still in the engine compartment to mount all the brackets and such? Obviously I'd have to add some dashboard components too. With auto climate control I can imagine that would be pretty complicated... or is the A/C system separate from that?

Thanks,
Carl

POS · #2 01-30-2009, 01:37 PM

I would think this is cost prohibitive, and you'd be better off with an AC car, but since I don't know the ALL components necessary to make this work, my opinion is just based on loose knowledge.

rrgrassi · #3 01-30-2009, 02:08 PM

You could find a car that same year as yours and transfer all the needed stuff. Dash removal is included in this. You may need to change wiring harneses as well. Also, you may have to add connections to the fuse panel, and you will have to add vacuum components.

If you can find a Euro car or a 240 of the same year, it would have manual controls.

It would be much easier to buy a car w/the climate control already installed and operational.

Bama1 · #4 01-30-2009, 02:19 PM

Certainly not worth my time with the complexity of such an undertaking.

However, If you are not overly concerned with a correct restoration/modification, I'm sure there are "generic" aftermarket A/C rigs that will work for this as I see them installed in custom rods ALL the time. Look here > http://www.vintageair.com/catalog.asp

I'll guess that you can find a decent driver that is already cooled for about the cost of installing into yours.

Anyone out there experienced with this either way?

bgkast · #5 01-30-2009, 03:49 PM

Most cars have factory air, so I would just try to find one that had it stock. My 240D had an aftermarket AC system in it, it was a POS.

You could also get a swamp cooler like the VW guys do:

carlivar · #6 01-30-2009, 06:38 PM

Yeah my search is narrowed to Euro imports for various reasons (mostly manual trans) which makes the selection a lot smaller. But I agree, seems like it is more hassle than it is worth. Though I might look at an aftermarket unit, if it can be installed without mangling things.

bgkast · #7 01-30-2009, 07:17 PM

You could always find a US car with a bad automatic in it and do a manual swap.

KJenkins · #8 01-30-2009, 07:28 PM

You may want to try www.iceac.com. They specialize in aftermarket ac kits for all the older german cars. Porsche, vw and mercedes. I believe they sell a kit specifically just for the 123.

hawthorne90250 · #9 01-30-2009, 07:38 PM

Hi
I am currently fixing my Father-in Laws air condition on his 300D (euro Grey market). The A/C is after market and was added in the USA.The A/C is by no means as good as the factory but easy to work on. It uses a Sanden SD508 compressor. You can also remove the Evaporator with out removing the dash. Unfortunately i have no idea what kit was used. But i am sure their are kits out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlivar

How difficult would it be to add air conditioning to a factory non-A/C car? I am in Southern California so non-A/C can be pretty rough.

Are the holes still in the engine compartment to mount all the brackets and such? Obviously I'd have to add some dashboard components too. With auto climate control I can imagine that would be pretty complicated... or is the A/C system separate from that?

Thanks,
Carl

diesel123dan · #10 01-30-2009, 07:40 PM

Wish you had seen my giveaway thread. I had all the stuff posted for free, nobody wanted it so now it's in sun valley in a scrap heap.

Mark DiSilvestro · #11 01-30-2009, 08:22 PM

I'd certainly go with a complete manual heat-AC system out of a 240D.
I got a complete manual heat-AC unit with control panel out of a '79 240D at the Virginia Beach Pick-N-Pull. It was only $12 (half-price day!) and someone had already pulled the dash, so all I had to do was unhook some wires and vacuum lines, and carry it out. Unlike most Asian vehicles, this W123 Mercedes unit doesn't look modular. Without inspecting a non-AC W123, I can't really tell if it's possible to install AC in one without exchanging the whole heat-AC unit, but it doesn't look like it.

Other considerations for adding AC are - will you need the York compressor, bracket & hose setup, as mounted on the upper right side of the engine on early W123 240D up to 1980,
or the Delco-Frigidare R4 compressor, bracket & hoses mounted low on the left-side of the engine, as used on later 240D and 300D/TD?
The York compressors are primitive and noisy, but the plumbing looks easier.
The Delco R4 compressor is smoother and more effcient, but they're not famous for durability, and the plumbing wraps around and under the engine.

ALso, will you be running R12 in the AC system, or updating/converting to R134a?

And don't forget the aux electric fan for the condenser.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Oracle12345 · #12 01-30-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJenkins

You may want to try www.iceac.com. They specialize in aftermarket ac kits for all the older german cars. Porsche, vw and mercedes. I believe they sell a kit specifically just for the 123.

dont see one for mercedes

nickofoxford · #13 01-30-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

Most cars have factory air, so I would just try to find one that had it stock. My 240D had an aftermarket AC system in it, it was a POS.

You could also get a swamp cooler like the VW guys do:

Woahhhh! what the heck does that thing do??

Jeremy5848 · #14 01-30-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickofoxford

Woahhhh! what the heck does that thing do??

It has a revolving screen/mat that is soaked with water (from an included pan); air from forward motion goes through the mat and evaporates the water, which takes energy out of the air, thus cooling it. Works great in desert heat and 5% humidity. Works less well as the humidity rises, hence the nickname "swamp cooler." Most such coolers require the user to pull a lever or otherwise move something to revolve the screen/mat and keep it soaked with water.

Obviously, the water needs to be replenished frequently – most such things are good for only an hour or two before the reservoir runs dry. OTOH, they are inexpensive and use no power from the car except for a slight reduction in fuel economy due to air resistance. I doubt that they are even made anymore due to the prevalence of a/c in most cars. The one in the photo looks like it dates from the 1950s. I may have owned one a few decades ago.

Jeremy

charmalu · #15 01-31-2009, 11:34 AM

I think it was EZRIDER280 (?) that replaced his with all manual. Beautiful car also. It can be done.

Starting from scratch. go with the manual set up from a 240D. You do have to remove the dash to make it a whole lot easier.

Check the PNP`s these cars come in from time to time. we have a 78 and a 82 with manual set up. saw them yesteday, but someone broke some of the front controls.

I pulled one last yr. just be careful removing stuff. take pictures as you go. the front controls are fradual where they are attached to the main unit. there are two pipes that go through the firewall on the pass side, and one on the drivers side. DS hung me up and I bent it

. be careful.
Don`t remember what I paid, maybe $60.00

also a good time to clean everything, especially the evaperator. gets full of all kinds of crap, dog hair etc....

I would use a parrell flow condensor, more efficient.

Go for it. Don`t let anyone talk you out of it.
Take pictures and post your progress.

Dave morisson has a good write up in the DIY section.

Charlie