Need Help with Air Conditioning

[Chargermoneypit]

Like many of us that have started putting together a long restoration project, the air conditioning seems to be a big pain. When I purchased my car I had zero air conditioning components for under the hood. It was born with air conditioning and I am determined to put it back in if nothing more than for looks for the time being. I purchased a complete air conditioning system via ebay for like $150.00 complete  with all the lines and brackets except it is from a 69 model and not the 68 Charger RT 440 that I have. Several questions? Will this system work on a 68. Do you need to remove the spark plug wire bracket that seems to be in the way of the compressor. Since this thing never had air when I bought it 6 years ago I have no reference and can't find pictures clear enough to see. Any help is appreciated in getting this installed and the engine back into the car finally.

[AZMoparboy]

Hi,
I started right were you are with your Charger and the A/C. The parts that I had acquired needed to be installed, so I just started putting one piece at a time together. Hopefully you have a pump setup with the appropriate mounting brackets and if it were a small or BB engine, the hoses might be too short. Ii you need new hoses, some shop near you will be able to take your old hoses and fabricate new ones using your old hose ends. These are all of the things you will need to figure out as it goes together. What type coolant will you be putting back in your system? The pump that you have acquired need to have the oil drained out of it and new put back in. I would also try to drain out your condenser coils as best as you can also. Using your older parts and components are all a dice roll, will they hold suction or vacuum when they are all together. Real R-12 will cost you more than if you are going to fill your system with 134, but the old system will work very well with the new coolants that are out there. I put my system together with 134, 2 weeks ago I had 45 degree air on low at 65mph. And it was 100 degrees outside (at night).

As you put the system back together you will need to acquire new style o-rings in the system, don't forget any of them, one old o-ring and the system will leak. You will also need a new drier, NAPA carries it.

As for your spark plug wire bracket, don't worry about that until the end when the whole AC system is together and you can see just what it is that you need. These old AC systems are all about the same, just assembled in different locations around the engine compartment.

Good luck and heres to cold air!
Steve

[Chargermoneypit]

Thanks Steve,
Nice to know I am not alone. I will keep working on it and keep everyone posted.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

If you got the 1 year only '69 BB hoses & lines for only $150 you definitely scored!  Pretty hard to find for that price.

Everything will work (just as long as its 440 specific A/C comp bracketry....338 will not fit)   The lines might be a bit different.

The spark plug brackets remain in the same locations.

Heres my '69

[Dino]

If you got the 1 year only '69 BB hoses & lines for only $150 you definitely scored!  Pretty hard to find for that price.

Everything will work (just as long as its 440 specific A/C comp bracketry....338 will not fit)   The lines might be a bit different.

The spark plug brackets remain in the same locations.

Heres my '69

Hmmm I got one more of those round canister looking things....as you can tell, I have no clue what they are called.  

I have no idea what is original to the car and what is not.  It was a 318 a/c car but has a 440 now.  I have since hooked up the heater tubes but still have to install the condenser, new dryer and prepare the system for r134a.

Since the engine came out of a '71 squad car, maybe some a/c components were transferred from that car as well.