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