Thread: RRC '86 aircon retrofit

Seeing that the entire dash is different it would be a massive job. Possible? No doubt it is but it wouldn't be easy. Just for starters the D1 has the heater pipes exit the firewall on the other side of the engine. In Australia an '86 RRC air conditioner is basically a separate under dash unit fitted next to the heater sharing some of the controls but little else.

Originally Posted by sierrafery

Hi all, i'm asking to help a friend, is it possible to retrofit a D1 300Tdi aircon system to a RRC from '86 which was without it? the main issue is if the heater matrix must be replaced or the evaporator can be addapted to it somehow.... any tips will be gratefully received

Anythings possible but i would need a very good reason to contemplate such a task .


The D1 system is the same as or near enough to a Soft Dash ( though SD has a tap where not all D1s do ), the bits are all in the middle and like the D1 has a glovebox .

The 86RR with Air doesn`t have a glove box because of the unit position it also doesnt have a tap in any form .


If you go ahead with it it would make interesting reading what you discover .

Have a look at the 77 update thread.
Meccles is using a vintage air Gen 2 unit in his 2 door.

I think it might be easier to go this way rather than transplant - unless you were doing a complete softdash conversion.... and that has it's own interesting idiosyncrasies.

I have a beautiful intact heater matrix. Sitting in a box given to me by the previous owner.

I downloaded some instructions on refitting it. They began with 'First remove front doors for easier access'...

I decided I'll just keep a jacket in the car :-)

But yes, the A/C unit is separate and sits in the lower dash in front of the passenger. Thankfully that still works (ish).

Originally Posted by Classic88

I have a beautiful intact heater matrix. Sitting in a box given to me by the previous owner.

I downloaded some instructions on refitting it. They began with 'First remove front doors for easier access'...

I decided I'll just keep a jacket in the car :-)

But yes, the A/C unit is separate and sits in the lower dash in front of the passenger. Thankfully that still works (ish).

I've done a couple now, not as hard as all that but definitely loads of screws and electrical plugs to remember the placement of. Luckily I had a wreck to practice on so it didn't matter if I broke a bracket somewhere on the test run.

Well I live in Sydney so the heater might be useful in three mornings a year. Plenty of heat soak from the transmission tunnel once you get going.