Mk3 Air Con into Mk2

[Golf Loon]

A few blokes have been asking about how possible it is to run the Mk3 A/C in a Mk2.

I have done this conversion in the past by leaving the Mk2 heater and ac box in the car and getting hoses made that have the Mk2 A/C fittings on one end to connect to the box and Mk3 fittings to connect to the compressor on the other end.

However, today we got a Mk2 Heaterbox and a SEAT Cordoba heater box and split them both in half and joined the 2 pieces together. This gives us the MK3 / SEAT Fittings inside the airbox and a newer ac radiator coupled with the heaterbox which will connect to the Mk2 heater outlets. And be controlled by the Mk2 heater sliders.

It pretty much just fitted up, we had to cut a couple of Tabs off the SEAT box so they didnt foul on the Mk2 unit and then the two fitted together.

All the hose outlets through the firewall fitted, except the drainhose, which we simply cut off short and then used an angled bit of hose to go through the firewall and factory gromet.

We used the Mk3 fan and spliced the two wires into the Mk2 harness, that was the only mods needed to the wiring.

Pics

Mk2 Heaterbox removed from car
Note early type hose fittings



Split Apart like this



Reassemble with Mk2 centre section and SEAT Cordoba ac / fan section
Note later metal hose fittings



This conversion will allow a neat ac compressor continuous belt setup in the engine bay, a more powerful and easier to get compressor and a conversion from the early obsolete gas to the new type.

We will use all Mk3 gear on the engine, mounting bracket, alternator, air compressor, crank pulley and power steering bracket and pump. And of course the later Mk3 / Seat hoses.

[mk3pete]

i love reading good info like this....and i dont even own a mk2

[peedman]

Wow is it really worth all the effort for a/c?? Damnnnnnn.

[Golf Loon]

Wow is it really worth all the effort for a/c?? Damnnnnnn.

Yup, if it makes the A/C powerful like a Mk3, not 2 wafts of cool air like a Mk2.

[ozgti]

Yup, if it makes the A/C powerful like a Mk3, not 2 wafts of cool air like a Mk2.

So....



Does it?

[Golf Loon]

So....



Does it?

Not yet, still plenty to assemble on the car before it works.

[ausgolfer]

I will be doing this one day Matt, thanks for the write up. Love the single belt look.

[Golf Loon]

Yup, I will take a pic of the engine soon.
Wow there are a lot of hoses.
Spent a while routing all the Mk3 hoses around the Mk2 engine bay.
Although the Mk3 condensor is deeper than the Mk2 radiator, the radiator sits on the edge of the subframe, so the condensor can attach to the rad and sit down lower in front of it.
We did have to cut a small notch in the rad support to clearance a hose, but it all still looks factory.
By using all Mk3 gear, it means all the fittings work together and hopefully will result in a very cold ac system.
Car is nearly together, pics and update soon

[Jarred]

thanks for this Matt. Great info.

my AC is MIA atm, so it's something I might have to look into!

[jayjay]

i've actually been in mk2 aircon... the best mk2 aircon at max was like 2 ( out of 4 ) fan on a regular car with 3/4 coldness.... as in relatively.

hope this makes it freezing. will have to throw my motor out for a 16v with aircon me-thinks.

edit: not throwing out motor. beau will eat me.