Hi All: I was poking around the engine compartment of my 82 aircooled Westy. It has what I believe to be a factory installed air-conditioning system as the owner’s manual has the VWoA printed insert. My questions: 1. The cooling tin around the compressor has been cut and there is just this big hole for the belt. It does not look like any cover was ever placed in the area. Was this a normal VW dealer installation practice? Has anyone come up with a nice alternative to seal around the compressor? I was thinking of making some type of fiberglass cover. Any ideas? 2. The rubber gasket on my cooling tin no longer meets the firewall, leaving a gap about 1/8 inch. It looks like either the tin has been bent or the gasket has shrunk. This is the original material so after 20 years I can see it shrinking. What is the best way to replace the material, can I do it without dropping the engine and to make sure that the tin is sealed properly? From the archives I gather this is sealed only by friction, and it would not be a good idea to use a sealant like silicon. Where is the best place to get a new gasket? I see it in Rocky Mountains Motorworks for about $115.00. Can I get a good one from anywhere else cheaper? How about the foam gasket for the license plate? 3. Does anyone have any information on the stock VW system (diagrams, checkout procedures, etc.) as the belt to the compressor is missing? I am assuming that they had some problem with it and just disconnected the system. As I live in Florida, having a working AC system is a must. Any experience with recharging/retrofitting one of the stock systems? Any experience with Wal-Mart’s 134A conversion kit? |
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