Electrical: 02 Jetta died, possible to use alternator and ac on 62 Lark

[rogerlw]

My 02 Jetta cost more to fix than she is worth. Could I use the alternator and AC system from the Jetta on a 62 Lark. I know the fabrication may be rough. I just want to know if it is doable?

[PackardV8]

Sure, it's doable. If your time is unlimited, anything can be made to fit anything.

The alternator is no problemo, and probably the AC compressor.

Hoses, condensor, evaporator, dryer, controls, ductwork; impossible to say if any of it will work until they're all spread out on the garage floor.

Where the problem will come in is controls. Does it use digital controls? Even if it uses knobs, they may not be easily transferred as sometimes there's a long plastic shaft connecting to plastic molded parts which only fit where they were designed. Most modern cars have the rest of the car built around the firewall bulkhead module. Every inch is used and every part made only to fit that space. The HVAC system may be configured to use random spaces which are already occupied in your Lark.

JMHO, but I'd sell the Jetta on craigslist and buy a Vintage Air kit.

jack vines

[rogerlw]

Thank you for the information and advice.

Roger

[JoeHall]

Of course it is possible. Its also possible to put air brakes on a Bantam rooster, and a saddle on a hog. It just takes patience, determination, and creativity. Long as you are satisfied with the end results, that's all that matters. Go for it, and please let us know how it works out.

[TWChamp]

Some of the newer cars have the voltage regulator built into the computer, so that might not be worth it to use.

[Ron Dame]

And does your jetta have a serpentine belt or V Belt? Might make it tough...

[brumbles]

And does your jetta have a serpentine belt or V Belt? Might make it tough...

Change the pulley.

[alex54]

Change the pulley.

Not that easy if its a clutch pulley (Overrunning Alternator Decoupler (OAD), One-Way Clutch (OWC), or another name depending on the manufacture or brand) as a lot of the modern ones are.
Many times, the alternator shaft is threaded, or knurled (but not always) to hold these new types of pulleys. Of course if you are creative, have access to a lathe, and so on, anything is posible

You can tell if it's one of these new types by spinning the alternator by the pulley. They freewheel in the opposite direction of normal travel.

[karterfred88]

Get what you can for it. Not worth trying to use the parts, will be more head ache than it's worth. Use the money towards the things you want to do to the Lark. Just the metric verses SAE will drive you nuts.

[Bob Caser]

Do not waste your time or money. You can purchase a new under dash evaporator , new condenser, and a real Sanden compressor for less than $500. You will need hoses , pulleys, dryer and R134 gas to finish the job. Take the advice of PackardV8 and Karterfred88 in their earlier posts. Your chance of getting the Jetta system to work would be complicated, if it would work at all.

Bob Caser