Need Help with SC Air Conditioning Question
 

I'm looking at a 1980 911SC Targa that is in very good condition but has no air conditioning. The seller says it didn't work when he got the car in 1999 and was told that it didn't work for at least 10 years before that.

Anyone have an educated WAG (ball park figure) on cost to have AC again? Assume it needs everything except for the fact that the the fan does work on all three speeds.

- $750?
- $1000?
- $1500?
- Forgitaboudit and buy a car with working AC?
- Don't worry about sweat and enjoy the Targa top?

Thanks in advance,
Rich Franco
Burke, VA
Currently Porscheless but hoping

You never know until you check it out. Have a shop do a leak test is a good first start. I have the same issue though, no A/C in my SC. After adding up lines, fittings, compressor and gettting close to 2k I gave up.

Rich F:

There are several on this board who are planning on / have recently scrapping/ed their working / broken AC systems. Most have claimed to be doing it better their p 2 weight and to appease the gods of speed :wink: .

I would suggest posting a WTB on parts wanted section and see what you get.

[caveat]

never owned a p-car with AC, don't think I ever want to :lol:

[end caveat]

Jase

The factory air in a stock SC is borderline when working correctly.
The a/c in 86 Carrera have the larger vent openings in the dash and work much better.
I have a 82 SC. 4 years ago I redid the a/c. New rotary compressor, txv, reciever/dryer, and complete line set. Cost was ~$1300. I did all the work myself, a little over 2 full days. Removing/installing the line sets were a major PIA. I did all the little things, remove front condenser, evap coil and cleaned them, cleaned drain line, tried to seal ducts. System is R22.
I would guess a shop that does this stuff everyday and is familar with Pcars would take 10-12 hours minimum (get it in writing ;)).
Don't confuse air cooled Porsches a/c with a Honda/Ford/whatever. The a/c in a air cooled car will not cool in traffic as well as a water cooled car. The a/c in the SC is more than adequate around town or on the road. Stop and go traffic is a killer.
The a/c in the car you are looking at has not worked properly in 15 years. Plan on replacing everything I replaced. Bottom line, DIY for around ~1500 and a lot of skinned knuckles or pay a shop ~3500 if they supply parts and labor.

Note: entirely unhelpful anwer ahead:

If the targas are like my coupe the air conditioner is the window on drivers left and passengers right and maybe something above your head. What's all this nonsense about Fans, lines, refrigerant vents.. blah blah :wink:

Enjoy your 911, with or without AC! (but for pete's sake, make sure the HEAT works! )

I'm removing it from my 79SC to save weight and remove an expensive headache. My solution. When it gets hot, open the sun roof and drive quick!!! :P

Rich

It all boils down to what your priorities are in a car. For me I had three main criteria that had to be met. 1. late 80's 2.good mechanical condition & service history 3. 50,000 miles or less. My car has a/c in it and works really well (extremely well) but that fact of the matter is that I probably will never use it. If a/c is one of the things that is on your list or priorities than buy a car that has working a/c (hard to tell if it works this time of year) if it doesn't matter than it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck in your search.

Mike

have an 88 Targa that used to be a daily driver, now more of a garage queen/sunny day car. AC is usefull, getting stuck in traffic even a SCs poor AC is a little help, if you have driven in a summer thunderstorm not having AC is really not much fun, everything steams up and you might as well take the top off because you will be drenched in sweat. Whether its worth $ 3-4,000 to get it fixed is up to you!! Remember if you plan on club racing your car, if it was delivered with AC you have to have it installed.
Dirk

I vote for this option:
:twisted:

Try 'this option' when driving to a DE 5 or 6 hours away, when it starts to rain, and you have your wife in the car with you... oh, and the back seat is full of track stuff, luggage, etc., and you really don't want anything to fly out the open targa top while you are driving at 70+ mph on the interstate...

'No A/C' really only works for single guys who don't have a girlfriend :wink: , or for people who haul their cars to the track on trailers... And I'm qualified to say this, because my A/C is usually only in working order for about one month per summer, and the rest of the time I have to listen to my wife complain about it... :roll: