How do you plan on getting the AC to work?

I'm in the planning stages of a very similar swap (even using a donor powertrain from a wrecked Cadillac escalade), but living in south Texas, AC is really not optional. Also are all these new gen3 LS to JK swap parts available for sale yet or are they still in the prototyping phase?
...

 

Right now Im going to run the a/c as a stand alone type set up. I'll tie into the ls ecu on the idle up circuit when the ac comes on. Putting in a simple a/c power/activation switch on the dash next to the start button. I made a bracket for a basic drier and mounted that where the stock ps reservoir was. right now all i have left is ordering some fittings and making the HP line from the drier to the jeep line and the suction line back to the compressor.

99% of the parts are in production and i do have inventory. i just made the ac bottle bracket the other day so that will take a minute to get in the mix.

after trying different GM factory shifters [camaro, monte carlo etc] im pretty sure i found a winner. we used a 2000 era floor shifter out of a camaro on robs tantrum build but it took some effort to get it in- sitting in the right spot. this last shifter i tried, is seemingly a drop in. after messing with it for a little bit, cutting out some brackets and studs, the shifter sat on the floor and the height appears to be under the console. as soon as i get it all connected and run through the shifter pattern, hitting all gears ill post up information on it.

 

 

while on the topic of AC, i did notch out the pass frame rail for clearance for the fittings on the stock ac compressor. i know there are a few different versions of compressors for the LS. the later versions like on my LS have the line mounting pads angled off to the side. they will physically 'clear' but with frame twist and engine movement, i definitely wasnt happy with the available 'clearance.'

 

So I were to call up Red Rock to order some parts for a JK to gen3 LS swap, who should I ask to speak with?
...

 

call the AZ shop 602 number.. ask for jim. thats me. i handle all the HEMI and LS Swap stuff. if you call MI theyll just tell ya to call me lol.

 

got to sneak a few minutes in on the goose project. im finishing up a gen4 hemi swap in an 06 LJ Rubicon and am out of parts for a day or so tinkere with the goose.

figured out the solenoid control circuits for the shift interlock on the GM shifter. just have to tie it into the brake circuit. also ran a wire from the momentary button on the shifter, not sure what ill use it for yet but, it will have a purpose at sometime in the future im sure.





put a clamp on the shifter cable. the cable naturally wants o bow out, which pushes on the carpet. a p clamp and securing bolt- i just tossed a rivenut into the tunnel and secured with short 1/4-20. better than a screw in this scenario and one less screw point to tear ones hand on lol





my neighbor came by with his tractor and moved the front SD dana 60 axle from the backyard to the driveway. might look to knock off all the stock bracketry and castings tomorrow.

 

Finished the shifter bezel plate and shifter install... some 1/8th ABS and a little time...








turned out pretty nice...

 

had a break in the rental jeep action and my latest hemi swap was completed, so i decided to try and knock out the front SD60 swap on the Goose... 2 days of cutting grinding and welding... and then broke out the media blaster....










after blasting and a good rinse, a good coat of weld thru primer to protect it... and started fitting the truss...

 

And then the mock up process began..









heres where the fun started. the AC compressor hangs off the pass side of the block... yep, right in the same area that the upper link needs to travel up into. solid contact with only going up 1" of 'UP' travel.



to gain up travel, i needed to move the link mount position.... as well as- like we do with the AC compressors in the JK hemi swaps, i trimmed back some of the casting on the rear compressor mounting boss, eliminating almost 1.5" of material. combined with the new laid back [angled] upper link mount i fabbed out of some 1/4 plate, i began gaining some much needed 'UP' travel. still have to notch the edge of the link plate and clean up some of the remnants of the casting on the AC compressor and should gain another 1/2". Now to be clear, im working on nailing down clearance at full vertical bump, not flexed bump. Flexed bump, the link has more than enough clearance from the compressor. I think with any LS Swap that has the compressor in this location, paying attention to the upper link tower and AC compressor relationship is going to be very important.







mounted up the 2 front 40s on the beadlocks, grabbed a set of 2" lift springs instead of the 4" i originally had on the jeep with the d30 front axle... tossed them in, and set it down to see how it looked.





now its time to tear it all out and finish weld and paint the lower links and TB, get the bumps stops fully seated, brace up and burn in the upper link tower- then put it all back together

in the meantime, i need figure out what steering set up im going to go with on the Jeep. Barnes has a new SD60 kit out thats reasonably priced, or theres RPM right around the corner from me here in PHX... choices, choices