T4 Air Con Retro Fit - Sydney?

[GypsyWannabe]

Hi all,

If/when I can find a 2nd-hand air con unit for my 1994 T4, can anybody recommend a good installer in Sydney? My T4 doesn't have air... my wife would like it to, if she is going to travel around with me (it kinda puts me in two minds, you know.... ).

I guess it is fairly expensive to fit...???

If anyone has any leads on a 2nd-hand unit, I would greatly appreciate it?

Thanks,

Baz

[brad]

I used to fit new AC systems (mainly Toyotas but some Range Rovers & other stuff too) when I was on the tools.

I had a few customers that brought in 2nd hand units to fit to their old dungers. Generally, they missed a few bits of wiring or special bolts or brackets (because the wreckers didn't do the job properly I guess). These missing parts added greatly to the cost & time required & made for a sub-standard installation.

As an indicator, it used to take me 45 minutes & cost $950 to fit AC to an SV21 Camry. A similar attempt with 2nd hand components on an RT104 Corona took 2 days & I charged them $500 (the parts cost them $150), it was a POS & there was no warranty. They could have had a brand new aftermarket unit with warranty done for a few hundred more.

My advice is to ring around a few AC places & see if an aftermarket unit is available.

I know nothing about T4s - are they a van or a bus type thing? If it's a van, then get a vinyl curtain (or similar partition) between the cab & the cargo area. It will be more efficient. If it's a bus then get dual air.

[GypsyWannabe]

Thanks Brad,

My T4 is a bus (Transporter with Caravelle windows). Sounds like dual air is the way to go, even though I rarely carry passengers in the back. I'll try ringing a few installers. I'm figuring it's going to cost around $2k all up.

Still open to suggestions on reputable installers or sources of units (I saw that a new in box unit was listed on eBay a few months ago for $700 and didn't sell).

Thanks,

Baz

[rob64981]

Can you keep me posted on what you find please?

My father in law might bring his T4 camper out if he gets a visa to stay with us and will have the same problem as you.

Thanks Rob

[GypsyWannabe]

Can you keep me posted on what you find please?

My father in law might bring his T4 camper out if he gets a visa to stay with us and will have the same problem as you.

Thanks Rob

Will do, Rob. I haven't discovered anything yet. However, I am beginning to suspect that it may make more sense to just buy another bus with air and not throw too much $$$ into this one. We'll see.

Baz

[brad]

Welcome to VASA « VASA

car air conditioning sydney

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About us

I worked for
Car Repairs Motor Mechanic Auto Air conditioning Car Batteries Carinbah Cronulla Taren Point Shutherland Kirrawie Sylvania Waters Miranda
for a few months when I did my apprenticeship. He specialised in aftermarket AC back then. I doubt Bob is still there (he would have died of stress by now as he was an angry little man) but they might be able to point you in the right direction.

[brad]

Welcome to VASA « VASA

car air conditioning sydney

Auto Air Conditioning Repair and Installation Directory

Air Conditioning - 31 websites listed

About us

I worked for
Car Repairs Motor Mechanic Auto Air conditioning Car Batteries Carinbah Cronulla Taren Point Shutherland Kirrawie Sylvania Waters Miranda
for a few months when I did my apprenticeship. He specialised in aftermarket AC back then. I doubt Bob is still there (he would have died of stress by now as he was an angry little man) but they might be able to point you in the right direction.

[GypsyWannabe]

So, after a bit of ringing around, I got onto Autofrost at Milperra (Sydney). $2475 and that will only cool the cabin. To get a dual zone unit, over $4000.

Looks like I'll be fitting one or two of those little blue fans, like I had in my old Kombi! lol Any ideas on the best place to mount them?

Cheers,

Baz

[brad]

$2.5k is pretty reasonable if it includes a modern compressor & has a good cooling capacity. $4k is OK as well as you are effectively buying 70% of another AC unit & the compressor has to be bigger as well (plus the custom ducting).

How much did you think it would cost? back in the '80s when i was doing them, single air in a HiAce was about 4 weeks mechanics wages; dual air in a Tarago was almost 7 weeks wages. The prices you've given bring it back to about 1.5 weeks & 4 weeks.

I guess it hinges on how good your current bus is & how much better you could buy (with AC included) for an extra $4k.

The other thing you might look at is how to keep your van cooler - better insulation, better ventilation when parked, maybe fit a safari roof or even just have an esky in the car with a few big blocks of ice in it.

Have you looked at rooftop mounts?
google "roof mount airconditioner van" the only issue is that most of them are 240V but you might get around that with an inverter.

[Bug_racer]

I have most of a T4 2.5l air stashed away at my fathers house . Give me a few days to see whats in the kit and what needs to be bought . I know that the earlier 2.5l had a different pulley layout than the later ones so you need to take this into account ! The factory Caravelles had a completely different system to the Transporters as well ! Later Kombi's had the a/c fitted here like the transporters .

[GypsyWannabe]

$2.5k is pretty reasonable if it includes a modern compressor & has a good cooling capacity. $4k is OK as well as you are effectively buying 70% of another AC unit & the compressor has to be bigger as well (plus the custom ducting).

How much did you think it would cost? back in the '80s when i was doing them, single air in a HiAce was about 4 weeks mechanics wages; dual air in a Tarago was almost 7 weeks wages. The prices you've given bring it back to about 1.5 weeks & 4 weeks.

I guess it hinges on how good your current bus is & how much better you could buy (with AC included) for an extra $4k.

The other thing you might look at is how to keep your van cooler - better insulation, better ventilation when parked, maybe fit a safari roof or even just have an esky in the car with a few big blocks of ice in it.

Have you looked at rooftop mounts?
google "roof mount airconditioner van" the only issue is that most of them are 240V but you might get around that with an inverter.

Brad,

I had thought it would cost around $3000 and wasn't going to bother until someone told me it might cost less than I thought! After hearing what's involved, I think $2.5k and $4k is reasonable but I'm wary of overcapitalising in my van. If it was top-notch all round and all I needed to add was air, it wouldn't worry me but the body is knocked around and it might make more sense to upgrade to a later model with air later. My last van was a bay, so not having air is nothing new! Might have to put one of those 12v fans in, like I had in the bay!

The only other option is finding an installer who will fit a 2nd hand unit.

Cheers,

Baz

[GypsyWannabe]

I have most of a T4 2.5l air stashed away at my fathers house . Give me a few days to see whats in the kit and what needs to be bought . I know that the earlier 2.5l had a different pulley layout than the later ones so you need to take this into account ! The factory Caravelles had a completely different system to the Transporters as well ! Later Kombi's had the a/c fitted here like the transporters .

Thanks Bug-racer! I'll also talk to Brookvale Spares when I get around to it and see what they have and if they know anyone who coudl install it.

Baz