ixfxi
06-28-2015, 11:41 AM
In case anyone wants to tear into their HVAC system a little deeper, I am sharing some recent photos of the work I have done to rejuvenate the gaskets and clean everything up before re-assembling in the car. I plan for this thread to cover the entire HVAC system, from A-to-Z.
I wont be going into the AC part of the system for a (long) while, but if you guys ever feel like elaborating... by all means, please add to the discussion. I have gone back and fourth on AC or NO AC for a long while now. Being that I have an SR20DET, I am ditching the AC (for now) for a list of reasons:
1) I already have too much plumbing in the engine bay that is higher priority and will possibly interfere with the OEM AC components: oil cooler + ducting, intercooler + piping, headlight components, and other things.
2) The OEM setup requires a mix of USDM and JDM parts. I am not ready to deal with brazing fittings and would like to look into using alternative (smaller or more universal) parts later down the road. In the future, I will look into what condensers or driers are available.
3) I still like the clean, empty engine bay look. So I'm going to try to keep it like this as long as I can manage being without AC.
In the meantime, here are some photos that show the internals of the HVAC system:
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_01.jpg
^ HVAC components + ducts
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_02.jpg
^ Main HVAC housing which stores the heater core, hot/cold blend door, and also controls the air adjustments.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_03.jpg
^ This is the duct that stores the AC evaporator. With no AC, I have removed the evaporator and styrofoam insulation. The evaporator inlet/outlet holes were plugged and sealed, as was the drain tube.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_04.jpg
^ This is the blower motor housing. On the bottom side is the fan. The top has the recirc door and servo.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_05.jpg
^ These are the plugged holes for the evaporator.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_06.jpg
^ New foam seals for the position flaps and upper duct seal.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_07.jpg
^ Close up of new foam.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_08.jpg
^ Close up of OLD foam. Its rotten and will disintegrate upon touch.
I used McMaster for the weather resistant foam. I thoroughly cleaned the interior and exterior of the HVAC system, I highly suggest doing the same. As you would imagine, a lot of junk accumulates over the course of 20+ years.
I wont be going into the AC part of the system for a (long) while, but if you guys ever feel like elaborating... by all means, please add to the discussion. I have gone back and fourth on AC or NO AC for a long while now. Being that I have an SR20DET, I am ditching the AC (for now) for a list of reasons:
1) I already have too much plumbing in the engine bay that is higher priority and will possibly interfere with the OEM AC components: oil cooler + ducting, intercooler + piping, headlight components, and other things.
2) The OEM setup requires a mix of USDM and JDM parts. I am not ready to deal with brazing fittings and would like to look into using alternative (smaller or more universal) parts later down the road. In the future, I will look into what condensers or driers are available.
3) I still like the clean, empty engine bay look. So I'm going to try to keep it like this as long as I can manage being without AC.
In the meantime, here are some photos that show the internals of the HVAC system:
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_01.jpg
^ HVAC components + ducts
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_02.jpg
^ Main HVAC housing which stores the heater core, hot/cold blend door, and also controls the air adjustments.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_03.jpg
^ This is the duct that stores the AC evaporator. With no AC, I have removed the evaporator and styrofoam insulation. The evaporator inlet/outlet holes were plugged and sealed, as was the drain tube.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_04.jpg
^ This is the blower motor housing. On the bottom side is the fan. The top has the recirc door and servo.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_05.jpg
^ These are the plugged holes for the evaporator.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_06.jpg
^ New foam seals for the position flaps and upper duct seal.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_07.jpg
^ Close up of new foam.
http://clearcorners.com/temp/HVAC_08.jpg
^ Close up of OLD foam. Its rotten and will disintegrate upon touch.
I used McMaster for the weather resistant foam. I thoroughly cleaned the interior and exterior of the HVAC system, I highly suggest doing the same. As you would imagine, a lot of junk accumulates over the course of 20+ years.