Aftermarket air conditioning

Does anyone know of any websites where you can buy complete aftermarket air conditioning kits? I had found one once but I lost track of it. I would like to put AC in my Ford Ranger before I move south. Thanks....

www.vintageair.com (http://www.vintageair.com)

I'm pretty sure that's the site, but the company is called Vintage Air. They're a specialty company so it might not be cheap. If you call an A/C shop that does retrofitting of AC into non-AC cars, they can usually source complete OEM and aftermarket AC systems for specific vehicles.

I bought a 95 F250 work truck that didn't have AC so I negotiated that it be added as part of the deal. The shop that did it was going to put aftermarket AC in, and I coughed up the extra $300 or so to go with OEM Ford AC, but kits are out there for specific vehicles.

Whats wrong with going to the car salvage yard and getting the factory stuff?

Honestly, nothing, but its kinda like buying a junkyard radiator. The condenser should be OK if you flush it judiciously. Forget using a used drier... Not only are they cheap to buy new, but using a used drier is kinda like going to the junkyard to get a fuel filter. One of the first things that usually goes on older AC systems are the lines. The lines get old and leak, or the fittings begin to leak. The cost of new lines isn't prohibitive, so I suggest new stuff. Evaporators are much like the condenser. If they're in good shape they should be fine, but they do corrode and age like radiators.

The big issue is getting all the associated stuff. On older cars its a little easier since the space under the dash is adequate and other things are controlled by simple solenoids like the idle speed. On a later computer controlled model, it might mean reflashing the computer or getting a chip burned to open the IAC when the AC kicks on. Fortunately for this guy, I think most Rangers were simple EEC, so they just waited for the AC to kick on then adjusted the idle accordingly. Some use an input signal to the IAC to anticipate the AC engagement. It gets a bit complicated.

I added AC to an old 454 that I had. It was super simple. I used a junkyard condenser and lines, but I did it from a low mileage car with a hood on it... that's important from a UV standpoint and aging lines. The under dash stuff was a PAIN in the 73 Impala. I had to pull the passenger fender to get the blower off to get to the heater core and box. Never use a used compressor and make sure you flush things very well.

Kits are nice because they include instructions based on the individual vehicle. Getting junkyard parts means that not only are they used, but you have to do all the research on your own... which I fully applaud. I'm a grassroots kinda guy, but it could return disappointing or difficult results if you aren't versed in the intimate circuitry of the car in question.

Sorry, I thought I posted more then that....
I meant from a vehicle that the system is still intact. I always replace driers whenever the system is opened.
If you were to get an aftermarket kit, what happens when a part fails? You go into a parts store and ask for that part, they give you an OEM replacement. Will the OEM and aftermarket always interchange?
To me, A/C is the simplest thing, and people find wonderful ways to f**k it up. (A/C "stop leak" for example)
If there is a certain item bad in the used system, it will more than likely be a common failure and be readily available at a parts store. That, of course, means nothing if you piece together a system from the used parts the yard has laying around...

I know this is an old thread, but hope this helps anyone who is looking for opinions on ac kits, Beware of aftermarket ac component seller autoairplus.com I purchases an ac kit from them about a month ago, They never told me when it shipped. When it finally showed up, the upstream valve was bent over and the weld partially brokenon the condensor.I was also missing the belt and the compressor mount. I contacted the merchant and they told me it must have been damaged by me after I received it. I was never contacted by them again. After countless emails and phone calls to them, I finally filed with the Federal Trade Comission and also with My credit cards online fraud department. Sorry its so wordy, just trying to save folks some of the same B.S. I am going through