A/C works!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
A/C works!
Just in time for winter, I was able to fire up the A/C for the first time in 20+ years! It was probably the most time consuming and nerve wracking thing I've done on this car, but boy, what a sense of satisfaction. Just had to let it out...
Woohoo!
Hans
Woohoo!
Hans
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: A/C works! (Wrencher)
Good fix Hans, if your A/C works as good as most C-3 A/Cs do, the only time it will do any good is in the winter time. :D
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Re: A/C works! (Smokehouse69)
Actually, it works really well. I had the dash apart last year to do the core, so I upgraded all the duct seals and the blower. Also, I put a shut-off gate valve in the heater hose that helped. Only thing left is to possibly seal off the fresh air door, but for now I'll leave it. I also adjusted the STV (or POA valve) per Swede's paper, re-hosed with barrier hoses and converted to R134a. My big concern now is Coolant temps, but I hope to upgrade to DeWitt's dual SPAL's before next summer.
Hans
Hans
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
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From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: A/C works! (Wrencher)
If you have all of the radiator seals and a good clutch fan you won't have any heating problems. Just make sure that the upper radiator hose isn't routed so ANY portion of it is higher than the pressure cap or it will vent coolant and run warm. (Air goes to the high spot and foces water out). My stock system with R134a is fine even here in Florida. The coolant temp rarely goes above 200 even in traffic and 95 deg weather with A/C . Normal is around 170-180.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Re: A/C works! (silvervetteman)
It's funny, it works great at anything over an idle, even the slightest airflow keeps it around 185. I have all the seals (and then some!) and it never actually overheats, but it makes me nervous. My main reason for switching to dual electrics is the ability to run the upper control arm brace across the front of the engine. Also, I hate the racket the stock setup makes.
Hans
[Modified by Wrencher, 9:20 AM 11/19/2002]
Hans
[Modified by Wrencher, 9:20 AM 11/19/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: A/C works! (Wrencher)
Yeh.. I know what you mean but... I had a 70 BB in 1973 and it always run 185 (or warmer in So. Cal) I think that's about the best you can do with all of those cubes firing under the close fitting hood. When the outside air temp is under 70 my BB stays at 165.
