The donor car for my Aventador build project is a base 88. It was the perfect car since it was completely rust free, which is rare to find up in this area. This is obviously going to be a car that is only driven in the summer, and summers in Ontario can get extremely hot (you know, after the igloos melt and the polar bears head further north ). So my plan is to install a full air conditioning system. The controls will need to be interfaced with the stock Lamborghini electronic controls. I currently have the Caddy 4.9L engine with the Caddy ECM.

So now my question is, what is the best way to get this all set up? I really have three choices:

1. Use a stock Fiero air conditioning system (specifically the air box / evaporator), add custom servos for automation, and then integrate with a 4.9L compressor (which I happen to have), miscellaneous components and Lamborghini controls. However...I only have the base Fiero air box without the evaporator (see picture below). Can the evaporator be retrofit into this air box or do I need to replace the complete air box? This is definitely something not available locally, so I have no idea where to get one or how much it will cost.

2. Look for a car at the local Pick 'n Pull and strip everything from it (air box, compressor, controls, etc) and do a complete custom installation. This will actually be the cheapest option. Integration with the Lamborghini controls may be a simplified if I use either an Audi or VW donor car (which is what Lamborghini uses, just charges ten times the cost for the same components). The toughest issue to overcome will be the air box fit, but it only needs to be close. I have lots of extra room in front of the Fiero air box and have no issues fabricating anything that is required. Having said that, anyone know a system that would be the best fit? (newer model Pontiac for example?)

3. Use an aftermarket air conditioning system designed for a hot rod installation. This might be the best option for retrofitting, but will by far be the most expensive option. The system would also need to have a heater since the stock air box would have to be removed to make room for it. The air boxes for these systems are usually a more simplistic shape (and smaller) making installation a bit easier than the previous option.

Regardless of system, it will have to be R134a compliant.

I'd love to hear peoples' thoughts on this.

I'm sure if you put a Want Ad in the Mall here, you can find a Fiero AC" Box" and evaporator, AND the AC "Lines" running from front to back, Etc. (9 out of 10 Fieros Came with AC, so all the parts are bolt -on), definitely use the 4.9 Compressor being it is a "bolt on". (you'll have to Make the rubber lines from the car to the compressor)

quote Originally posted by Lou6t4gto: I'm sure if you put a Want Ad in the Mall here, you can find a Fiero AC" Box" and evaporator, AND the AC "Lines" running from front to back, Etc. (9 out of 10 Fieros Came with AC, so all the parts are bolt -on), definitely use the 4.9 Compressor being it is a "bolt on". (you'll have to Make the rubber lines from the car to the compressor)

You are probably right, Lou. That would probably end up being the simplest setup (assuming someone has one for sale). I'll just have to figure out which specific components should be Fiero, and which should be Caddy (other than air box, lines and compressor)...what actually comes with the air box? If I go that route, then I would have to integrate the servos and control system from a late model car (most likely Audi / VW).

you'll need the whole Fiero setup, outside box w/evaporator, inside case w/flapper to change from ac to heat (then you'll have to adapt whatever controls you want. condenser w/ lines, drier, w/valves and lines. might almost be easier and cheaper to buy a rusted out shell and pull what you need ? Some people for whatever reason totally remove their AC, maybe you can find someone in the process, they usually just throw it all away !

quote Originally posted by Lou6t4gto: you'll need the whole Fiero setup, outside box w/evaporator, inside case w/flapper to change from ac to heat (then you'll have to adapt whatever controls you want. condenser w/ lines, drier, w/valves and lines. might almost be easier and cheaper to buy a rusted out shell and pull what you need ? Some people for whatever reason totally remove their AC, maybe you can find someone in the process, they usually just throw it all away !

Fieros are rare here at the best of times. Any you do find are usually ridiculously priced, which means I'll likely have to go through the PFF Mall or TFS to get anything Fiero related. That was one of the main reasons to consider a full system from another car. I don't mind purchasing some of the components new, but I don't believe the air box is available other than from someone pulling it out. I've never seen the AC version of the Fiero air box, hence the question about what components are attached to it, vs independent components.

Rickady88GT is using a mash-up of I think either the Malibu or Monte Carlo dual zone HVAC system, and the Fiero's. He's using the Malibu dash which is rather large, and the HVAC system he is using is rather large too, moving some of the components which poke through the firewall on the Fiero, totally over to the passenger compartment. Check is LS4 swap thread in The Construction Zone to get an idea of what he did.

Using a system other than the Fiero system can be a lot of problematic work, even when using one from another GM vehicle. You might have some luck finding some of the same parts from other late 80s or early 90s GM cars, though. If some of them are more available in your area, I'd find a few of them in a yard and do a little research to see if you could perhaps get enough parts together for it. Or maybe you'll get lucky and someone will be stripping a Fiero, or just selling the A/C parts at a cost that isn't unreasonable for you.

Thanks Dobey. I'll check out his set up. I'm still haven't ruled out using the complete setup from another vehicle. The one good thing about my setup is that space isn't an issue. My front of the new dash sits a little bit further forward than brake fluid reservoir. This gives me lots of extra room under the hood (well, under the new dash...accessible from under the hood).

Edit: Looking at the picture I posted at the beginning of the thread, the front of my new dash will line up with that bar that goes across the picture.

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-06-2015).]