A/C Question, Condenser Area

BBShark

BBShark

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Converting a 1980 C3 to 134a. We will be using a parallel flow condeser and have the option of using a 12" x 24' (288 in/sq) or a 15" x 28" (420 in/sq) condenser. I have found calculators online for condenser area but they are for house A/C systems.

The larger one is going to be a packaging challange, really hope that I can get by with the smaller one.
 
My stock '72 has a 15x28 coil, but it's the old R12 with parallel 3/8 coils....

everyone says the manifold style is better/more effective....

who you looking at for the units, and what prices??

got a link...
 
I found the parallel flow condensers at http://www.ackits.com/

They have a forum and the question has been posed a few times but the best answer seems to be, bigger is better.

I did find some info that indicated that the parallel flow condeners are 25% more efficient. Also, information that the volume of the condenser is supposed to be 125% of the evaporator.
 
BBShark said:
I found the parallel flow condensers at http://www.ackits.com/

They have a forum and the question has been posed a few times but the best answer seems to be, bigger is better.

I did find some info that indicated that the parallel flow condeners are 25% more efficient. Also, information that the volume of the condenser is supposed to be 125% of the evaporator.
Click to expand...

I looked at the site, and for ~150 bux + shipping from hell and back, I can spend like 200 bux on the chance I can improve the vette OR the camper, both of which blow nice chilly air fairly quickly, UNLESS setting in a parking lot under full sun, then it takes maybe 3 minits for the vette to blow ice cubes.....GOD I miss my old '60 Bonneville I had in Texas, some cowpoke fixed it to blow ice cubes, and it seriously DID freeze the condensate outside the side windows where the pods were aimed course the car was white, and even the DASH was white, which never bothered me,...

but frost on the outside of the windows....MAN, :thumbs::harhar::smash:

I suppose the car was tight enough that no outside air got in, and the car was always on recirc so the condenser would dry out the car, and then continue on the freeze the damn thing....

:twitch:

tad tough on the vette vert.....

:surrender:
 
BBShark said:
I found the parallel flow condensers at http://www.ackits.com/

They have a forum and the question has been posed a few times but the best answer seems to be, bigger is better.

I did find some info that indicated that the parallel flow condeners are 25% more efficient. Also, information that the volume of the condenser is supposed to be 125% of the evaporator.
Click to expand...

If you got crafty on hose routing you could easily get a overall width 4" to 5" wider by say 3" height larger then stock.
 
12-0568A - FSHE PF Condenser (15.5 X 30.5)

12-0568A - FSHE PF Condenser (15.5 X 30.5) Quantity in Basket: None
Code: 12-0568A
Price: $152.44
Shipping Weight: 12.00 pounds

is the largest I found on that site, so far, and I could shoe horn it into either the vette OR the van, the question is, IS it worth it for 200 bux total effort??

I just dunno....

:surrender:
 
This is a 82 probably same as a 80. But you have plenty of room on the sides and top for larger then stock size condensor.

passenger

DSCF0881.jpg

Drivers

DSCF0882.jpg

DSCF0883.jpg
 
Looks/fits like my '72 same thing....

I guess it's a 200 buck gamble for me IF it can make a difference in the operation....IMO...not, reason, is the wife's Escort takes a while to overcome the heat same ~3-5 minits as the vette....

the camper takes a bit longer on test runs.... but once on a mile or so, it's blasting fairly well....I just regret I can't find a drier that can fit in the system....

so I plumbed it without one....

:surrender:
 
My 90 vette was converted to r134 and it gets real cold and gets cold pretty quik. I'm sure a condenser may help but not the heart of the problem, I think most 134 conversions are just overcharged because doest it take less 134 to achieve the Lbs of r12? .... I don't think R4 compressors are the smartest choice for 134 conversions though.
 
I changed the 81 to 134A, and it never worked as well. I switched back to R-12, and it works great.
The A/C components are designed as a system, and unless you change it all to a system designed around the R134A refridgerent, it just does not work well.
I found that insulation to be way more important in the long haul. The rear window louvers and mirror top sunshades helped more than anything else.
 
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