Adding AC to a non-AC 73 Hornet

hi, best bet would be to find a donor AMC, like a Spirit/Concord/Eagle, that is too far gone to save, and swap parts from it. But,...and this is just my opinion, why would you even want to add AC? We used to live in IL(Yorkville), and it's only really hot there for what, 3, 4 months? Unless this is a daily driver, that you need to get to the office cool and composed in, AC is just a really unnecessary complication under the hood. it's in the way of EVERYTHING! Here in the South, most cars from the 70s + have AC, and I hate it! I actually look for cars that DONT have AC, much more of a pleasure to work on and even drive. Simplicity IS a virtue! i remember going to a salvage yard in Sandwich, IL, and seeing an Eagle w/o AC, first and last time I ever saw this, I was thrilled! Grabbed the non AC alternator bracket.

I have been parting out a 79 amx that had ac,has few parts left might be able to help with few things if they are the same,

CamJam wrote: Since we're only about two weeks away from the Rockford National I'd suggest going there to the swap meet. Better yet, put an ad in the wanted section here and see if someone will bring the parts you need to Rockford for you.  It's a good opportunity to save on freight charges. I picked up most of what I needed for my AMX at the Kenosha swap meet in 2014.

Good idea. I'm going to make a post there now!

Going for an evening cruise or traveling to a car show is much more enjoyable when you aren't fried all the way there and all the way home.
High humidity wreaks havoc with my demeanor.
I will never regret putting factory behind the dash AC in the White70Javelin.
I'm not real familiar with AMC I6 cars and AC, however the AMC V8 Javelins with AC are not more difficult to work on than a non AC V8 car.
If I look under the hood of a lot of other 70s cars (like GM), yeah they hung a lot of stuff in the way under the hood, AMC not so much.
just my opinion.

I love AC, if a car does not have it at this point in time I don't want it.
That said, finding the parts to put OEM A/C is almost impossible to do as one way or another they were plumbed into the existing duct work to make them work as heat and AC. After market AC is self contained and recirculates cabin air through it. There are many types and price but they in general will hang under the dash. That means the under dash tray is a kiss off. The advantage of aftermarket a/c is that they are fully self contained. They are in a box and hang there and if you check around you can find one that looks period correct for an add on. The hard part is finding A/C parts to hang on to the engine. Specially since you have a 73 which has the alternator on a different side. The best bet would be to find an A/C equipped something I-6 car and get as much off of the engine as you can in order to hang an AC unit off of the engine. Use and adapter for the compressor to put a new compressor on and you will need to add another pulley probably to the front of the crank shaft. Trying to solve that could be the hardest part of it all.