Jeep Air For 232 Straight Six

Has anyone used this kit on their Jeep? Preferably on an intermediate CJ with the 232. Heat And AC System Cj Series Jeep 258 Engine. It supposedly has everything you need to install A/C on the 258. I contacted the company to ask about installing it on a 232. He didn't think it would work, but wasn't sure. From my understanding the 232 and the 258 are identical externally. Does anyone know if this is true? I searched the forum and saw where Duffer had used their heater unit, but didn't find anything else.

 

But $950 is a lot of water bottles and does it work with a bikini top?

 

True, but I have a hard top and it gets more than water bottle hot here for about half the year.

 

Following, Totally understand A/C is probably in my future, was on the verge of heat exhaustion a few times working at the ranch last week. Painting the hard top any color other than black is happening also...

 

I feel like @timgr would know.
In Dj-5c Restoration - 3s + 1w
They went thru all the options for replacing the 232 with a 258 and 4.0
Ac would definitely be cool.

 

Well... if this seller is offering compressor mounting brackets ready-to-go for the 258, that improves the value quite a lot. You have lots of choices for the interior bits from companies like Vintage Air, Restomod Air, etc. Add a compact air box, blower and evaporator in the central area under the dash, or get a heat and cool unit and take over the under-dash space occupied by the factory heater box.

Jeep offered both factory air and dealer-installed air (American Air) for the CJs. Compressor brackets should be easy for a V8, since you could take all the engine-front stuff from a Grand Wagoneer. A six is a bit harder, and would be a good and interesting project. If you consider this, suggest you get the '74-80 parts manual and look at the pictures - group 13.

 

Thanks, yes I'm pretty sure it includes the brackets for the 258. I like all the options that Vintage Air offers, but the complete kit that this is advertised as having makes it attractive to me. I think I'd have to buy some heater hose is all. When I was inquiring about whether or not it would fit the 232 he offered to sell me the kit without the bracket since he wasn't sure it would fit. He did reduce the price somewhat. I think I'll contact him about purchasing the bracket only and if it works then I could buy the remaining kit.
Thanks for responding, I value your experience particularly with the AMC era vehicles.

 

There's no distinction between air conditioning for the 232 and the 258 in the parts book. A 258 is a 232 with a longer stroke, nothing more. The main change in the sixes was between '74 and '75, when the power steering pump moved to the driver's side of the engine. '74 is really different, but again, the parts book does not separate the 232 from the 258 regarding air conditioning. It's just SIX and V8.

You can buy the parts book on CD-ROM at RockAuto for ca $25 ... worthwhile having as a reference.

 

Thanks, I did find the install instructions in a prior email. Here's a picture. There's also more inclusive written instructions on their website, but this shows the layout of the brackets and pulleys.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYrdqz51ZT2CNHMp9

 

Couldn't you use AMC car parts for this as well? A 6 cyl Jeep with AC would be a pretty rare item but there should be lots of Gremlins/Pacers/Concordes that had AC.

 

Good idea. The bracket might be different. This kit uses a Sanden compressor and I'm pretty sure the AMC's of the era used York compressors. It was also require relocating the alternator which would be doable it would just require more parts. According to my TSM the York compressor was on top and the alternator sits below. My alternator is in the upper position and the kit would place the Sanden compressor below it.

 

Sure. The Jeep engines are the same as the automotive engines. I wonder about "lots of" though. The AMC guys are awfully fond of their parts, and finding an intact air conditioned 6 cylinder AMC in a junkyard seems rather unlikely.

However, there are lots of XJs in the yards. The crank end is different on the 4.0L but the rest of the front of the engine is the same. I don't recall the details, but there's lots written about the crank end of the 258 (or 232) compared to the 4.0L, since the 258 crank goes in the 4.0L block to make a 4.6L stroker motor. No personal experience with any of this, and not guaranteeing it will work, but it looks promising.

 

I probably should have phrased it differently....there were lots built, 40 years ago. Whether there are any still around is another matter.