What is the smallest least power hungry a/c compressor I'm likely to find at PnP?
I'm wanting to fit a/c to a car that didn't get it from the factory. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find evaporator and controls, but I was hopingin the nearly 30 years after this car came out there is a better option for the compressor itself.
With less than 90 HP, power is a premium. It won't take much to cool the tiny cockpit though.
The Sanden compressors are the standard for the aftermarket. I am pretty sure they are common on production cars. You might want to look up the specs on the various models because there are different sizes. Bonus is that they will run in either direction! Good for those of us with goofy turning engines, or engines that point in the wrong direction.
I've got a Sanden off of an '89 Civic that has very few miles on it - less than 10K. I replaced it with a new part at the dealer, less than a year before I pulled the car off the street and converted it to full-race. $250 +S/H if you're interested.
do you need to get a different compressor for R12 or R134 ?
1996 to 2000 Honda Civic compressors and condensers are the smallest I've seen and I have a compressor and condenser from a 1998 Civic EX that I'm planning to use on one of my Z cars.
Pay for a pulley and new belt for my 94 Golf and you can have the the entire underhood a/c system from it, or as much of it as you want.
jamscal -at- bellsouth -dot- net
Can these Sanden units work with R12? I'd like a new, lighter, more efficient AC compressor. I keep buying factory ones and they don't last long. When they wear out, it makes people think I have a supercharger though :P
The Sanden on my Esprit is an R12 unit. From my understanding, the current replacement Sandens are designated R134a/R12. I'm still battling a leak somewhere.
