Beetle Air Conditioning with Type 4 Engine

Hello,

I'm working on putting parts together for an engine swap. My roommate has a '76 van with a 2.0L fuel-injected type IV engine that doesn't run (believed to be fuel injection related), and I've got a good running 1600cc Mexican replacement engine in a '74 Std Beetle I recently bought. I want a type IV in the Beetle for better highway cruising, and he just wants an engine that runs and which he can work on. I've found a few old threads about 1600's in mid-seventies vans and it sounds pretty straightforward, and I have Joe Cali's manual for putting the type IV into the Bug.

One complication is that the Bug has what looks like original dealer- installed air conditioning that I want to keep running. Here in south Mississippi that makes a car much more usable. It's got a newer looking Sanden SD-507 compressor (two pulleys), but the rest of the system looks original. The condensor is mounted on the front beam in the passenger side wheel-well, and the evaporator fits close against the bottom of the dash and resembles pictures I've seen of original units. Anyway, it has refrigerant (R-12 I believe, will convert to R-134a) in it and looks like it might work if I could get a belt on it. The mounting bracket is tack welded to the fan shroud, but I believe the welds could be ground off and the bracket removed.

Could the bracket be attached to a DTM shroud? I assume this issue has come up before, but seaching on the subject is difficult ("air" and "ac" bad keywords). The other alternatives I'm considering are the Sharpbuilt (where I'd probably purchase a new 36hp-style shroud and mount the bracket to that) or the Joe Cali homebuild conversion (similar setup).

Any links with more info or advice?

Thanks, Harry Smith

Reply to
Harry Smith
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Hi Harry,

I don't think you can attach brackets to the DTM shroud. It's made out of fiberglass and will not be able to support compressor. You would need to fabricate new brackets that will attach to the case. I also thought of making a homebuilt shroud from a 36hp style, but it will not provide adequate cooling for type 4 as the cylinder offset on the t4 is bigger than on t1 where 3rd cylinder already has issues with cooling. Either way none of the shrouds will provide adequate support for mounting compressor. has to be tied to to the case. I am not sure if there is enough clearance between crank pulley and case to utilize studs on the back of the engine, Also those are only 8mm and might not be strong enough....

check on shoptalkforums.com and forums.aircooledtechnology.com maybe somebody has gone through this mod before...

Hope this helps, Anton

Anton

Reply to
anton

Hi Anton,

I left out a few pieces when I described the mount. There is a bracket bolted/welded to the fan shroud with a brace coming off to the forward alternator stand bolts, and a bracket on the rear of the compressor connecting it to the fuel pump bolts with provisions for adjusting belt tension. It looks like it would work with some slight tweeking, except the engine has a single belt pulley that does not line up with the A/C pulley. I believe it was not fully reinstalled when the new engine was put in.

Anyway, hopefully you can picture that a little better now. In breaking news, I went by an A/C shop today to get the system evacuated of R-12, and they put some guagues on and found it only had about 15 psi in the system and the compressor sounded a little creaky inside. At least it doesn't have any major leaks, even if the compressor does need a rebuild.

Peace, Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith

Hmm...well, on a slightly different tack, what about the crank pulley? I'd like to go with a single-belt serpentine system, and as it looks like putting a pulley on the type IV crank is a bit of a custom job anyway. My thought is to just go junkyarding. Any thoughts?

Peace, Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith

Hmm...well, on a slightly different tack, what about the crank pulley? I'd like to go with a single-belt serpentine system, and as it looks like putting a pulley on the type IV crank is a bit of a custom job anyway. My thought is to just go junkyarding. Any thoughts?

Peace, Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith

Hi Harry,

if you go with serpentine system via junk yarding, how would you find correct length belt? anyway, you can get pulley for conversion for type4 store, but as far as getting second pulley on it, back to square one, fabrication. Try one of the forums i mentioned in the previous post, I am sure you will get quite a few inputs. The thing is, getting compressor mounted correctly would be important, since you would not want any snafus and causing damage to the engine especially type 4, those are pretty pricey to repair.

All the best, Ant> >

Reply to
anton

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