Parallel Flow Condensers for '78-82
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
Parallel Flow Condensers for '78-82
Has anyone bought one that is a good fit for these years? I measured my original condenser and it is approx 16x29 inches.
How close does the replacement need to be to the original? The reason that I ask is that the "universal" fit PF condensers for these years come in sizes like: 14x26 and 15.5 x 30.5 sizes. I heard people say get the biggest one that will fit...what size fits well?
How close does the replacement need to be to the original? The reason that I ask is that the "universal" fit PF condensers for these years come in sizes like: 14x26 and 15.5 x 30.5 sizes. I heard people say get the biggest one that will fit...what size fits well?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
you don't need a big condenser for a small car like a C3 (esp. when you use a sanden 508 compressor, which displaces a little less than the GM originals), I got a small PF condenser in mine (the one used by Vintage Air sure-fit system) which is at least 4 in. smaller in width than the original, yet it still blowing cold even in a 110*F day!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
1979 Vetter. Did you find anything?
I'm within you on finding a good fitting alternative to the over-priced direct fit C3 options.
The Vintage Air Condenser kit is only $240 and comes with a drier that mounts up by the condenser like on the earlier C3s, but it's made to work with their evaporators so you'd be custom building an AC line to go back to the stock AC evaporator line -still a decent option, IMHO as it comes with brackets for that $240.
Original Air and Old Air sell two shockingly similar direct fit options with brackets for $290, but it's clear that at least their brackets and custom fitting bends are different. ($290 + $50 shipping and their orders are backed up FOREVER right now.)
Old Air sells a bracket kit separately for $48.95.
I'm pretty sure that most of these AC providers are buying a Super Kool Condenser and just designing custom brackets for them and rebranding them.... If we could the original Super Kool that worked...
Vintage air is the only condenser I could find dimensions for 13.875" high (including mounting rail on top) x 25.188" wide including their hose barbs.
-Our 79s just need a good parallel condenser, $8 orings, ester oil, a new variable orfice tube, replace the drier, and turn the low pressure cut-off switch counter clockwise 1/8" turn so that the low side reaches 22.5 PSI and 32F and they are an easy and COLD R134a conversion. The cheap condenser is the missing link...
Adam
I'm within you on finding a good fitting alternative to the over-priced direct fit C3 options.
The Vintage Air Condenser kit is only $240 and comes with a drier that mounts up by the condenser like on the earlier C3s, but it's made to work with their evaporators so you'd be custom building an AC line to go back to the stock AC evaporator line -still a decent option, IMHO as it comes with brackets for that $240.
Original Air and Old Air sell two shockingly similar direct fit options with brackets for $290, but it's clear that at least their brackets and custom fitting bends are different. ($290 + $50 shipping and their orders are backed up FOREVER right now.)
Old Air sells a bracket kit separately for $48.95.
I'm pretty sure that most of these AC providers are buying a Super Kool Condenser and just designing custom brackets for them and rebranding them.... If we could the original Super Kool that worked...
Vintage air is the only condenser I could find dimensions for 13.875" high (including mounting rail on top) x 25.188" wide including their hose barbs.
-Our 79s just need a good parallel condenser, $8 orings, ester oil, a new variable orfice tube, replace the drier, and turn the low pressure cut-off switch counter clockwise 1/8" turn so that the low side reaches 22.5 PSI and 32F and they are an easy and COLD R134a conversion. The cheap condenser is the missing link...
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; Jun 15, 2021 at 08:23 PM.
