Behr vs. Frigiking...?

[RenaissanceMan]

So my 74tii has a Frigiking A/C unit in it already, but I have a spare Behr unit and related console pieces that I can swap out if I want. Honestly, I like the look of the Behr unit much better, but I was wondering if there were any advantages to running one or the other? A/C is not currently working or charged so now is the time to swap if I'm gonna...

[Schnellvintage]

My opinion only.... the Behr console is wider. If you have long legs or need more leg room, I prefer the narrower Fridgiking. Makes the interior roomier.
Either systems can work efficiently.
Cheers,
Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AirDoc]

Adam...Aesthetically I like the look of the BEHR...that's all.....use the one that doesn't have any leaks....hahah

[fastricky]

I'm widely in the minority but I prefer the look of the Frigiking, it's curvy sides and overall aesthetic fits with the feel of the dash to my eye. But most prefer the Behr as it feels most "German", but to me it is more suited in a Mercedes say. 2 cents!

[David Layton]

My tii project had a frigiking in it and I tracked dow Behr evaporator and console for the same reason.  In 81 I had a 72 with th frigiking with old tech in the nose.  So whatever you do get a rotary compressor, parallel condenser and new stuff in front of the fire wall.  The is also that book by a guy named Siegel that I highly recommend.;)

  The Frigiking has two design features that may be advantages, the radio mounts high and the expansion valve is externally mounted in rear or the console whereas on the Behr you have to go inside the evaporator to replace it.

[Mike Self]

5 hours ago, David Layton said:

The Frigiking has two design features that may be advantages, the radio mounts high

Definitely better radio mount on the Frigiking--the Behr radio is way down at the bottom of the console, and if you're old school with a CD player (or even older school with a cassette deck) you're gonna have a problem loading/ejecting due to shift lever interference..

 

mike

[David Layton]

I have a couple of Frigiking Evaporators and consoles.  Before I located the Behr components, I was toying with an idea that was above my talent capacity.  This would be to create a new Frigiking Console that had the maintained the dimensions of the Frigiking but in the style of the Behr using a long console layout. This would require its own shift plate as the BMW shift plate is trapezoidal and this would have to be perpendicular.  

 

However, to do this would require skills with panels and vinyl and forming a plastic front piece shift plate and vents.  Not in my skill set.

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, David Layton said:

....This would be to create a new Frigiking Console that had the maintained the dimensions of the Frigiking but in the style of the Behr using a long console layout.

 

Interesting thought you had: I’ve lived with the Clardy A/C system in my ‘76 since... ‘76, and I’ve often thought that the “bad thing” about the Clardy, like the Frigiking, is the hard plastic console sides, compared to the Behr’s padded and vinyl’d sides that mimic the dashboard’s texture and “give.” But I’ve never gotten around to actually covering the hard plastic console sides! Why has no one done this... yet? Or have they? Photos please!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[RenaissanceMan]

Great feedback, thanks! So apparently my front console has been mucked with, because the P.O. mounted the radio at the bottom, in the same location as would be on the Behr... :( Consequently, I'm left with a hole/void in the top of the console. So what should this console look like?

 

 

[AirDoc]

Adam...that looks like a Clardy if i'm not mistaken ....a Frigiking I had before was much narrower..and the BEHR has a much different look.

[RenaissanceMan]

3 minutes ago, AirDoc said:

Adam...that looks like a Clardy if i'm not mistaken ....a Frigiking I had before was much narrower..and the BEHR has a much different look.

 

Well I guess I'm an idiot then... Sorry, folks. All my prior 02's had BEHR units so I'm not really familiar with the other options...

[Conserv]

42 minutes ago, AirDoc said:

Adam...that looks like a Clardy if i'm not mistaken ....a Frigiking I had before was much narrower..and the BEHR has a much different look.

 

+1

 

Definitely a Clardy (1975 to ca. 1990), unless it’s an I.C.E. AIR, which is a modern knock-off of the original Clardy.

 

Below is my ‘76’s Clardy. That big ol’ bump on the right side is the blower for the Clardy (and ICE) units, another challenge in padding and covering those side panels in vinyl.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[RenaissanceMan]

@Conserv thanks so much for the pics. Very helpful. So it looks like I'm just missing an ashtray after all...

[David Layton]

Clardy did a restyle, you can see it in the two different examples.  I will have to pull up my scribblings on the Frigiking.  

 

 

[Conserv]

13 minutes ago, David Layton said:

Clardy did a restyle, you can see it in the two different examples.  I will have to pull up my scribblings on the Frigiking.  

 

 

 

It’s very subtle, mostly in the more matte quality of the plastic faceplate. I wonder if RenaissanceMan’s unit could be an I.C.E. AIR version. The Clardy’s have their year of manufacture and serial number on a sticker on the left side of the evaporator, as below: my ‘76’s unit, manufactured in 1976 is 76 - 047843.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Conserv