Fitting air

[pomontour]

Hi all, first post. Great info on here has helped a number of decisions and i have gone for a 1995 defender. I am trying to find out the best (easiest, cheapest, quickest) way to get air fitted in the Melbourne area.

I am sure it is not too uncommon a practice but i am not having any luck. Are there people around that sell and fit used air units? Thanks

[Michael2]

Air Conditioning or Compressed Air?

[worraps]

or air bags for the rear more info would make answering so much easier :D

[Blknight.aus]

fitting air to the landie is an automatic thing, the air will leak past all of the door seals and in through the windows...



depending on what type of airconditioning you want you could try one of the roof mounted camper type ones from a caravan specialist and Ive seen some pure 12(maybe 24v) ones on truck sleeper cabs... so a specialist truck fit place might also be able to help.

[pomontour]

Thanks for the replies and i see i failed to clarify that it is air conditioning i am after. The vehicle is for a trip next month to Darwin from Melbourne and then round the west coast over a few months. Not the best time to go but my only time of shore leave and i am sure AC will be required.

I am not capable of installing it myself so i do need to take it to someone in Melbourne/Vic that could do it all. I was wondering if there was an alternative to getting used Defender air con that would fit in the required spaces, or at least a company that would be able think outside the LR square and come up with something.

Any suggestions much appreicated.:)

A

[JDNSW]

Have you tried airconditioning specialists?

Failing this, give a call to Fred Smith Automotive in Wantirna - I don't think he does airconditioning, but he would certainly know who can do a Defender.

The problem is that fifteen years ago there were a lot of cars being fitted with airconditioning, but now most come from the factory that way, so it is a lot smaller market. The place to look for would be an airconditioning specialist who does agricultural machinery, but Melbourne is hardly the place for that, although there should be some round the periphery, places such as Cranbourne, Werribee, that sort of place, maybe Geelong.

John

[pomontour]

Thanks John. I have been ringing a wide range of places today and it does not look good. One quote is $3k for a new TD5 one being put in and others have just said no way...

I was going to have it installed on a $14k 95 Def and i think any cost above $2k would make it a silly purchase. Maybe i am wrong. What year do Defenders start having them in as standard, as that may help the search, or has it always been optional?

Thanks again
A

[abaddonxi]

Check out these threads.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/victoria/33760-air-conditioning-bayswater.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/39758-county-aircon.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/21182-aftermarket-air-con-unit-fitted-w-pics.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/58456-defender-air-con-cost-avalbility.html

Cheers
Simon

[Slunnie]

I was looking at a similar thing for a series... will a Defender unit go into it? I just wonder as they look like they attatch to underneath the dash and duct across it.

[Michael2]

Already noted in the above link, but my first call would be to KSR in Bayswater, do it now because as soon as it warms up they get too booked up with regular AC stuff they don't have time for projects.

They also told me that if I brought my Defender in (300Tdi) over the winter, they could spend a day with it and sort me out a Bosch alternator. I haven't done it yet, but if you're getting the AC done there, may as well get a universal Bosch alternator fitted and then let us know what they used. Tell them to make a note of it, because as soon as they do one, they'll be doing more.

[MacFamily]

I never relised aircon was a option in a defender I thought it was just standard mines a 94 model and has it not that they are the best.

They are a big car to keep cool Ive been thinking of putting some perspex across my cargo barrier to keep the cool air in passenger area then maybe the a/c dosent have to work as hard.

Maybe you could find one a wrecking yard chep and get someone to install it.

Goodluck Azza

[Corgie Carrier]

Lots of work plumbing in the A/C.

You could always try one of the Viesa evaporative coolers like they use in trucks. I had one in my truck and they are great.

Check this out

Viesa (http://www.darylrobertsonautoelectrical.com.au/viesa.htm)

Neale

[weeds]

my 95 has it fitted, i'm guessing from factory.......not the best performing air-con

[slug_burner]

Not sure that any defenders prior to the TD5 will have come with factory air. My 94 300 Tdi was fitted here in Aus by ULR, I am pretty certain that they source all their bits from Autoairspares or heatcraft try one of these;

Melbourne Metropolitan
KIRBY
Clayton 160 Wellington Road Clayton Vic 3168 (03) 9561 0199 (03) 9561 0788
Moorabbin 24 Kilpa Road Moorabbin Vic 3189 (03) 9532 2284 (03) 9532 2805
Preston 60A Albert Street Preston Vic 3072 (03) 9480 0321 (03) 9480 4086
Nunawading 30/41-49 Norcal Road Nunawading Vic 3131 (03) 9873 4155 (03) 9873 4166
Tullamarine 17 Barrie Road Tullamarine Vic 3043 (03) 9330 4222 (03) 9330 4511
West Melbourne 60-80 Adderley Street West Melbourne Vic 3003 (03) 9328 3044 (03) 9329 2037
LOVELOCKS
Notting Hill Unit 21, 45 Normanby Road Notting Hill Vic 3168 (03) 9542 0400 (03) 9542 0444
West Melbourne 142 Stanley Street West Melbourne Vic 3003 (03) 9329 0388 (03) 9329 8835

If they don't do the fitting i am sure they will know who

[ladas]

The easiest way is to get a evaporator (inside unit) for a mini bus, either new or 2nd hand.

There are always good 2nd hand compressors available - new mounting brackets/adaptors can be bought or made up to suit.

A new condenser - always recommend that.

Then when you have all the hardware fitted - by yourself - it's all easy, just take it to a local auto ac guy to do the pipe work, control wiring and charging of the refrigerant.

It would be my guess that this could be done for less than $2k.

In fact I would be able to do the pipework and the wiring for it for you cheaply.

The minibus type evaporator mounted at high level/roof level either just behind the passengers or if it has a back door, just above that. Easy to mount, just a easy metal frame that spans the roof.

The pipe work and the condensate drain can either run down the rear quarter or the centre pillar - you would need to cut a small hole in the floor, but barring that its pretty straight forward.

I posted up some pick - on a previous thread showing the type of mini bus evaporators you can get. Do a search you should be able to find it.

The condenser and the receiver drier, they fit where they should, you might have to make up a few brackets.

The fiddly bit will be getting a compressor to fit with the right pulley, and brackets. Fiddly but not hard.

[weeds]

1103.9TDI has an interesting setup on his county

[Bush65]

Lots of work plumbing in the A/C.

You could always try one of the Viesa evaporative coolers like they use in trucks. I had one in my truck and they are great.

Check this out

Viesa (http://www.darylrobertsonautoelectrical.com.au/viesa.htm)

Neale
I don't think this type would be a good choice in the humid tropics.

[pomontour]

Thanks to everyone for fantastic feedback. If i cannot get something from that wealth of info i never will! I shall let you know how i go and what the end result is...

Thanks again,

A

[slug_burner]

As someone else already pointed out, the defender is one big cavern to keep cool and limiting the volume by seperating the passenger space should help. From personal experience, when up the Kimberley on the Gibb River Road and it got to 39C the aircon in my 94 defender made very little impression. The temp inside the vehicle was about the same as outside and my passenger decided that we were no better off than having the aircon off and the windows open. I suspect that a bigger condenser may help.

[Michael2]

The AC in my '98 Defender was cool, but struggled when it got over 30.C. I took it to KSR in Bayswater and they reported it was low on gas. After a regass, it gets to 2.C at the vents on 1/2 throttle. A more powerful fan would have been a good idea though.

I must have a freaky Defender, as my wife complains the AC is freezing and the heater is a furnace. Most posts on this forum complain about the inadequacy of both .