I recently completed installing and charging a Classic Auto Air Street Rod Cooler III (fully electronic) system in my 1982 242. Grew weary of a factory system that, in my experience, was never able to keep up with hot, humid southeast summers. It's an all new HVAC system blowing through the factory dash/defrost vents. DID NOT hook up the rear floor heat ducts. No need in my climate.

I recently pulled out the Ford 5.0L V8 that had powered the car for 19 years and put in an LS3. Decided that while the motor swap was ongoing was the time to do the HVAC swap. Initial functioning is all thumbs up -- 38F air and enough of it to cause some fogging on the outside of the side window glass while idling/charging in the garage.

Not going to post details here -- but if anyone wants more info, just reach out to me here and we'll take the conversation offline via email, text, phone, etc.

Michael,

Any chance you have more pictures of the interior installation as you did it?

I need to change my R12 over to R134a and may go this route if I was able to get a little more insight into what you went through to put this into the center plastic console.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

When I get back to my laptop on Sunday I'll have easier access to a few more pics. Except for the vents in the dash, the ENTIRE Volvo hvac unit comes out - everything under the dash, hoses, compressor, condenser, drier, controls. The kit replaces everything and it all has to be fab'd into place. Nothing complex - just time consuming. If your powerplant is the stock Volvo unit you'll have to mount the Sanden compressor.
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit; '16 Subie X-Trek

Wow, what a beast!

Congrats on your win at Eurofest!!
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.

Thanks Art - but only 3 cars in class; and a 240 is usually a sentimental favorite over the C70 and T5R wagon just because of age.

The compressor is probably a Sanden 4664 available on EBay for as low as $155. Don't know if it is superior to the OEM, but may be.

Anyone try it with the rest of the 240 A/C guts?
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb, M46 trans, 3:31 dif, in Brampton, Ont.

Oh....also occurs to me that contemporary condensers are MUCH more effective than the old aluminum fin-tube units from 30 years ago. Gotta think similar improvements have been made on the evap side --- all of which points to a lot more heat exchange capability with similar sized (or even smaller) components.

Sanden 508 came with the kit. I don't think the newer/more efficient compressor solves the biggest issue. I think the biggest problem is that the OEM evap/fan set up just doesn't have near enough capacity (on the early 240's) to deal with the load we see in the SE US. My Volvo "guts" were run on a 5.0L Mustang compressor for 17-18 years. It wasn't any better than the Volvo set up. And when converted to 134a it got even worse.

But -- not a problem with keeping the interior cool any longer!

Weird double post....

....and the test drive today was a raving success. Record highs (87F) gave it a little test. Fact is, I never had it anything but the lowest fan setting -- and after 10 minutes or so I had to blend in some heat, the cold was running me out of the car. Seems this new unit will make it like Sweden INSIDE the car. Finally.

This has to be a first, at least in this forum.

One carefully composed picture could save you a thousand words. Welcome on a hot day in October!


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Art Benstein near Baltimore

If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?

I have seen readings in my 88 like the second picture but it was 30 degrees outside.
I love my 240s but the AC is just too week.

Hawk

If you're willing to invest the $/time -- the problem is solvable.