No reason you can't retrofit a Behr Underdash AC, which I am in the process
of doing.

The small car solution is expensive but probably better, in some ways.

1. Find a bracket you like and a compressor for it, you can do all that
with the engine in the car. A bracket from a jetta will work. Depending on
the bracket and arrangement, you may have to cut some relief in the engine
cover.

2. Install the Behr (or other unit that will fit). The Behr installs under
the dash, behind the glove box.

3. Drop the radiator and add a condenser to it.

4. Wire it up

5. Take it to a shop and have them fit the hoses, or, use garden hose to
make exact-length patterns and take those to a shop. It will be a great
help if you have the fitting off of bad hoses from another vanagon, then
all the fitting will work.

You can also put in a rear air system and lose the westy cabinet, but
people don't like that very much because it puts no air on your face, where
you want it.

You can install a front overhead unit, but people don't like that because
it cysts down on the room to access the upstairs because it extends back
further than the opening in the roof. You can't move it forward any because
your head won't fit under it.

So under-dash it likely is.

I have the 1.6 turbo and it cruises at 60 all day long. I have the 5 speed
transmission.

Jim

On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 12:43 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Only one viable A/C option, but will be more than the $4k install when you
> already have A/C.  Supposedly a kit is coming and you can get a condenser
> on
> line that will work:
> http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?dispatch=pages.view&page_id=62
>
> No more outside air, but in your climate that's okay.  Don't even think
> about trying to retrofit a stock system.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> ANTONY MARSH
> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 10:19 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Any idea what this Westie might be worth
>
> Dear List
>
> Just learned of a 1986 Westie in very good condition - this from a very
> experienced VW Shop owner - with a new 1.6 VW Turbo Diesel.  Runs as sweet
> as anything, gets great mpg's and only has one big defect for me living
> here
> in the humid world of SW Florida - it does not have and never did have
> AC!!!!
>
> My immediate question - can AC be added, and is 1.6 even with a turbo - the
> very slow original VW diesel?
>
> Regards to all
> Peter Marsh
> Naples FL=
>