AC vents - series I 2+2

New kit from XK's Unlimited is $2195. You install...

Hi What would it cost to install A/C in a series II IM LOOKING AT A CAR WITH no A/C/ Thankyou Mick Yea baby, Behave.

Lonnie converting to 134 will not make the system more reliable. In fact it will do the reverse. 134 requires a higher head pressure to work and this is non-designed pressure on the system. There are a few good non- flamable products on the market (RB276 and Freeze 12 and others) that directly replace R 12 and operate at the normal pressures. They are filled by pressure readings not by the sight glass method but when done properly provide proper cooling and cost the same or less than 134. I take care of a few hundred cars and in SC we have a lot of AC systems. I have never converted a car and the owners stay cool. As far as the Sanden compresor it is lighter and reguires slightly less power to function but as far as the AC system is no more efficient or less than the Tecumseh HG 500. The physics of compressing a gas are constant and both do it well. One benefit you get from the HG500 are the remote valves. If you have to remove the compressor for any reason you can back seat the valves and remove them from the compressor. This simply means that when the compressor is reinstalled and valves hooked up you will have lost the gas that was in the compressor only--HG 500 stands for 500cc. Many times this amount will not be a detectable loss in the system. Stay orig. if not contact me and I will gladly purchase the compressor and clutch. George Camp

S2 E-Type a/c systems are as simple as they come. If the system is running well, then you will need to have it professionally emptied and flushed. If for no other reason than to save future repair cost, you should have the hoses rebuilt. I don't recall if there are o-rings in the sytsem, but if there are, they need to be changed. The fill valves will need to be changed, or have adapters added (mind the bonnet clearance). The receiver/drier must be replaced (should do this anytime the system is emptied). I'm not sure if there are R134 specific expansion valves available, but your a/c mechanic should know, and if not, it will work ok with the stock valve. Once these tasks are done, fill and go. You lose a little efficiency with R134, and the system is pretty anemic to start with. Cost? The cost of handling R12 is outta sight, so if your system is presently filled and running, let it be.

There's really nothing to the S2 system, it's reasonably rugged. One thing you may want to consider is replacing the York Tecumseh compressor with a radial compressor (Sanden is the usual choice), which will be quieter and more efficient. And the next time the system is emptied, you should rebuild all the hoses using modern barrier hose. Otherwise, it should be good to go.

Thanks for the great feedback. The system I have seen has the vents under the glove box area and another piece under the tach/speedo - nothing in the console area. The owner of the SI car can not locate the vents and some other larger issues make me steer clear of this one and lean towards a 69 I'm looking at.

While on the AC topic... Any tips, cost estimates, details... on converting a SII AC (all original equipment) to a modern (R134?) AC system that is realiable?

You may call it a transition year if you wish but it is clear that Jaguar saw it as the latest edition of the series 1. The system Jaguar provided in kit form was to be applied to ALL 4.2L cars. The earlier system you describe was developed by Overseas Motors in concert with Hornburg (as a distributor) and Jaguar. Dugdale as Jaguar's Western rep. was involved hence his notes. The early system (of which I have all of the development notes, drawings, and photos) was nothing like the Jaguar system as the evaporators were read mounted as was the condensers. There was a car on E-Bay in the last month or so that had its system in place. The easy way to tell this early system is the center console was bulky and had air outlet ducts mounted in it. George Camp

I'd call 1968 a transition year. The A/C system used that year is very similar to the S2 system, as you describe. But there was an earlier system used in the mid-60's, on true covered headlight S1's. Dugdale describes it in his book on Jaguar in America. James Dean is rumored to have some parts from one of these early systems.

In fact 1968 E-Types came from the factory with AC installed. As they are series 1 cars (hence the factory designation series 2 in 1969) the truth is that series one cars did have AC. Further the factory supported the instillation of kits (approved) in 4.2L E-Types. In publication E 157/1 the contents of the kit and the detailed instructions to fit it are found. When installed by dealers (and in at least 2 cases the factory) the kit was covered by warranty and spelled out that the service and maintenance was the responsibility of the Jaguar system.

There should be 5 small vents running directly below the facia from under the center panel to the right edge of the facia. They might be chrome plastic but are more likely black. The controls are two switches one inside the other located on the left of the AC evaporator below the tach.

Good hunting. George Camp

Officially, there were no S1 E-Types with A/C. There was a dealer installed system available in the US for a time, but I don't know of any photos, or if the system was even standard car to car. James Dean in Florida may be of help. His number is 1 877 524 8787 (NAYYY).

Officially, there were no S1 E-Types with A/C. There was a dealer installed system available in the US for a time, but I don't know of any photos, or if the system was even standard car to car. James Dean in Florida may be of help. His number is 1 877 524 8787 (NAYYY).