AC swap 94 Explorer 92 Ranger

[2nerdy]

I have a '92 Ranger that I would like to get the AC functioning on again. I have a '94 explorer that I began the process of pulling the engine but stopped because I had to move. How easy would it be to put the ac from the Explorer into the Ranger, or would it be easier to put in a new R-134a system into the Ranger? I haven't done any AC work before, so I am not really sure quite how extensive it is to do. Thank you!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If the A/C in the Explorer worked and they have the same engines it is possible to swap the entire sealed system from one into the other... it is a lot of work and a PITA to do though.

Any idea what happened to the A/C in the Ranger? If the compressor died swapping most of the parts probably isn't a bad idea.

If it just has a leak somewhere it might be best to address the leak, poke a new drier in it, get it drawn down and check for leaks and recharged.

 

[Shran]

If you have a 4.0 in the '92 then yes, you sure can remove the whole system intact from the '94 and drop it right in. I did it, used a '94 Explorer donor into a '92 Explorer. It is a HUGE PITA, you might as well be trying to straighten out a handful of spaghetti while not dropping any meatballs. A year after I did it, the compressor developed a leak and I had to replace everything anyway but I did have working AC for a year for free.

If you have any other engine, it will not work due to where the compressor and hoses locate themselves.

Might be easier to just fix what's in the '92 and convert it to R134a. I opted to replace literally everything when the compressor started leaking. It's a bad rabbit hole to go down if you do it yourself though. I bet I have $500+ into AC tools. You can get by a lot cheaper than that but I ran into problems with cheap gauges that fought me for a while. Also cheap/defective parts... o-rings that leaked or were the wrong size...etc. Refrigerant is not cheap either. Was $3-4/lb, now it's like $10/lb+.

 

[2nerdy]

Honestly I have no idea what is wrong. The compressor is missing a hose, but I haven't been able to find much about how it is supposed to be set-up. The lady I bought it from doesn't remember what would was wrong before I got it.

 

[Shran]

Well, that's a 2.9 engine, so it won't work. Those have a different compressor and the mounts for it are not really adaptable in any reasonable way.

That does not look like an air conditioning hose though. That looks to me like an automatic transmission cooler line that would normally go into the radiator... there should be two of those that come out of the passenger side of the transmission and both go into the driver's side of the radiator. If that one is not an extra that was pinched off and abandoned, you need to address that right away - the transmission needs to cycle fluid through either the radiator or a separate transmission cooler or both.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

the transmission needs to cycle fluid through either the radiator or a separate transmission cooler or both.

 

[2nerdy]

Sorry that is an old picture. Yes, that hose in the for front is the transmission cooler line when I hit a deer. This was taken as I was fixing the truck and that has since been fixed. At the back of the compressor there are two locations for a hose to connect. I can get a better picture tonight when I get off. I know it is also unplugged, but I am nervous to plug it in and cause damage with that other line not hooked up.

 

[Shran]

Haha, OK, that makes sense.

You can hook a hose back up to where the missing one is if you wanted to and it won't hurt anything. Automotive AC has to have refrigerant pressure on the low side in order for the compressor to turn on... if it just has air at atmospheric pressure in the system, it won't do anything.

Since it's been open for an unknown period of time, I would plan on replacing everything. It has probably ingested some amount of dirt and moisture. The condenser and evap core are the only exceptions to that... you maybe could flush them if they're both in really good shape...but honestly this stuff is frustrating enough to work on that it's worth just starting with new parts.

Technically the compressor could be drained and reused too but not knowing if it even worked in the first place would make me think hard about just buying a new one.

 

[2nerdy]

So after a very busy month, I finally got around to taking a look at it. Who knew hosting a reunion and weddings out of town every weekend in a month would make you not want to do much else lol. So here is the updated look at the engine bay. So the missing hose is the top on on the compressor, but I cannot figure out where the other end is supposed to go. Also it is R12 and I suspect it wouldn't have any left in the system, so I probably should just convert to R134A. How much of that can I do myself? I know that a shop has to drain the old stuff out, but what else would I be able to do? I don't have any ac tools to speak of, but can wrench fairly decently.