Just read this from the beginning. Very nice to see your hard work paid off.

 

TY Sir

I had a shop lined up to make the AC lines, but they balked and decided it was too hard for them. I have a friend that works for Penn-Hydraulics that will make the lines, but it took a bit to find the connections that go into the compressor. GM wanted $480+ for the two lines and then I found them on Ebay for $80.

The stock GTO lines contact the frame rail on the pass side, so I am working to find out if they can just be bent at a steeper angle or if I need to have all new lines made. New lines aren't a big deal, but the way they mount and secure to the compressor is what makes it difficult, the lines overlap and fork into one another and then bolt down in the center to the compressor.

It will be done soon, its getting hot out and I want this finished. Plus, driving in the rain is scary as hell with Toyo 888s and not seeing through the front window.

 

Hi chris!

 

Hello my brother... running yet?!?!? Can't wait to see numbers from your build!!!

I should have AC within 2 weeks, then I am done for the season. Many things to consider for next year

 

Chris i want a toasted bagel with cream cheese please...lol

 

So after much time and expense I was finally able to source and fab all the parts and lines for the AC conversion to use the Nissan condenser and the LS compressor.

By dumb luck I found a local hot rod shop that turns out to be a very top end shop in the hot rod world, the shop is Poises in Hummelstown , PA. They were able to fab all the lines and troubleshoot the small glitches that came up.

Long story short, we got everything installed and the compressor seized... classic. Now I'm trying to find out if anyone knows if the compressor can be removed with the engine in the car or if anyone has a compressor for sale.

Per Posies advice, I will also be changing the drier and the coil inside the car to be sure to remove any possibility of further contamination failures. I will throw up some pics when I get a chance.

 

I have a compressor, Chris. No AC in the race car...

 

Chris are you going to run the car at Cecil later this season?

 

Hoping to, I would love to have some baseline numbers to work with.

 

i have a compressor sent you a message

 

Hope you get everything worked out. Once you get the ac going, that is going to be a nice DD

 

I think he stated earlier he is using an LS compressor.

If not I have 2 of them off of low mileage cars in the garage if you need one.

 

Awesome. I've been looking for some insight to do this to my Z!!

 

Brief update ... Car actually survived an entire season of abusive driving without blowing up. This is HUGE for me and hasn't happened in ~4 years.

I just got the new AC compressor installed last week, so it now has working AC. Possibly the first LS swapped 350Z with AC??? I know there are a couple of G35s that have it done already. Now just a quick touch up on the ViPEC settings to turn the fans on when AC is turned on and it is 100%.

For others that may be interested in this... I had a hot rod shop fab the lines and used a custom 90* AC fitting I found on Ebay with a minor mod to let the nut travel down enough to fit securely. The AC compressor CAN be installed/removed with the LS installed in the car.

The setup I used is as follows:
350Z condenser and drivers side hard lines
LS2 Compressor from a GTO
90* Ebay compressor fitting with stock compressor washers
Custom fabbed lines on the pass side connecting to the stock unit in the car
350Z stock AC switch used to control LS compressor with ViPEC

Also installed some modified Whiteline sway bar end links. I had them trimmed and then threaded the entire length to push the Cusco front sway out another 1/4" from the front of the Sikky oil pan. The sway was rubbing very slightly under full suspension compression because of my lowered ride height up front. This solved that issue.

I did some serious research into the LSA crate motor as well. The issue that kept me from pulling the trigger on this is that the LSA is a triple pulley system and the LS2 is a dual pulley. The space between the crank pulley and/or water pump and the radiator is ~3/4", so I had serious concerns about having to tube the front end to make things fit and I am not willing to do so at this time. The fueled racing kit may provide a solution for this, but I haven't heard much about their service or kit fitment. One more thing about the LSA, none of the LS2 accessories will fit the LSA and I assume the same is for the LS1 as well. The accessory package is roughly another $1k on top of the $11.5K LSA crate motor.

I am considering going a route similar to Quamen and just building a 600whp NA monster as a direct drop in replacement for the LS2, but I recently got distracted my a shiny object and purchased an LSB M3 vert, so I am keeping the Z status quo for this season now.

 

As far as money comes into play what would be more worth it, Ls2 or FI on the VQ

 

built vq is cheaper and easier since it has been done. Read through this entire thread and see all the problems with the swap and you will see. There are a couple others. Seems that no matter how many kits are out on the market they still require a considerable amount of custom work and a lot of time to do which means a lot of money (unless you own a shop that can do custom work in house).

 

Sick swap I'm so jealous, hope to have my ready soon