Air Cond. Unit Option availability - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

freytagm3 · 05-28-2006, 05:01 PM

Any word on Air Cond.Unit Option availability? I kept all the donor Air Cond. parts but i've decided to go the FFR A/C Unit route which means there are A/C unit specific aluminum panels to allow for A/C installation. Has anyone received these panels? Anyone know of A/C unit cost?

btw, the build is going well, i'm impressed with the new manual.

Thanks,
Michael

Crate · 05-28-2006, 05:14 PM

These guys have an ac unit for sale. Not sure if you can use the mustang one. Click here for ac

HTH

David Borden · 05-29-2006, 04:34 AM

Michael,

My understanding is they are waiting on 1 fitting to be finished and it will be ready. The rest is done, so we should see it shortly.

David

freytagm3 · 05-29-2006, 01:57 PM

hi David,
thanks for the quick reply, did FFR send you the A/C specific aluminum panel? Should i skip over installation for this panel i don't have and continue with the build or will this make a build sequence coming more difficult?

I'll give FFR a ring in the morning.

cheers,
Michael

freytagm3 · 05-30-2006, 03:57 PM

Hi Mike,Dave,Odell, Pete,and Henry

did FFR send you the A/C specific aluminum panel? Should i skip over installation for this panel i don't have and continue with the build or will this make a build sequence coming more difficult?

thanks,
Michael

mdowns · 05-30-2006, 05:23 PM

I would hold off on the passenger footbox work until I had the A/C option in hand. My passenger footbox aluminum was already coated, but I didn't install it when I heard that there was different aluminum coming with the A/C option. You can put the battery all the way to the drivers side and the large aluminum radiator lines together in the middle. Leave the lower passenger area free for the A/C unit. I think the fan itself goes in the passenger footwell.

freytagm3 · 05-30-2006, 06:41 PM

thanks for the quick reply Mike. I'll leave that area open.
I "unriveted" the battery tray and will reposition closer to driver's side. You wouldn't by chance have a photo of that area?

thanks,
Michael

otuttle · 05-31-2006, 01:26 AM

Michael,

If I received the A/C panels from FFR, I definitely don't know it. I'm trying to leave most of the riveting until I have all the parts in my garage - otherwise I'm sure I'll be drilling out rivets.

I went with a very small Gel battery with hopes of not even using that area behind the radiator. I might be able to stuff it in the tunnel.

65 Cobra Dude · 05-31-2006, 11:20 AM

I have the new AC panels but no AC yet. I spoke to Michael about it last night. The only panels that get changed are the inner passenger footbox panel and the front passenger footbox panel. Don't drill the large rectangular piece on top of the footbox where the passenger panel meets it as the location of the rivets will change. The AC option actually makes the passenger footbox narrower. I can take pictures if needed?

Henry

freytagm3 · 05-31-2006, 12:40 PM

Henry,
only if you have time to make some jpegs that would be great.

Michael

samurai41 · 07-17-2006, 12:20 AM

Hey guy's any word yet? I've decided to go with a hotrod air unit & drier, keeping gm compressor and condenser. but the stock vette condenser has different fittings than the normal #6 and #8 like the aftermarket condenser's. I would much rather use the gm- since it fits so nicely. So before i get fitting's custom made for the gm one, I thought I would ask here before,contacting ffr. I would think they should have something in the works by now for the AC. I remember hearing it would work with all the gm parts?(comp,cond & dryer)Thanks....

jdpanero · 07-17-2006, 02:11 AM

I talked w/Joe @ FFR on Thur 7/13 regarding the AC, and he said they're almost done. But, he didn't seem to have a set timeframe.

Also, b/c I'm planning on ABS/TC and AC I asked if there would be space to mount the EBCM like Laurence did (in front of the master cylinders) with the battery off-set to the driver's side. Joe asked a couple of others and the consensus was that there isn't enough space for both the EBCM & Battery (when off-set for AC).

So, has anyone come up with a working solution to the current battery position assuming enough space for the EBCM and AC?

P.S. Sorry about the hijack.

Buggy222 · 07-17-2006, 03:29 AM

I sm not sure I understand the EBCM / battery interference issue. I have the EBCM sitting on one of the frame rails, above the battery. The battery is installed as far to the drivers side as it will go. See pics

Laurence

jdpanero · 07-17-2006, 04:49 AM

That answers that. Thanks, Laurence.

The FFR guys said they didn't think there was enough room to remove the battery w/the EBCM mounted above it. And, I wasn't able to see exactly where your battery was mounted from your earlier pictures. But, I appreciate your response, you're saving me a ton of time and headache, already.

samurai41 · 07-17-2006, 03:32 PM

I have pretty much the same set up as laurence for the EBCM, but i'm also making a new bracket to raise the battery and move it forward to almost rest on top of the steering rack/ but with out touching of course! this way it free's up some space for the AC lines.

fasternfaster · 07-17-2006, 04:31 PM

Its kind of hard to tell from this picture.. but how difficult is it to change the battery with it mounted under all this stuff?

Buggy222 · 07-17-2006, 04:52 PM

The battery is not easy to get out, but that has more to do with the frame rails and steering rack than the EBCM. I went with a sealed battery so I have to tilt it to slide it out. I am assuming that the A/C tubing and components will be on the passenger side, so I placed the battery on the lower frame rails, driver side with one of the battery holddown rods going throught the center of the X, as FFR shows it.

Ron565 · 07-17-2006, 11:27 PM

Getting back to the question. The hoses are done and ordered. They will be putting it into the proto type very soon. Won't be ready for a few more months. The cost will be around $1500.00

samurai41 · 07-18-2006, 01:18 AM

WOW-- seems alittle steep, compared to what's already out there. but i guess it's still to soon to judge, have to wait and see what comes with it.

Shane · 07-18-2006, 02:17 AM

A few more months?! Wow is right. I'm getting to the point where it would be nice to know where they're putting all the parts and running all of the hoses so I can finish some things up on my build.

Richard Oben · 07-18-2006, 03:09 AM

I saw the unit installed at FFR and it will be nice. Hoses were in house and being installed. When I was there they told me about 6 weeks. It looks well designed and fully optioned. I am waiting. Cheers Richard.

Shane · 07-18-2006, 03:33 AM

6 weeks I can probably live with.....a few months I can not. Thanks for the update, Richard.

tracykeyes · 07-18-2006, 04:34 AM

So I take it the A/C option is not parts from the donor but a whole new unit?
How do the climate controls look? I hope they look like a factory package.

[ July 18, 2006, 12:59 AM: Message edited by: TK1 ]

Richard Oben · 07-18-2006, 03:23 PM

The unit will keep the condensor, drier, compressor and fans from the corvette. The hoses evap, heater and controls are coming from FFR. I am not sure of the costs. Cheers Richard.

Ron565 · 07-18-2006, 03:27 PM

I Was at a car show last month. I talked to the Dakota Digital guy. He said that it was their head unit. The A/C comes from Vintage Air I think
I am wondering about I squard, if their center console will have A/C unit head incuded? If so, we have options.

mehansen50 · 07-18-2006, 10:05 PM

I asume that I should wait for the a/c unit from FFR b4 I put the engine in? Have you seen the belt configuration? Will the changes for the tensioner/etc influence the a/c set up? Thanks MARK

Shane · 07-18-2006, 10:39 PM

As I understand it, the stock C5 compressor, belt and tensioners are used in their normal configuration. I'm sure hoping so, since I have my engine installed with that configuation and not completely sure you can get the compressor out with the engine in the car..?