LUVTruck.com

I wa strying to find parts for my Luv AC and I came across this site for kits. ackits.com the kit for an Isuzu pickup is $648.20. It would be cheaper than replacing all the factory hardware and be compliant with 134a.

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1980 4X4 LUV

maybe its just me but i dont think ac is realy worth it in one of these trucks. It would suck too much power and kill milage, a 1.8 dosent exactly have power to spare.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

i had factory AC in my 80. and unless you was driving downhill with a good strong tailwind you couldnt really use it

worked good tho, would freeze your ass out.

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I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

some of the newer compressors are more efficent so they won`t pull as much power. i think it was a nissan i had the factory said it took 3hp to run it. you might call the company and see if they know how many hp it takes to run it.

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

I guess it all kind of depends on where you live. I imagine racelife would be much more inclined to lose a few hp for AC being in Arizona. However, MEPR living in Washington means AC is a waste for a bigger part of the year. I can only imagine what Husker4eva would trade for AC in a rig to drive around over there amongst the camels.

Here in Oregon there are about 4 or 5 months out of the year that you'd want AC, if that even. For those few months I think I'd trade the HP if the rig were my daily driver. I've been thinking about it for my Trooper now that I've had it driving around in hotter weather, but there I have a 2.3L to spare a couple of HP, but even $600-700 isn't cheap just to be a little cooler.

The Isuzu truck kit probably wouldn't fit directly on a LUV. The heater setup inside the cab is substantially different, but maybe they could substitute a factory style LUV evaporator into the kit for trucks that already have defunct AC. You might also bring up the idea of a LUV kit to them and see where it goes. Seems like interest in making parts for them is starting to come back a bit these days.

Actually, if you still have all of the original equipment on the truck (condensor, evaporator, etc) all you would need is another compressor and some custom lines to go from the new compressor to the firewall and evaporator (radiator thingy in the front grille). I'm running R-420 in my system right now and it cools fine. This with all original equipment. There really isnt a need to change out every piece of hardware.

The compressor and maybe the accumulator/drier are about the only parts that really care what type of coolant you are using. The only issue I'd have with reusing stock parts would be making sure they are completely cleaned out and of course leak free. Everything I read about this stuff says the different variants are not very tolerant of each other, so a little bit left behind could spell trouble.

I thought the part in the front was the condensor and the evap was in the cab. Freon phase changes to gas in the evap causing a cooling effect, and condenses back to liquid in the condensor giving off heat. I never was that up on phase change cooling system tech though.

Yeah i cant remember which they are called either. Either way, the original LUV systems are made with a pressure fitting, no O-rings. Getting a custom hose made for my truck was about $25 and was done in an afternoon. I have the convenience of having a friend and neighbor that works for FOX AC service, so it was nothing for me to get my system pumped down. But cost doesnt really matter here, you can get any Jiffy Lube to convert your existing R12 system to R135a for about $100. I have found that R135a and R420 (freon used in home and office units) works well as long has you have RPMs or you are moving. While sitting at idle for a while at lights or in traffic it does not cool as well because the 'thingy in the front" (condensor?) is pretty small on our trucks.

Guess what I am trying to say here is, if you have parts that need replacing, yes you need to buy new parts. But dont go and buy a $600+ kit to replace the whole system JUST because you want to switch to R135a. All you absolutely NEED to do is get the system pumped down and leak checked, then put in the R135a. If you absolutely cannot tolerate a few degrees warmer at stop lights, you may look into getting a bigger condensor. The R135a wont eat or corrode your ac system. If you are missing parts are have no ac at all, or your parts have been sitting out open (not capped off), then yes at this point I would look at the $600+ system.

The new freon is R-134a. The condensor is located up front with the radiator and the evaporator is in the cab dashboard or in an enclosed box under the hood. If you are converting from an old R-12 system to a new R-134a system you will want to change the orifice(metering device), the o-rings, and the refrigerant oil. I also would recommend to replace the accumulator. Some oils are not compatible with R-134a freon. Its always best to do a "triple evacuation" of the system components. This involves vacuuming and presurizing the system three times. I use compressed nitrogen to pressurize my systems. Be sure not to exceed the maximum pressure ratings for the system. There is also a drop-in replacement called "Hot Shot" for older R-12 vehicles. The newer lubricants have a UV dye in them. If you have a leak it will show under a UV light. I work in the A/C business in Florida. Its a field that will never go out of business unless the next ice age happens to come along. (I doubt that!) If I can offer any help you can contact me anytime.
Joe

brassman@bellsouth.net

A/C in the ice age just means turning the setup around. Then you really can be cooling off the whole neighborhood just like your dad complained about when you were young and didn't shut the door.

I am checking on air parts for mine also. I am very limited on space and looking at putting the evaporater core and box in the bed,and coming in between the seats with the vents. I have also seen condensers mounted in remote locations but you MUST have a electric fan. Original VW bugs were done this way. I can run the vents through the center and build a console or something. It will be a next year project but I am looking at every little Import in search of a good compact evaporater box. Hoses are not a problem Thermo King can make them here,and most places that work on big truck air conditioners are able to make hoses.
Compressor,brackets,and drier I will buy new condenser and evap.core might be used but I can flush them and go from there.

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stripped and just a memory!

Yeah when are they gonna put AC in the friggin Humvees?????
Yeah what I wouldnt give for some nice AC in a vehicle you would think driving down the road at 70 miles an hour it would feel a little cooler but HELL no it's just as friggin hot!!

lol just to give you an idea it was 132 today
and I thought Texas and Arizona were hot!!!!
Later
Husker

see the problem with putting air into a humvee is......we wouldnt get outta the damn things

i see it going something like this:

Capt.- "soldier, get your ass out here and give us a hand!"

Pvt.- "fuck you sir" *rolls up window*

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I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

If Husker was an 88M driving a M915A4 he would have AC as I did for the last six months. But when it was ot for a f days I did fel his pain or heat as te case may be.

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the kit. It works just fine. Took alittle work to get it to fit, but looks like factory. The evaporator box is fairly small inside the truck. It takes up less room than the factory one did. As far as power loss, it is very little. ALOT less than the original compressor pulled! I am satisfied with the system. If any of you have other vehicle sthat you want to add air to, these kits are about HALF the price of vitage air kits.

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1980 4X4 LUV

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the kit. It works just fine. Took alittle work to get it to fit, but looks like factory. The evaporator box is fairly small inside the truck. It takes up less room than the factory one did. As far as power loss, it is very little. ALOT less than the original compressor pulled! I am satisfied with the system. If any of you have other vehicle sthat you want to add air to, these kits are about HALF the price of vintage air kits.

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1980 4X4 LUV

Congrats on the A/C Rick. What kind of modifications did you have to make? You said it "took a bit" to make it fit... what exactly did that entail? Fabricating mounts, moving things? Would really appreciate it!

have BIG hammer and full tanks on the gas wrench... I can make anything fit anything ..... LOL


Spanky

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if you aint skeered just a little bit THEN YOU AINT GOING AS FAST AS YOU SHOULD BE!!!!

GOTTA GET A NEW LUV!!!!!!!!!

what kind of compressors did the luvs come with or Rick, what kind of compressor did your new kit come with, a saden or york, or something else???

Where does the compressors mount to on the block? Anyone have links to pics or have some pics they can e-mail??

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I TOOK UR MOM DRAGGIN LAST NIGHT
Bagged 84 Pup
Bagged 53 F100
stock 72 Citroen DS19