I am not a newby to wheeling or auto repair or fabrication, but I am a newby to A/C stuff. Heres the situation..... I just bought the sickest '03 Wrangler. But, wouldn't you know.. It doesn't have A/C. I am planning on installing the A/C myself (will cost about $1000 from JC whitney) Heres the link: http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-VehicleBrowse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2002887/p-2002887/N-111+2003+200004043+600007945/c-10108

Or I could have the local auto A/C guy do it for $1850 and not have a vehicle for 2 days. I am very handy, but my question is:
Is it worth doing it myself? On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is the install? Are there any other kits that you guys know about??? I have looked everywhere but have only found 2 complete kits. Please help me. Thanks in advance.

The install should be a piece of cake, but you will have to take it to be vac'ed down and charged.
Travis..

Very straight forward install. On a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being hardest) I would say it is about a 4. Basically very straight forward, just takes soem time. One thing that yoy may need to check is if you have the heater\AC assembly unit. You will also need the AC compressor, new longer drivebelt, AC condenser and lines, and AC\Heter unit tat goes behind the dash I believe.

Not to pimp my stuff for sale out, but I just posted a heater and control unit for sale on e-bay, very cheap, without reserve, I think it is about $1 now :) http://search.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQsassZguijonnaQQhtZ-1

What do you mean vac'd down and charged. I thought you could charge it on your own.

You will neeed to vacuum in order to charge it. I tried just charging it and did not work, I will be getting it vacuumed and charged soon througha buddy.


BTW cmolio, I believe the kit shown in the picture on jcwhitney looks like a Jeeep YJ setup, not the one for the TJ. I think for teh TJ wou will need something like my box, an AC condenser and lines with accumulator, compressor (Sandeen compressors are pretty easy to find on e-bay or pick a parts), a bigger serpentine belt, and that is about it, for way less than the jc whitney setup :)

thanks man. Ill look around.