damian
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Post by damian on Oct 13, 2012 18:52:15 GMT 2
Hi all,
I have asked some questions on aircon in a previos thread, but just want to get a better idea as to whether it is a good idea or not.
Has anyone here fitted an aircon unit into a Niva? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
I chatted to Ventz, and he does have stock of some second hand units. - He is also awesomely helpful which is great.
I also chatted to a supplier in Pinetown (I have forgotten his name) and he said he has units available for less than half the price of those from Ventz. Though he said that they aren't worth it and don't work.
I am curious to find out if maybe there are two different types of aircon units, hence the big price difference and considering the pinetown guy said the ones he stocks don't work that well.
Any thoughts/insight would be great.
Thanks,
D
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Oct 13, 2012 19:04:20 GMT 2
Hi Damian
As far as I know, all the NIVAs imported were without aircons. The importers or reselling service providers fitted aftermarket units. Ronnie did an extensive write -up on his aircon that he fitted.
Spikes
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Post by Charles on Oct 13, 2012 19:19:18 GMT 2
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Post by ronnie on Oct 13, 2012 19:27:53 GMT 2
Hi Spikes
You are correct the Air Cons were all after market ones.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Oct 13, 2012 19:38:07 GMT 2
Hi Damian
There are 2 manufacturers of vehicle air con systems in SA and both should be equal. The one I had (supplier is in Pinetown) produced enough freezing cold air to make the Niva like a fridge inside. If you read through the thread Spikes has directed you to I expect you will find the suppliers name there. I spoke to them in recent times and the Niva kits are long out of production and are no longer available.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Oct 13, 2012 19:45:23 GMT 2
Hi Damian
Just noticed you did mention Pinetown. Ventz was I think looking for about R6000 for a complete system and there is no one any where that can supply a complete kit at half of this price. You will not buy a kit for under R14000 so what they are selling I do not know. I had a very similar system in a Nissan 1400 LDV and it also was like an ice box.
Ronnie
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damian
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Post by damian on Oct 13, 2012 20:36:47 GMT 2
Thanks to everyone for their replies. I will read through that thread now.
Ronnie, I did think it was odd when I chatted to the guy in Pinetown. He said the kits he was selling were R2000 - Sounded very odd indeed. He did say that the wouldn't recommend it because they don't work well. I wonder what that is about.
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Post by Charles on Oct 13, 2012 21:25:59 GMT 2
I think they are talking about that evaporative system that was sold by cool a car. In short they are rubbish. Go for a system from Ventz.
Charles
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damian
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Post by damian on Oct 13, 2012 23:01:50 GMT 2
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Post by ronnie on Oct 14, 2012 0:03:59 GMT 2
Hi Damian
Yes it would work. You would still need to fabricate mounting brackets and drive pulley. The ones used in SA had a double pulley on the compressor and used 2 belts. the crank drives the water pump and the compressor and the compressor drives the alternator with the second belt. You would need to make sure the evaporator would fit in the available space.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Oct 14, 2012 0:06:31 GMT 2
Hi Charles
I thought they stopped selling that system a long time ago.
Ronnie
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damian
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Post by damian on Oct 14, 2012 0:15:11 GMT 2
Thank you Ronnie.. I will do some investigating.
D
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Post by Charles on Oct 14, 2012 13:32:54 GMT 2
Ronnie they did but there is still some of them turning up here and there.
Charles
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Riaan
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Post by Riaan on Oct 15, 2012 9:02:23 GMT 2
Hey guys, sorry for this noob question, but how does the aircon get connected? Is aircons designed to work with a specific engine or what?
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Oct 15, 2012 9:18:10 GMT 2
Hi Riaan
An aircon should be matched to an engine's output, other than that the only proviso is that space is available to mount the aircon compressor pump and drive it of the crankshaft pulley. The air conditioning unit also has a radiator like section that should be paced in optimal airflow.The whole unit is under pressure containing freezer gas. Pipes connect the whole lot together and to the interior unit which in the case of the NIVA here in SA hangs down under the dash.
Spikes
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Oct 15, 2012 9:21:01 GMT 2
You will also need an idle up soleniod to boost the rpm when at idle, or it will want to stall.
Ari
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Post by ronnie on Oct 15, 2012 9:35:09 GMT 2
Hi Ari
If the motor is in good condition and the idle is set for about 850rpm it will be OK. I do agree an idle up solenoid is preferable but was not part of the original kit in SA.
Ronnie
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Riaan
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Post by Riaan on Oct 15, 2012 10:26:05 GMT 2
Thank you Spikes. It makes much more sense to me now
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Oct 15, 2012 10:28:37 GMT 2
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Post by ronnie on Oct 17, 2012 18:25:24 GMT 2
Hi Damian I have found a pic of the after market air con evaporator fitted on the passenger side. They may all not have the same air vents as these ones are not the original. Ronnie
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damian
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Post by damian on Oct 17, 2012 20:02:42 GMT 2
Thanks Ronnie! I was wondering what it would look like. Much appreciated.
I was wondering this but was debating whether to ask as it might be a rather daft question. Is there no way to route the aircon through the existing vents in the lada rather than using extra vents just on the passenger side?
Thanks!
D
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Post by ronnie on Oct 18, 2012 9:54:27 GMT 2
Hi Damian
When it was new there was an extension to the housing you see that positioned the air vents just in front of the gear levers. The flow of air was very restricted like that so I modified it the way you see it now. I think if you could manage to fit flexible pipe work behind the dash to utilize the existing vents you would have the same problem. Because it is now blowing straight out of the evaporator the air can easily reach the drivers door window and it will freeze your hand on the wheel.
Ronnie
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damian
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Post by damian on Oct 18, 2012 10:35:09 GMT 2
Thanks again Ronnie.. No idea what I would do without Locsa.
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