Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

discussions about bodywork, paint, interiors, trim, audio, electrical components, wiring, etc.

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flitner
John Fenner
Miami Fl
(168 posts)

Registered:
03/11/2010 10:58AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB 350 CHEVY

A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: flitner
Date: May 15, 2010 02:57PM

Hi folks,
On my project there is a looming subject on A/C whether or not it would be worth going through the extent of installing it or leaving it out altogether. Some tell me convertibles shouldnt have it as it is an oxymoron like a sports car with an automatic.
I still have the want for it due to the S.Fla. summers but dont want to take away from the simplicity of the car being without it.
Your views and opinions have alot of meaning so please feel free to weigh in on the decision.

G,Day
John


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: alana
Date: May 17, 2010 06:23PM

If it can be shoehorned in there, I'd say yes.
Heat too.

It's way more pleasant to drive that way...


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: May 18, 2010 01:02AM

Okay, I'll take the other position...

About the only use I can see for A/C is defogging the windshield. If you're concerned about defogging the windshield, there are extremely effective chemicals to prevent fogging in the first place, and they weigh nothing.

Unless you create vents to blow right onto exposed skin, you won't feel a whole lot of benefit in a car with such minimal insulation. It's tricky to make efficient ductwork - your '72 didn't come with it! - so you need a pretty big AC system and the fan running on "high" to pull cabin temperature down even though the volume of the car is small.

Have you considered beaded seat covers? They're not exactly sporty, but a little bit of air space between you and your seat upholstery might provide more comfort than an A/C system.

Running your new A/C system will put a bit more load on your motor. Additionally, the A/C condenser will obstruct airflow into your radiator. For these reasons, if you add A/C you might want to consider a bigger cooling system...

In over twenty years that I've had my MG, I've never missed the heater. Not even once! Granted it's a GT, but its a cozy little car. And I live in a cooler climate. Talk about dead weight, if there's one thing an MGB doesn't need it's a heater!

The if-it-fits argument is a slippery slope. Where will you stop? Insulation? Sound deadening materials? A glass rear window? Electric windows and locks? A great big subwoofer?


TR6-6SPD
Ken Hiebert
Toronto Ontario
(255 posts)

Registered:
04/23/2008 11:43AM

Main British Car:
1972 TR6 1994 5.7 L GM LT1

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: TR6-6SPD
Date: May 18, 2010 07:04AM

John,
Depends on your budget, time and money to put it in, and your project, how easy the installation in your particular project will be. Keep in mind that it'll be a heck of alot easier to install it the first time around than to put it in later.

Then it depends on what kind of car you want in the end. If comfort over speed is important to you, then go with it.

Depends on the passengers you'll likely be travelling with. They may not care, hate A/C or can't survive without it.

Depends on the climate the car is most likely to be used in.

I must admit, I could live without it in my TR6, but I sure do appreciate it at times. Those hot sticky August days when it's raining or sitting in traffic with the top down, that cool air on my hands and face is so pleasant.


Dan B
Dan Blackwood
South Charleston, WV
(1007 posts)

Registered:
11/06/2007 01:55PM

Main British Car:
1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Dan B
Date: May 18, 2010 09:53AM

My TR7 has air. It isn't working right now and I really miss it.


Citron
Stephen DeGroat
Lugoff, SC
(367 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 09:43PM

Main British Car:
1970 MGBGT V6, 7004R, AC, matching trailer 3.1 liter

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Citron
Date: May 18, 2010 01:17PM

I put AC in both my BGT's. Living in SC, I wouldn't use the cars much in the Summer (May through Sept) if I didn't have it.
It propbably does slow them down some but how fast can you go on the street?
Turn it off and it probably not more than 30 extra pounds you carry around.
One of mine is a V6 the other is the stock 4.

steve


ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: May 18, 2010 01:27PM

Quote:
....if there's one thing an MGB doesn't need it's a heater! ....

Never thought that I would find exception to any of Curtis's comments - but this time is one!
There have been times where I absolutely needed the defrost function to clear the inner w'shield - I'm glad, in these cases, that I didn't opt for the "delete heater" option.



Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: May 18, 2010 03:32PM

;o)


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: alana
Date: May 18, 2010 09:20PM

Quote:
The if-it-fits argument is a slippery slope. Where will you stop? Insulation? Sound deadening materials? A glass rear window? Electric windows and locks? A great big subwoofer?

Well maybe not the electric locks - but everything else, sure why not?

Add more power to the engine if you feel the lack, don't skimp on creature comforts. If Ken appreciates A/C in the Great White North, imagine what it's like for the rest of us...

:D


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: May 18, 2010 09:35PM

Quote:
Add more power to the engine if you feel the lack, don't skimp on creature comforts.

More power might help you accelerate faster in a forward direction, but dead weight makes the car less responsive in all maneuvers. A heavier car simply doesn't feel the same... It doesn't turn into corners as quickly or neatly. It doesn't stop as swiftly. It provides a whole different experience! Sure, you can update the tires and brakes too, but you're always chasing what you gave away. It's a losing game, because you gave away something fundamental. The essence of a true sportscar is light, nimble, balanced simplicity.


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: alana
Date: May 18, 2010 09:42PM

Hang on. You are talking about a B, right?
Probably with a BOPR in it.
Aren't they about 60lbs lighter than stock just because of the difference in engine weights.
Adding 40 - 50lbs of A/C isn't going to make ~that~ much difference to the handling.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: May 18, 2010 10:02PM

Scroll back up to the first post and check the car info under John's name in the left column. He's already chosen a heavy Chevy engine, so figure two hundred extra pounds on the front end right there and he's hardly even started sliding down the slippery slope yet...

I've driven enough of these little hot-rods that I can say with some authority that they have dramatically different personalities from one to the next. Weight is one of the determining factors. It's not all bad - some people prefer a "grand tourer" - but don't kid yourself that a grand tourer feels like a pure sportscar. If you can get the modified car a couple hundred pounds lighter than stock, so much the better IMHO.


flitner
John Fenner
Miami Fl
(168 posts)

Registered:
03/11/2010 10:58AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB 350 CHEVY

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: flitner
Date: May 21, 2010 12:39AM

Thank You Gents!!!
As I said before your views and opinions matter!
The coin toss goes to CHILLIN IN A B!!


djw090
David Witham
Warwick UK
(115 posts)

Registered:
06/12/2008 11:20AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1974 and MG ZT 160 turbo 2005

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: djw090
Date: May 25, 2010 05:16AM

I think you need 2 Bs one with and one without.

From using my heater in the winter with the roof down I would guess the impact of aircon could be enhanced by having the toneau cover over the passenger side while driving.


bplus
Tracy Moore
Jacksonville, Fl
(40 posts)

Registered:
11/24/2008 06:36PM

Main British Car:
71' MGB GT 350 Chevrolet

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: bplus
Date: August 01, 2010 09:33PM

It all comes down to personal choice in the end, it's your car.
If your car is to be a year round driver, build it for the climate
you have to endure. I live in northern Florida, no A/C or heat
in any of my MGs.



J Man
jason adkins
NW OH
(202 posts)

Registered:
01/21/2009 08:49PM

Main British Car:
'61 Morris Minor panel, '70 MGB GT, '74 MGB GT MGB 1.8, unsure yet on the GTs

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: J Man
Date: April 01, 2011 08:06PM

i would have to agree heat is needed.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: May 08, 2011 10:38AM

A bit of heat is good for those early morning or late drives in Spring & Fall with the top down. Curtis wouldn't know anything about that in his GT. ;)


reversole
randy eversole

(2 posts)

Registered:
01/29/2012 04:50PM

Main British Car:


Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: reversole
Date: March 09, 2012 12:55PM

does anyone have info on evaporator install in a 74 mgbgt
Thanks


triumphtr2
tim body
St thomas ont Canada
(87 posts)

Registered:
08/18/2010 10:21PM

Main British Car:
1954 TR2 serial # TS 110 L triumph 2 litre

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: triumphtr2
Date: March 12, 2012 09:53PM

Hi John. Oddly enough I was just reading through your rebuild a coulpe of days ago and wanted to say what a great job you did and how much I admired your talent in so many departments. The car looks great. I've been to Florida when its real hot in the summer and although AC would be nice, after forty years of driving sports cars, whats wrong with driving with the top up the windows down and the heater blower on full cold? Isn't that what English sports cars are all about? Tim


kerbau53
Geoff Morton
Naples, FL
(109 posts)

Registered:
08/09/2010 10:27PM

Main British Car:
78 MGB Ford 5L

Re: A/C or no A/C?
Posted by: kerbau53
Date: March 12, 2012 10:51PM

Timothy.

Been to Fla. is one thing. Try living Fla. summers. I suspect you'll consider A/C too. After a Sprite, 2 MGBs, 2 MGB GTs and 3 Healey 3000s in Fla over the years I'm doing A/C on this one.
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