Mazda Repair: 1990 Mazda Miata AC Installation, mazda miata, thermostat control

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a 1990 Mazda Miata for my wife but did not pay attention to the fact that it didn't have AC. She has fallen in love with the car and has asked me to look into geting AC installed. Where do I start? I thought of having someone other than the dealership do the installation but I am unsure of what the parts list for this would be/what's involved in totality. Please help

ANSWER: I assume it came equipped with heat only and manual steering, correct?  If so it is is a Northern Base Model (very rare).  Let me know for sure first then I will let you know what is required.

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QUESTION: It has only heat and manual steering.

Answer
This is a big ticket job just so you are 100% aware before we get into a lengthy discussion.  Not including the small parts, harnesses, brackets and lines your looking at big parts like a compressor, a condenser and a main cooling unit (which is the evaporator, thermostat control and expansion valve, these come in one case that mounts under the dash)  It is a "do-able" conversion, just costly.  The compressor alone is $450 new, the cooling unit is $400+ new...Let me know, if you haven't hit the floor from sticker shock I can walk you through it step by step.  Used large parts are some what viable, just not the best idea since they can't be properly tested outside of a sealed system so you may get what you get, used small parts are a good route to make up the bulk of the system.

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