260Z AC equipped

[Mitchka]

My "new"" 260Z has all the equipment for AC (not all attached, of course), but I have a few items that bother me with it.

According to the previous owner, it had the AC compressor installed on the passenger side of the engine. He removed it to install a mechanical fuel pump it it. Where did the compressor originally mount to?

I see mounting holes on the drivers side of the block, and a mounting plate attached to the passenger side inner fenderwell.

In the passenger footwell there is a "glovebox" A/C unit. The type mounted in vehicles not equipped with A/C.

I do not know much about A/C equipped Datsuns, could anybody tell me where the controls to turn it on are at, where the compressor mounts, and anything else possibly useful?

[nhoddino]

Ac compressor is on the drivers side. I think the previous owne is bs ing you. The electronic fuel pum is under the car rith next to and almost abov ethe fuel tank in the rear. If you want I will show you pictures of my 260 2+2 which has teh Stock AC installed and functioning properly.

Nick

[sblake01]

Nick, the earlier non factory systems, which is what Mitchka is describing, often had the compressor mounted on the passenger side. Many of them had an upright compressor mounted on a bracket that placed the compressor right over the area where the mechanical fuel pump is located. If your car has factory air, pictures of it will be of no help to him.

[240ZMan]

There are others on this forum who know the details of what was offered each year far better than I, but I can share my experience with my 73 and hope that it gives you some insight. My 73 (build date 2/73) had the dealer installed kit. As sblake01 says, it had an upright compressor mounted on the passenger side, although it did have the mechanical fuel pump as well so not sure what's different on the 74. In any event, the mounting bracket looked like it was designed by Rube Goldberg so I swapped to a later compressor and bracket from an '80 280zx. It mounted on the driver side and bolted right up - I just had to get a new hose made. From what I've read and experienced, the later compressors, while not as good as modern ones, are still better than the original one from the dealer kit (less vibration, slightly more efficient). I picked mine up at a JY for $20 so they're not expensive if you can find one. Ordering online and shipping would likely change that though.

There is a small panel with a knob for the temp control that is mounted under the dash just to the left of the center console. The control has a thick wire that goes to the thermocouple that sits in between the fins of the evaporator in the box under the passenger side of the dash. In order to run the AC, all 3 sliders are moved to the left which effectively closes the HVAC system to outside air. The knob on the controller is turned to the right to set the temperature.

The system works reasonably well with good airflow over the condenser - in other words, on the highway.

Again, I don't know how much of this is relevant to your 74, but maybe it gives you a place to start.

[bilede]

I have been told by everyone of the old datsun mechanics I know that no 240 or 260z's had factory air. I confirmed this with my dad who use to order all the Z's for the dealership from late '69 through '77. The dealer could order (still not factory) the car have air installed at the distribution center in california (west coast only maybe?) but the cost was excessive so the dealers did it themselves in almost all cases. all systems I have seen compressor was on passenger side but there may of been a different aftermarket system installed on the drivers side I guess.. I have a late 74 with ac still on it if you want any pics I could take them later in the week when I will see it.

[sblake01]

You were told wrong and your 'old datsun mechanics' are misinformed. The 74 260Z was the first US S30 to have factory air. If not, the would render this section in the 260Z FSM pretty useless. Seriously, I've worked on them. It's pretty much the same system as the factory air in the 75-78 280Z.