Converting VN to Climate Control

[88GreenVN]

I'm going to see if I can put a Climate Control setup into the 88 Wagon without swopping the heater box. (Edit - cant do this)

I've purchased all the bits that is needed as far as I know - plus also the proper CC heater box too just in case I fail.

I've got 1991_Vn2nV's wiring instructions and plan to take some photos and draw up some plans of the plugs and colours diagrams - along the lines of the L3 dash upgrades. Thosse diagrams make is so much easier to make the upgrade and use them all the time. (added 3 items to the notes to do a complete install)

The reason for this is I have all the CC bits and the A/C is already very cold in the wagon. If I dont have to take it out I wont.

I dont know about anyone else - but I love the climate control in the V8 and think it will sit well in the 88 Wagon.

[1991_Vn2nV]

If not doing the heater core swap I really reccomend swapping looms man. Its so easy, just plug and play once you're done.

As far as I know you should just be able to swap the resistor in the top of the heater core and the bottom little box thing plus the actual plug and wiring for the heater core and it should work (the standard heater core to CC heater core).

[88GreenVN]

The wagon as a Calais loom in it already. I have the wires from a cliamte control. So here goes.....

Photos later today of all the bits.

[88GreenVN]

OK here is 3 photos of some of the bits needed.

I'll get photos of the other bits tonight and put lables on them

[Nevyn]

cool...I'll watch this very keenly....might save me some money on regassing.

[88GreenVN]

Biggest issue I can see at this point (re taking heater box out) is getting one of the sensors into the heater box - goes inbetween the fan and the main box.

Edit - looks like the heater box must come out to get the sensor in.

[88GreenVN]

When replacing a dead blower fan in the VN - Do you have to take the whole heater box out?

[88GreenVN]

OK looking through the VQ book last night and it looks as if you can change the intake sensor without removing the heater box. (Wrong)

So I'm working through the wire diagrams and now just need to pull the wagon a/c switches out to see what colour wires it has. The Blue A/C plug I have dosn't have the same wires as 1991_Vn2nV has a brown instead of a green black.

Very close to a goer now - have all the parts and ready for the xmas time swap.

[88GreenVN]

Here is the tricky bit. I pulled a heater box apart on the bench to see how I could put the sensor inside the core. Comes apart easy enough - but getting the sensor plugged into the correct position will require a special tool to be made.

[Zuicider]

was easy pulling apart but **** putting it back in

[88GreenVN]

was easy pulling apart but **** putting it back in

Yep - but the special tool making is all part of the challange. If I can get this part done the climate may just go into the car without replacing the heater box and require a A/C re-gas.

[1991_Vn2nV]

I don't think i've heard of someone doing it this way before. Could be a first?

[88GreenVN]

I don't think i've heard of someone doing it this way before. Could be a first?

I've not found anyone who has done it this way either.... But cant see why not - except for the sensor into the middle of the box. I'll bend up a screw driver and weld a pike thingo on it.

I have 2 climate control heater boxes so if it all goes horribly wrong I can chuck a complete box in.

But if I can do it without disconnecting the A/C I can save $150 on a re-gas and new seals.

[Nevyn]

is it easy enough to get the core out off the heater box without taking it out of the car?....I haven't had to change a heater core yet.

[TUF UTE]

im going to all holden spares tomo to pick up a Vs stato dash, loom and full climate control setup for my ute, already have the level 3 dash ... should be verryyyy niiice


love what ya doing with your car man.. good to see someone who thinks like me

[88GreenVN]

im going to all holden spares tomo to pick up a Vs stato dash, loom and full climate control setup for my ute, already have the level 3 dash ... should be verryyyy niiice

Yep great upgrade to do.


love what ya doing with your car man.. good to see someone who thinks like me

With no footy on now what else is there to do but to play with the cars.....
And now that the wagon is a "Stealthy Calais International" it needs climate control and a V8.

[88GreenVN]

is it easy enough to get the core out off the heater box without taking it out of the car?....I haven't had to change a heater core yet.

Without dropping the coolant no. - But that maybe the solution. I'll play with the screw driver process more tonight after work.

One thing I just thought of is where the probe goes into the box it has 2 screws to secure it - dont know if the standard box has the holes. Bugga - just got to work and now I'll have to wait until I get home to have a look at the standard heater box........

[88GreenVN]

Looks like what the probe is secured into the climate heater box is pop riveted to the box. So this could be bit of a pain. The climate box I have as a "mule" can give me the thing to incert into the original heater box. The shaft looks the same - just press the cog onto it for the control motor. So its drill the 2 pop rivits out and see what goes. (the climate box is broken and not servicable so I have no problem hacking into it.

[88GreenVN]

Pick up a standard heater box on friday to experiment with - cut holes in for the sensor to go in. Friday could be a fun day

[Nevyn]

the CC box I picked up for the blue VN got broken, so looks like I'll have to do the same as u now 88 whether I want to or not......and as for loosing coolant, thats no deal, I'm using the cheap kmart stuff at the moment till I work out where its leaking from.

[88GreenVN]

I have 2 set of CC bits ready to go. So Fridays test is looking to be a good fun day. Getting the bit out of the CC heater box and into the standard box is the challenge.

[Nevyn]

I though that would be the easy part (getting the bits out) cos u can rip the box apart....putting them into the box still in the car is what I see been the hard part.

[88GreenVN]

I though that would be the easy part (getting the bits out) cos u can rip the box apart....putting them into the box still in the car is what I see been the hard part.

I just want to get the bit that's pop rivetted into the bottom of the heater box without killing it. Them mount it into a standard box. Looks to be the biggest task to get around.

[88GreenVN]

Only got 5 mins on this Friday - I found the bottom of the old heater box from the 91 sedan behind the shed. It looks like all I have to do is cut 2 holes in it and drill 3 holes - It's maked on the plastic.

[88GreenVN]

Here is the biggest challenge to date. Cuting these holes out is easy - but behind the cut outs on a climate control heater box is a metal plate.

I'm going to try use a sealer glue to holde the sensor in place and the air tube. If that bit works - good to go I think.