Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:55:09 -0700
Reply-To: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Subject: Re: Aftermarket Air Conditioning
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Blake,
Long story short ... I installed a europeancollerair unit and after burning
thru three compressors, gave up.
http://www.europeancoolerair.com/
Jerry West is the owner of this one person business run out of his home in
Texas.
I would not recommend this company.
good road,
good adventure,
good life,
larry chase
www.roadhaus.com
- - -
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:43:37 -0800
From: Blake Heinlein <blakeheinlein@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Aftermarket Air Conditioning
Hi everyone,
I know this may seem very out of season but I've started planning for next
summer.
I have an 84 Westy and I'm looking at installing aftermarket indash air
conditioning in it. I currently have none. I want to have cold air blowing
on the driver and passenger not to worried about the temperature in the back
of the van.
I've been looking at complete new systems from both of the companies below
and prices are ranging from $1000 to $1500 for all of the parts without
labor to install. I'm planning on installing it all myself and then having
the initial charge and inspection performed by a very reputable A/C repair
shop in Sacramento.
http://www.europeancoolerair.com/
http://www.vintageair.com/index.asp
Another option I have considered is scavenging a used Behr system and
installing it myself. After refurbishing everything on the Behr unit I'll
probably be up to $1000 and still have some used parts that may fail in the
future.
I know this seams like an ambitious project and many people say why not just
sell the van and buy one with air conditioning. Here is why. I bought my van
about 8 years ago, I've replaced or rebuilt every mechanical part on the van
and things have been working flawlessly over the last three years. If I got
a different van I would have to start this process all over again.
So here is my question. Has anyone on the list done this before? How was the
experience? Any pitfalls? Would you do it again? Any recommendations?
If I do this I plan to document it well and put together some web pages on
how it went to help building on the collective Vanagon knowledge.
Happy Travels!
--
Blake Heinlein
http://blakeheinlein.googlepages.com/
