thoughts on a condenser

[6872xtc]

I am posting this in the garage for more potential views. I am working with the A/C on my '70, and have changed some parts. It started with trying Vintage Air back in '97. I changed to a factory set up after 16 or more years, but I put in an evaporator core from an '85 so that I would have an orifice tube instead of the POA valve. I kept the condenser and Sanden compressor that came with the Vintage stuff.

Now I have tried it with r134 and Redtech 12A. It was working better with the 12A, but the evaporator got a leak. So I have do some more work and I believe that the condenser is too small. I found a company called MEI / Airsource that has universal multi flow condensers. They have one that would fit in my '70 and is bigger that even the factory one. I am looking at part #6310, which is 4 pass and it will fit.

What do you guys think? Anybody know anything about their stuff?

 

[Blue85]

I don't know anything about their stuff, but it's important to think about lines and fittings. Every adapter is a potential leak point and some types are hard to come by. Do these have the same fittings as your current hoses?

 

[6872xtc]

I understand what you are saying for sure, but of course I would have to make new hoses. I know that you have found that the Sanden has lower cfm, but I was looking for other weakness in the system. Just trying to make a plan.

 

[6872xtc]

I already have the Sanden mounted is why I was planning to use it. It came with the Vintage Air kit.

 

[PWagon]

I'm using a Sanden compressor on my '86 K5, and it gets cool but not super cold. It wasn't until I added a 12" fan in front of my condenser and tied in with a relay to turn the fan on/off only when my AC compressor turns on/off. This really helped cool off the condenser (maybe as much as going with a larger condenser). Just a thought.

 

[6872xtc]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't tell you guys that it already has a 14" pusher fan that doesn't seem to make any difference when I use it. It isn't tied to the A/C anymore, but I can't feel any great temp change when it is on. That is why I feel that the condenser supplied from the vintage kit is too small. Unfortunately, I don't remember ever checking temperature of the condenser lines.
I might have to nut up and try some more stuff! I just have to see if I can get it directly from MEI. I found out that my local vendor is marking it up $83 and wants me to pay freight. Gee, and they keep after me to buy parts for the work trucks from them.

 

[PWagon]

Does your dryer "sweat"? Have you checked to make sure your hot/cold diverter door (in the vent box) is closing fully and not letting air travel through the heater core? I just went through this myself, and I found that disconnecting my heater hoses gave me about 3 degrees of additional temp drop at my vents.

Little changes here and there may help lower your vent temp, but it comes down to how much time do you have to spend. You'd likely be better off going back to a larger volume AC compressor like the old style pancake compressor.

 

[6872xtc]

I know that the door is working properly and I have a manual shut off on the heater hose. But, yeah, I do wonder if the compressor is part of it as well.

 

[Big Ray]

An earlier discussion on condensers...click

and a/c system "upgrades" in general...click

 

[6872xtc]

Thanks for the reminder , I read both of those some time ago. My only problem is that '67-'72 trucks won't fit a 15.5 " tall condenser. I definitely have some planning and such to do.

 

[6872xtc]

Well I am going to wake up an old thread.
I finally bought a condenser, I got the 6310 which I was curious about.
I found it online, got it to me for $185.
It seems like a nice part, made in Korea.
But it has flanges for mounting and it should work well for connections.
Now I just have to swap the evaporator core which started leaking last spring, and install this,.... and hoses.....
Just more time and money!!