A/C or no A/C?

[NCtim]

John,

I don't know if you're married, but, my wife has already requested AC. I don't even have a build sheet yet . . . she doesn't care if there's a radio or springs & shocks, just AC and some go-fast with the proper sound track.

NCtim

[flitner]

Oh yeah, been married since '04, together since 00 and known each other since kindergarten, and very patient with my back yard projects luckily, she figures its better for me to be back there than at a bar.

[NCtim]

And she's right! I was a bartender at a bar in college that was remarkably similar to "Cheers." I had my regulars and their drink was made before they got to their stool. I had two lawyers, an accountant, a college professor, and a realtor. The regulars ran tabs all week and paid me on Fridays, with tip. I got some great life-lessons from that experience. First I realized that when I got married I wanted to be excited to get home and see my wife, not spend a couple of hours in a bar before dragging my butt home. Second, I had 2 MGs and an Austin Healey 100-6 that always needed attention. I figured what they were spending on bar tabs I could buy a lot of cool car parts and court the ladies and have $$ left over after I got out of college and I wouldn't smell like popcorn and liquor when I got home.

I think that's why I'm still the luckiest man on earth! I'm still excited to get home from the office to my beautiful wife of 28 years and she encourages my projects. If she wants AC then I'll give her the 40lbs of additional weight on the front end. If I was that concerned about weight I could lose 15lbs and get under 190, but I love to cook too much. I sacrificed for too many years to give up good food now.

Cheers,
NCtim

[DoctorEurocar]

Im building a 1973 Stag, that originally had a/c Living in South Florida I cannot imagine not having air. I drove my classic around Southern California and Seattle for years and a/c was always ditched in favor of weight savings. Not this time. This build has to have air even with top down ill run the air. I think im going with a ford 5.0/T5 but im leaning towards a chevy 4.3 and T5 just because im guaranteed to have more space for the a/c bits and abig radiator to keep the whole mess cool.

[DiDueColpi]

Hi Mitchell,
It's a little far away but the Craigslist for Vancouver B.C. Canada, has what looks like a well done Stag with a chevy FI 5.0L
New paint and a hard top for $4900.00 Canadian. Or $0.86 if you factor in the US. exchange rate!
Haven't seen it in person but it sure is tempting.
Cheers
Fred

And o yeah, A/C all the way.
I'm in the same boat with the lovely Lynne (and i'd like to stay there)

[DoctorEurocar]

Nice car but I major issue which I cannot overcome....Hood scoop..No way I can drive this car with any visible body modifications..
Would be nice for when im home to cruise around Seattle but that darn hood scoop.

Actually even in Seattle I want AC... in 2008 Winter there was more snow that year than the last 30 winters combined 2009 summer reached triple digits heat for 4 days.. My house has no AC, I was sleeping outside on my boat in the yard.....

[rficalora]

That little sliver on the hood bothers you?  I've only seen a few stags and had you not mentioned it I'd have never realized that wasn't stock.  Looks great to me.  And at US$4200 that'd be hard to pass up if it were near me!

[imfast2]

I've looking at adding one of the units designed for trunk installation where the vents are normally installed in the package tray behind rear seats. Since the B has no package try, thought of cutting vents & return through the rear panel & push air forward. Unit would be in the trunk, saving a lot of work trying to get a decent installation up front.
Anyone tried this alternative or have other ideas?
Also looking for best sources & prices for A/C kits & bits if you have any.

[BOOTLEG]

Although far fewer A/C days In WI than FL, I find simply driving my Miata on those days works best.  It also allows redeployment of MGB A/C $ into flowers for my wife who tolerates my sports car addicition.

[pspeaks]

After living through summers stationed in Virginia where I bought it, Florida, South Carolina, California and now back to Texas, my late wife finally refused to ride in the GT because it didn't have AC.  I think the decision weather to add AC should be based on what you intend to use the car for.  I agree with Curtis that a race or track day car might preform better without the drag on the engine and the additional weight but at 70 years old my track days are behind me.  I made the decision to go with AC and don't think I'll regret it, at least I hope not as I've already bought it.  As Dallas had several days this winter at 16 degrees I think its heat and defrost function might come in handy as well.


Paul

[MGBV8]

On a GT, I would definitely add A/C. The roadster? Not sure it will help much the way the wind whips around in a B.

[pspeaks]

I agree Carl, I had a roadster before the GT and was perfectly happy with it.


Paul

[rficalora]

I can tell you from experience, A/C on a roadster is of limited value unless you have a hard top.  I rarely have the top up unless my wife is with me... she doesn't like her hair whipping around & it's too short for a pony tail to do any good... When we drove to Fredricksburg TX last summer (about 5hrs away) we tried out the A/C.  At stops, the AC would freeze us out of the car, but as soon as we got going over about 25-30mph, there was so much hot air getting sucked in around the windows that, while cooler than it was outside, it's still probably 80 degrees with the A/C on high.  Ambient temp outside was around 95-98 degrees.

[roverman]

AC yes, run the compressor in reverse ? Alternator doesn't care, but ac pump, I'm not sure. I want to use accessories as tensioners, for (2) round tooth cam belts, and it will be crowded, on front of engine.  Anybody ?  Thanks, roverman.

[DocsMG]

My B is a daily driver.  I used the heater all winter and scraped the windows too!  Now I want AC so I can be cool in the summer or at least have some air blowing on my feet.  I B hot footin it!

[danmas]

700 miles to French Lick and back, temps in the 90s, cloudless sky, 302ci under the hood, exhaust pipes under my feet - AC good!

On the bi-level setting, cold air blows on my face from the dash vents, and the floor vents blow directly on my feet.  With the Lizardskin and the AC, life is good.

24 mpg with the AC on high and the cooling fan on. Water temp never exceeded 200, between 185 - 195 most of the time.