My 1998 Dakota has the older A/C setup that was poorly designed and has too many flaws such as the connections between the Condenser to the compressor and the orifice tube they have a bad tendency to get leaks. Second the newer condensers are a better design all around.

So my problem… how are the newer condensers attached they have different attaching points compared to my 98 Dakota.

So the help I need is can someone with a 2003 or a 2004 Dakota post some clear big pic’s on how they are attached/mounted so I can fabricate them or if they can be purchased outright get them at a junkyard or had through Mopar.

My 98 condenser is mounted way differently I know that.


I already have purchased some of the 2004 A/C compressor tubing and connections for the newer Condenser from a junkyard so Im getting there.

Thank you for any help you may provide

 

So, you are modifying the high side and keeping the low side the same? You may run into charge issues. Make sure to weigh in your charge and check your subcool and superheat after you get everything up and running. Remember an A/C system is designed to a certain spec, start messing around with it too much and your bound to run into problems. My sources: I'm a certified HVAC technician.

 

No I’m changing out all my tubing my dryer receiver and the condenser to the 2003 or 2004 models why because they use the bolt together not snap together style connectors.

The condenser on the 2003 and 2004 models are mounted differently than my 98 Dak

The return line from the condenser should fit like a glove it’s designed for the Dakota but the line from the dryer to the compressor I will probably need to get custom made and the line from the compressor to the condenser will probably need to get custom made.

What I have so far is all the A/C lines for a (2004) 4.7 Dakota I wish I could just get all these lines for a 2.5 engine Dakota that would be nice but they stopped using the 2.5 engine before the A/C changeover so now I need some custom work done to make the changeover.

I want to changeover to these kind and get rid of the pop fit crap ones that like to leak all the time.

 

Are you changing over the evaporator as well? Sounds like you'll have to tune it your liking after you get some freon in there. Just make sure all your pressures and readings are within range and you should be golden.

 

No I will not need too… those connections will stay the same they are pop fit but what can I do as long as I can change out the majority of the fittings I will be happy this will eliminate 4 of the pop fit connectors in total and those are the ones that leak the most especially the top compressor hose to condenser connection its very prone to movement by the 2.5 engine how it likes to waddle being a 4 banger that fitting is constantly moving in its connection the bolt together connection will stop any movement in the connection.

 

I ordered the CPS MAID8QC Black Max gauge set and it should show up next week.


http://www.cpsproducts.com/#/p-manifolds-MAID8QZ/

 

Ahhh I see what you are saying. My 2.5 had bolt-on connections not pop-on.

 

It did well Damn I’ve been looking for them and could not find them so I figured they didn’t make them for the 2.5 all my fittings are the pop fit kind wish I had known that I would of looked harder to find them.

So did your condenser have the bolt on connections? If so how was it mounted to the frame?

The 2nd gen Dakotas were a mixed bag it seems they made all kinds of small and big changes throughout the 2 Gen and that makes it confusing when it comes to parts.

Man that’s irritating

 

This is my condenser with pop on fittings now that I look on rockauto it did change to the bolt on fittings in 2000.

Learn something new every day.

 

It bolted right up to the condenser and the condenser bolted up to the radiator. If I knew you were going to be changing stuff out I would have sent you my old lines. They are in good shape, I just didn't want my A/C any more was all.