This all sounds like great fun!
Please remember to take loads of photos & notes when you actually do it.
One thing to keep in mind is that the A/C units are designed to use the fan air to blow past the compressor and assist cooling. Before you hack into the unit, you should let it run for a half hour or so, like maybe sitting on th floor in your basement, then turn it off, remove the cover and take a temp reading of the compressor, for future reference...
Sounds like the adventure is beginning.
Best Regards,
-AC_Hacker
P.S. BTW, I just made a related post
here.
%%%%%%%