i am starting to buy lotsa goodies for my ute...first things first tho...a/c kit for summer...i know a person who recomends the hot rod kit from hot rod a/c...i want a brand new kit....any info would be greatly appricated

Because of the cost, maybe as much as the value of the car, most people don't bother retrofitting A/C to a 1200. Unless you are running an a15, you'll be most likely disappointed with the result.

Many people try to get the parts out of 80s model grey-import 1200 utes from Japan.

If it already had it, then fine, try to stick with it. I don't know about how the other guys feel, but a little 1200 was never supposed to be a Mercedes Benz It would be more economical to get a 2nd car with a/c, just for use on the hot days. With you down in hot old Hay, I can understand why you might need it more than others.

I'd be interested to hear how you go with getting a kit fitted. I don't know of many others who have tried.

o ok well thar wreked my fun lol...u been to hay before?

Here in South Africa you can get a aftermarket aircon kit installed at an additional 8000 to 10 000 ZA rand.
How it works? I have no idea. Dodgeman asked me some time ago to get for him some more information on this as he is also interested in installing a aircon in his 1200 coupe I think.
I only got so far as to find out who does the installation of this kit in the 1400's.
Did'nt get to the place yet to actually see,take photos and get a installation manual to mail to him. (Sorry Dodgeman). I think I must make a plan.

Ive seen quite a few 120y's and sunnys with a/c, it wouldnt be that hard to retrofit and then get the compressor converted with the correct seals and oil for the modern gas. I was going to do it in my partners sedan but that idea's on the backburner for now.

That's right about using a B210 or Sunny 310 one.

But for the South African one... ZAR10,000 is about AUS $1600. I would guess $2500 landed in Australia. After taxes, GST, shipping.

Certainly I've spoiled many white business shirts driving my Datsun to work in summer. So I know the A/C is a good idea in a 1200 during the summer months..

As for my experiences of Hay? I've driven the Hay plain from Adelaide to Sydney. Coming back from the Datsun Nationals in 2003. Was an awesome weekend.

i picked up a 120y the other day with air con :) so if ya look hard you might find one :)

like this?




My 1200 wagon has Aircon, it's an under dash unit just under the glove box, it kills the performance and I had to change the radiator to a Gemini one as when it was on it would over heat, also the HUGE 7 blade fan would kiil it if you tried to rev it, so I just fitted a gemini 4 blade fan at the same time and it was a lot happier.

Now I've fitted a L20b but still have to find room for the aircon radiator

Has anyone airconed a CA 1200......?

I was thinking along the lines of pinching a compressor & condenser from a Silvia / 180sx.
That way it'd have all the same mounting brackets / holes etc & would just require a head unit & an extra thermo-fan for the condenser.

Am I dreaming or what?

If you can fit the original compressor easily in the engine bay, There is no reason why you are dreaming. I think the most fiddly bit will be fitting a condensor in the 1200 with the intercooler and radiator. You only need 1 thermo fan to do the job for the condensor and radiator.
My SR20 1200 will run aircon but I had to mod the engine bracket to sit the original SR compressor up 15mm higher away from the chassis rail.
The biggest problem with poeple fitting aircon to cars is they dont match the compressor size to the motor. If you go to the wreckers and take a commodore compressor and put it on an A12. The A12 is naturally gonna struggle. You can buy new compressors that are suited to 1litre to 1.5litre motors.
When the ac compressor engages, the motor will need the idle to increase. Most EFI motors have a idle/stepper motor in the throttle body/manifold, so idle is easily controlled. Carbie motors are a little harder. You simply use a module that cuts out the compressor below a set engine rpm. (similar to a shift light module)
AC is a big task to fit, but not overly difficult. Naturally if you want the comfort of AC in the car you like to drive, cost isnt really a factor.
Aftermarket evapourators are plentyful and there is a wide range of sizes avaliable. Just find the size you want to suit your 1200. Most people know AC to be mounted under the dashboard.You only need the evapourator to draw air from inside the cabin. My 1200 will have the heater/ac evapourator mounted in the boot and it will blow hot and cold air to the dash through 2 lengths of 20mm conduit. It will have 2 ball valves under the dash so it can direct the air to the windscreen or to the floor just like the original heater. The original dash heater controls will operate like normal and i will use the choke knob on a switch to turn on and off the ac.