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A/C stuff in dash.


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I have a question about dashboards and installing an a/c system, stripping it out of one brat and installing it back into another Brat. Austin claims it takes 8-12 hours of work to do it cause I have to remove the entire dash. Does removing the entire dashboard really take 8-12 hours, and does installing, or removing the a/c stuff really require to completly take out the dash? I have everything for the engine side all figured out, just wanted to get some info on the dash half of the components. Thanks for any good knowledge, Oh and are there any specific tricks I should know about dismantaling and remantaling whatever I have to do for the a/c installation, that would be helpful too, thanks:cool:

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Well - for one thing - if you don't already know, AC systems for EA81's are all R12 - which means your gonna need R12 to fill it back up ($$$$$$), or you can use the new stuff called Freeze-12, but it's also more expensive than R-134. Anyway - yeah, it takes a while to get that dash out. Maybe not 12 hours if you've done it before, but a while non the less. I wouldn't bother with AC - why do you want it anyway? EA81 AC compressors are crap, and the system will mostly likely leak to beat hell when your done with it. And unless you have a refrigerant recovery system, and all the tools to pull a proper 30 minute vacuum on the system to completely evac it, then your looking at a dead evaperator in a year or less due to moisture in the system, which will cause corrosion inside the evap, and eventually lead to holes in it. Which will require removal of the dash again..... etc, etc. Anyway - you only could use it maybe a month or two out of the year in the Pac. NW, so what's the use? I say forget it, and save the wieght. If your going to lift it and go off-road, then it's just more complexity that you don't need hanging around in there. Just my $.02

 

GD

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Maybe, to me thoes 2 months here get real hot. I herd it isn't hard to convert old a/c systems to the new r134 stuff or whatever it is used now days. I'm gonna end up doing it to my old Newport. And I already know the system doesn't leak, it was fully charged when austin removed it from the other brat. and to my understanding, it sat for a while before he pulled it out. Anyway, I have to hack apart my dash anyway to remove all the ciggerette ash in the ventilation systems and what not. the car had brown suit on it so thick, that I could not see out of any of the windows, it was like looking through wax paper. I'm pretty sure it's as bad inside the dash, especially through the ventalation systems. I don't want it smelling like cigerette smoke everytime I kick on the defoger or heat in the winters. I just thought the a/c would be a nice thing to add in there sense I have to pull it apart anyway, and the dash in the other brat needs replacing anyway.

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it might already have the parts necessary behind the dash. if it was eqiupped for optional ac.

 

there is ductwork behind the stereo console for the heater core, it might be in there, but i have no clue.

 

you could cut through the ductwork(althoug a redneck method)

to get at what you need

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The problem is that you WILL have leaks when you put it all together, and then you will have to replace the hoses that leak, O-rings, etc. And yes - you can use R-134, but realize that it is a smaller molecule, and will leak out of R-12 type hoses and O-rings. So if you didn't have leaks before.... you will with R-134. You can replace all the hoses and rings in the system with R-134 stuff, but that gets terribly expensive. Many times leaks come from damaged (from the inside) evap cores, so you had better have a full evacuation of the system performed by a shop before recharging it with new refrigerant. Also a nitrogen pressure test is a good way to check for system leaks.

 

GD

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I was wondering the same thing about install of ac.. Seems most Brats have that sticker on the dash saying its ac ready.. So I would assume the duct work and wires and switchs are in already.. I would imagine you have to take apart justthe glove boc area to get behind there... I cant see Subaru's Techs spending 12 hours pulling a dash out to put it in... I was gonna go when I get some time to a junk yard and pull a system out of a old car first for practice and but the parts I need.. I already have some from EJ... Joe

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Dash's are a B**** to get out!!!!!!!!!

They crack, they don't behave, they have hidden screws that will not go back together without tons of work!!!!!!!

 

Remove all your lower plastic and glove box area and see if you can make it work without removing the upper dash!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's a P.I.T.A!

 

I ended up using a Sawzall to get the hidden screws out:D

But my dash didn't have to go back in......:D :D :D

 

For what it's worth,

Glenn

82 Hatch, transforming....:temper:

01 Forester, jealous........:madder:

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Yea, thats what I will do, I'm gonna see if I can get to it just by removing the glove box, because it is on that side, and the plugs in the firewall in my brat are already there, so I'm asuming everything else is too for installing it. I do plan to get new o rings and what not. and I am going to take the car to a shop to have the system evaced and recharged there. I'm not doing it my self because I don't have enough knowlege of ac systems to do it my self yet. But this is a project car and I plan on getting it realitivly loaded with options. Thanks for all the info. Yea, Austin says the dash boards are a pain in the .. rear as well. I had no problems getting the new seats and carpet in though, along with the entire center councle. http://www.eskimo.com/~carl/garage.html Thats the progress with pictures of my Brat so far. I'm thinking about building up an 1800cc engine with 1600cc pistons to get more compression and power out of the little moter. I might port the heads too, I'm not sure yet. Anyway thanks for the help

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