Interested in buying a taco without a/c, curious how viable it is to drop it in?

I came across a 96 taco in great shape with low miles (~91k). The carfax checks out and everything. The kicker? It doesn't have A/C. It's currently hotter than hell right now in cali (~105 today) and I'm planning on DDing this car so A/C is a must. The benefit of it being hot right now is that I can probably negotiate the price a bit.

I've tried searching, but my google-fu isn't great right now. Is it relatively straightforward to drop in A/C, and if so how would one go about doing it?

BTW, anything else I should know about this model year? I'm trying to do as much research as possible right now.

 

I would be very cautious.

so far what I have found is some things are not easy to add.

to add cruise control in my 04 all I needed was the switch and a new steering wheel but that is only for the 04 models. any other year and it would have been a huge expense and major work to replace the wiring harness in it. to add power windows and locks I spent $1000 on salvage yard oem parts and I have to make my own wiring harness to power it since the trucks have no extra wires for things not already installed on it from the factory.

I cant say if its easy or not to convert to a/c but if the wiring isn't already there for it, it may be much more involved and expensive then you would have thought.

my advice would be to look into the price and feasibility of adding aftermarket a/c to the truck just in case that's your only practical option.

things off hand you might need to replace would be the dash ductwork and wiring harness, the engine pulleys and hoses for things might have to be redone if the alternator and PS must be moved around.

just the cost of a condenser, a/c compressor, hoses, driers, metering devices, and a new temperature control could be over $1000 and you might spend another $500-$600 on the evaporator, dash ductwork, and wiring harness.

I'm not trying to scare you off this idea but trying to do this with oem stock stuff could be in the $2k plus area so that's why im thinking aftermarket ad-on a/c (if its available) would be the most logical solution to adding a/c.

my suggestion is if you have to have a/c in the truck then wait to find one that already has it in it.

 

Thanks for the honest feedback. Some searching has lead me to believe that this particular generation's A/C system is plug-and-play since the fans/etc are already set up (A/C was a $900 convenience option back in the day in this MY). Wasn't sure if there was a kit out there or something. OEM may be a viable option, but I've seen some threads where people were getting parted out kits for < $400 on eBay. I'm not really sure if I want to go through the headache of doing something like this though, but I am mechanically inclined so I could DIY it.

Still, it would be awesome to get advice from someone who's actually installed A/C on their taco or attempted to go down this road before.

 

well im mechanical and a DIY guy and I have 35 years as an a/c mechanic with electrical and plumbing experience and I would pass on it.

just way too much involved for me to believe even assuming everything goes in ok and its working, that it would be working that well and not have endless issues.

I just see this as one of those things where you will need a donor truck for everything as the only way to do this but it is doable if you have the will and determination and it might be easier to swap out cabs from a donor truck then to swap out everything from one cab and reinstall everything back in from another that had a/c. a simple clue is if you see a plug on the engine wiring harness for the a/c compressor, if not then expect to have to replace the engine as well as the dash wiring harness plus both fuse boxes.

 

If you got no issue with pulling the dash to install a heater/evaporator, then go for it. It will be a lot more work under dash than under the hood.

I play around with these truck and the only way I would do it was if I had a donor truck that I could Rob all parts and controls.

I don't know what your abilities for doing this are like, don't underestimate the job. It's gonna take a while.

 

its more involved then that because the ductwork is different (no a/c drain or molded the right shape with tabs to mount the evaporator as well as the heater controls and the dash wiring harness all has got to be swapped out, literally everything but the dash cover and trim and steering.

the ECM only turns on the compressor when the engine is running and none of those wires will be there.

that's why I think something like this an option most people settle for http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-C-KIT-UNI...12V-/261925999077?hash=item3cfc0191e5&vxp=mtr

 

Yes, it is. I'm on my phone and it is hard to go ninto details.

 

i think myself it would be easier to just buy a Truck with AC.

Now if this would be a major rebuild with everything out of the cab and engine compartment it might not be to bad.

I am doing this to a older 87 Toyota and it is a project I do have the donor Truck only a few feet away.

 

That eBay ac unit looks like chinklefab cheap.

But if it works and gets you a deal go for it.

 

Another thing I would venture if I was lots younger These projects would look so much easier.

As I get older I know my time is worth something

 

I bought a 94 new from the dealer, and the dealer installed AC kit was $1,000 installed, so it should be easily done. The system worked just fine until I sold the truck 12 years and 220k miles later pretty worn out.

Howard

 

That was back in 1994 I wonder what they charge now?? 20 years later

 

Couple of questions. How much less is this truck than the equivalent with working AC in place? That becomes your break even budget.

After that, some research is in order. Some vehicle models came pre wired for common add ons like this, so it's kind of plug and play. One of the Miata generations even came with evaporators already in place under dash.

If this is a DIY effort, I assume you have the tools/skills to do AC work. So the easiest way would be transferring parts from a donor vehicle with a working system. Or at least have the same vehicle (of a friend?) sitting there to look at as you proceed.

If you are going to buy new parts like compressor, condenser, hoses, lines, accumulator, expansion valve etc (assuming the wiring/evap is in place) and you are going to pay someone to install all this, I'd take a swag at $1500-2000. If the wiring/evap are not in place, 50% more at least.

 

I would look at the available kits and the associated parts and instructions to help make a decision.

 

Update: I ended up taking your guys' advice — there's plenty of tacos out there, so I walk to the dealership next door and stumble upon a mint 2001 2wd V6 Prerunner with only 74k miles on it! So now she's mine.

 

Very cool.

 

For free you could roll down your windows?

 

Some of us need or like to arrive at our destination in a presentable condition, not in need of a shower. And we live in a climate that AC is pretty much required to do that.

If your career is working an outdoor job where your appearance/odor is less demanding, and you don't use your vehicle to transport significant others who aren't into wilting, rolling the windows down is a perfect option.

 

thats great, and now you can enjoy life rather then pull your hair out trying to modify that other truck.

why dont you post some pictures of it when you get a chance

 

Lol, yeah I'm just being a smartass, AC Is a must, and glad the OP found the truck he wanted. Funny enough I'll have the AC running as low as 40 degrees outside cause that's just too hot in alaska.