Non-A/C to A/c swap.

[IR8NOTCH]

I just picked up a 90 Bronco II with no A/C. What is involved in swapping in a whole system from a donor? Also is there a specific year I should look for as a donor? I plan to do a 4.0 swap eventually and would rather add the right parts now then have to do it twice. Obviously I don't need the a/c now with snow on the ground,but I would like to get it done by spring. I will be using this for a DD to keep miles off my truck.
Thanks in advance.
Chris

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, first off, if you want to do a 4.0L swap, you will end up doing most of the work twice. The condenser, collector, pump and hoses would all have to be changed when you swap motors.

Any Ranger or Bronco II with a 2.9 and with A/C would have the parts to convert over until you do the 4.0L swap. You'll need the controls for in the cab, the "heater box" piece that's outside the cab under the hood (attached to the firewall, passenger side) and the internals for it to be equipped with A/C, the collecting tank that hangs outside the box, the hoses, the pump that mounts to the motor (and the belt, and you better check your crankshaft pulley to make sure you have an empty V-belt drive slot on it for the pump), the hoses to and from the pump, and the condenser (the radiator looking thing) that sits between the core support and the radiator (remove the radiator to get to it).

Once it's all connected, it'll have to be vac'd out and filled with coolant.

 

[IR8NOTCH]

Well, first off, if you want to do a 4.0L swap, you will end up doing most of the work twice. The condenser, collector, pump and hoses would all have to be changed when you swap motors.

Any Ranger or Bronco II with a 2.9 and with A/C would have the parts to convert over until you do the 4.0L swap. You'll need the controls for in the cab, the "heater box" piece that's outside the cab under the hood (attached to the firewall, passenger side) and the internals for it to be equipped with A/C, the collecting tank that hangs outside the box, the hoses, the pump that mounts to the motor (and the belt, and you better check your crankshaft pulley to make sure you have an empty V-belt drive slot on it for the pump), the hoses to and from the pump, and the condenser (the radiator looking thing) that sits between the core support and the radiator (remove the radiator to get to it).

Once it's all connected, it'll have to be vac'd out and filled with coolant.

Does the dash have to be removed,or could I put the evaporator core in from inside the engine compartment after I remove the outside heater box? Is the heater core the same from a non ac equipped Bronco II to one that has air?
My crank pulley does have the extra slot .Doesn't sound too bad if I don't have to pull the dash. I have access to a to a ac recovery system that pulls vacuum and refills refrigerant so that's not a big problem.
My main concern now is if my under dash part of the heater box is the same as an ac equipped donor.
Thanks,Chris

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've never taken one apart yet (the evaporator core area), so I don't know for sure if the dash has to come out or not, but I'm suspecting it's on the outside of the cab. I think the heater core stays the same.

 

[twoll86]

I just picked up a 90 Bronco II with no A/C. What is involved in swapping in a whole system from a donor? Also is there a specific year I should look for as a donor? I plan to do a 4.0 swap eventually and would rather add the right parts now then have to do it twice. Obviously I don't need the a/c now with snow on the ground,but I would like to get it done by spring. I will be using this for a DD to keep miles off my truck.
Thanks in advance.
Chris

if you wanna take your non ac parts off and dive down here i'll take mine off and trade ya

 

[IR8NOTCH]

if you wanna take your non ac parts off and dive down here i'll take mine off and trade ya

Thats fine!! Im on my way.

Oh,wait a minute...where are you located? Im sure it to far to be true,but thanks for the offer.

I am picking up a 88 Bronco II on Sat. Not sure if I am going to use it for parts,or use my parts on it. Depends if the body is in better shape then mine. I was originally going to buy it for a/c parts,and interior ( mine has no options.vinyl seats no p/w,p/l,ac..Nothing) but the body looks to have minimal rust and the motor is rebuilt with 40k on it and has no spark.So,i might be better off using the drive train out of mine for the 88.My 90 has a fair amount of rust,but came with a dana 35,m5od,manual hubs,and t/c. I guess I will see on Saturday.

Chris

 

[trail B2]

My 86 didn't have air and then I got a 93 Ranger parts truck that had air.I got it for the 4.0 but I changed dashes engine tranny seats steering column and the heating and air conditioning all at the same time.If your really going to put a 4.0 in the bronco air is just a side note, bolts in the front and back of the fire wall takes about a half hour.

 

[adsm08]

take the dash out. it'll be easier in the long run, its only a few connectors, and 4 or 5 bolts.

 

[IR8NOTCH]

Well,I just picked up a 88 Eddie Bauer Bronco II today . I might be using the 90 as a parts truck since body and interior wise the 88 is in a lot better shape.Unless of course I can find a 4.0 5 spd exploder for a decent price I would just keep the 90 together until I am done with the 88 and then sell it.Decisions decisions!!
Thanks,Chris

 

[AllanD]

If you get a bit sneaky you can avoid changing SOME of the parts after the conversion.

a 1991-92 2.9 uses the same condenser core as a 1991-94 Explorer
where instead of having both connections on the passenger side of
the condenser, and thus requiring a hose to cross over the fan shroud.
But the later condenser has the high pressure connection on the drivers side.

IF you use that style condenser then when you swap to a 4.0 you only
need to replace the compressor and the manifold line that connects the
compressor into the rest of the system.

Though on the 2.9 condenser these are seperate lines, on the 4.0
it is a one piece manifold that bolts to the compressor.

When yo get the 4.0 lines make sure to get the 1993 style where
the low pressure suction line from the evaporator back to the
compressor crosses the FRONT of the engine the other style that runs
across the back has an extra TWO crimp connections and thus two
extra places to leak.


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