2.3L ('83-'97) turbo swap AC question

[neinnein_nein]

hey guys, I'm still building a thunderbird 2.3 turbo engine to swap into my 2.0 and now comes the time when I'm wondering if I can finally have AC in my truck. the current status is a sentence on the fan shroud that says "cooling system not equipped for AC" but since I'm changing basically everything including the radiator I'm wondering if these parts and a lot of cursing will do the trick:

- the turbocoupe compressor with a new clutch I'll put on it
- ranger 2.3 accumulator
- ranger 2.3 condenser
- ranger evaporator (is there room for that in my airbox? seems small.. pics of the engine bay below. I have no concept of this stuff..)

 

[BlackBII]

You'll need to swap the entire air box. That one in your truck has no spot for the evaporator.

Once you swap everything, it should work great.

You'll need the hvac controls as well, it has the switch that turns on the compressor clutch

 

[neinnein_nein]

You'll need to swap the entire air box. That one in your truck has no spot for the evaporator.

Once you swap everything, it should work great.

You'll need the hvac controls as well, it has the switch that turns on the compressor clutch

oh yeah I forgot to mention I did pick up the hvac controls. Gonna look for an airbox—if anybody reading this has one to sell or trade pm me!

ps: looks like this is what I’m looking for? Does 200 sound a bit exaggerated for an airbox? Sounds like a lot to me..

 

[BlackBII]

That does sound expensive. Also, that picture is of the dash side, which I believe is the same between the AC and non AC boxes. You need the engine side of the box as that's where the evaporator is.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you just need the engine side of the box and It'll bolt right up.

I bet you can get the engine side of the box from a wrecking yard for ~$25

 

[BlackBII]

To add to your list, you'll also need the wiring harness, pressure switch and lines of course.

I have the wiring diagrams I can post for you.

 

[neinnein_nein]

To add to your list, you'll also need the wiring harness, pressure switch and lines of course.

I have the wiring diagrams I can post for you.

Oh the diagrams would be super useful. Post if you find them? I’m sure people would love to consult that for years to come. I have ac compressor connector on the harness and another cable that goes to the ac button on hvac control. It’s not absolutely necessary to put AC in this thing but I’m so far into, feels stupid to half-ass the climate control. And maybe I can pick up a rear axle too if I go to Harry’s..

 

[neinnein_nein]

Probably need an expansion valve too?

 

[BlackBII]

No expansion valve on that system, it uses an orifice tube. Give me a few minutes and I'll post the diagrams.

With how hot it is getting, AC is always worth it in my opinion. I added factory AC to my ranger as it didn't come with it from the factory

 

[scotts90ranger]

I haven't looked into it, but since the factory no A/C blower housing doesn't fit without modification with the factory turbo exhaust manifold, I have a feeling that the A/C box won't fit, are you planning on getting a header or a custom box manifold?

 

[neinnein_nein]

I haven't looked into it, but since the factory no A/C blower housing doesn't fit without modification with the factory turbo exhaust manifold, I have a feeling that the A/C box won't fit, are you planning on getting a header or a custom box manifold?

I have a header that puts everything roughly where the stock e6 puts it on the exhaust side and I was thinking to get an ac airbox (hard to find btw! nothing on eBay so far and junkyards I’ve been looking don’t seem too keen on 1st gen trucks) and perform surgery in the airbox to make it fix. I have “flip flanges” to flip the manifold but when I put it on it was shifting a lot of things forward that didn’t fit anymore (intercooler etc)..