Thread: Defender air con conversion

I am also trying to put in a 2000 underdash unit into my 85 LR Izusu project.
The condenser that comes in the kit is not a straight forward fit so used the condensor and fans from an early county.
I have a compressor bracket on the engine block and will purchase a ? Sanden compressor later, again the compressor in the Td5 kit wont mate up.
The underdash unit looks like a straight forward fit only I am still looking for a Defender Firewall from a wrecker so that I can measure where the holes need to be drilled to take the 4 bolts holding the plate and the hole for the gas pipes. If I dont find one soon I will just have to take some guestamations and wing it.
The relays are already in the kit. I have looked at the wire diagram for the Isuzu LR and the Td5 and have I think worked that through. I could forward that later (it is in the garage somewhere and will need to find it).
I wasnt going to do anymore on this project till after the 60th at Cooma hoping that there may be some more parts down there.
Please keep in touch with this as it would also help me.
Cheers,
David

G'day Dave,
Finally, someone how knows what I'm going through.

What I've discovered so far...
The KIT
I got the kit from Range Parts company in Sydney. Very helpfull people. It was brand new but didn't have fitting instructions. If I knew who manufactured them I'd write off and get the instructions sent to me. I get the impression it's made here in AUS. Anyone know??

Condenser
Yes, it's not fitting. I have a second condenser I bought years ago to replace the origional County one (origionally I was intending to fix the county aircon, then I found out it's reputation), but was unsure if it needs to be matched to the system. The 2nd condenser is bigger than the one supplied in the kit.

Compressor
Too much trouble using the TD5 one, wrong pully and engine mounts. I've discovered one that should fit the existing 4BD1 mounts. part no. CM7863. $310 from Ashdown Ingrahms in Perth.

Relay
I've got the relay (2 mounted together) in the kit but was wondering where it's suposed to be mounted.

Low pressure switch
Do you know where this is mounted? They're normally mounted between the condenser and the evaporator but I can't find a fitting for it??? I get the feeling I'm missing a pipe and that's where the switch would go. What we need is photo's from a kind soul with a 2000 Defender

Firewall and vents
I've been getting the bits for the vent's and dash from Triumph Rover Spares in SA. They're good but keep forgetting to send everything that was asked and paid for. To their credit they send the missing parts at their cost and you get what you ask for eventually. I ordered a complete dash and firewall vents last Mon, but only the vents and centre trim section arrived. I'll deal with that tomorrow.

I'll keep you up to date as I discover more.
Col

I also have the same kit. My 110 has a 300tdi firewall as the last one was badly rusted. From memory it has a plate on the pass side with a center hold and four holes around it.

I was told the pully wheel on TD5 Sanden compressor could be changed.

I dont have the pully/mounting brackets for the 4BD1.

Watching with interest.

Hi are you changing the heater box as well?

Originally Posted by yt110

Hi are you changing the heater box as well?

Yep, the County A/C is integrated with the heater and I wanted more room in the engine bay for a turbo. I've taken that out and welded up the recirculation hole in the firewall. Unfortunately, I’ve lost the option to have the heater on recirculate now as it’s not possible with the defender set-up. I had to replace the ducting as well, as none of the County equipment will fit the defender heater. Even the controls for the dash demist and foot vents has to be replaced as the county is vacuum controlled and the defender is cable controlled.

...And because I’m an idiot, I’m also retro fitting the firewall vents while I’ve got the dash out.

Hi again I have just finished that same conversion,a couple of exrta things I did was to replace the w/wiper pivots, fitted (2) later model double washer jets through the holes the old single ones used to be,so I have 4 jets,I kept the heater as far as I could to the left of the hole in the fire wall so theres plenty of clearance for the air filter, I used a defender heater, the outlets are bigger than the county heater pipes so I used 2 bypass hoses for a ford 289 I think it was to adapt the heater they L shape stepped hoses 2 joiners and they line up good.Did you get the plastic baffle that fits in between the air duct and the heater fan ? it looks like a top hat with the top cut out,its supposed to help keep rain/deep creeks etc. out of the heater fan.I also poked some sealant in the gaps in the fire wall were the heater hole is between the lower dash,fire wall and heater so the air blows into the lower dash better. I also replaced the black tin bit that runs the length of the dash and had been chopped up to fit the original a/c vents.It all fitted ok.I tested it all on the weekend and it great having air flow in the cab,the old a/c unit is in a heap on the shed floor and is working about the same as it every did. Good luck jim.

Hey Defenderbilly, do you still have that isuzu AC mount that wasn't mounted on a car? If you do i may be able to get some more made...

Andy

Originally Posted by andrew e

Hey Defenderbilly, do you still have that isuzu AC mount that wasn't mounted on a car? If you do i may be able to get some more made...

Andy

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