Questions about Air Conditioning, ... help me make my car cooler! Options

[tygaboy]

Hi World - I need some info:
I'm working to add A/C to my build and I found this little set up that's 10.5" wide, 8.5" deep and 4.5" tall.

What I don't know is what's possible in terms of orientation of these evaporator/ fan units.

I know they have to drain any condensation (and not into the motor, etc.) but assuming I address that:

- Is there any appreciable impact to how the evap unit performs if it were stood on end, turned upside down, etc.?

Essentially, does refrigerant care about flowing up vs down vs sideways?

- Do any of the other components, like the expansion valve, care about orientation?

If needed, I'm totally OK with cutting up the case, making one that suites my needs and reusing the components.

Or, if there are other considerations, if I'm missing something, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Chris

[Cairo94507]

Mmmmmm.....man I wish my Six had AC! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[jcd914]

I don't think freon or the expansion valve care about their oreintation.
The squirrel cage fans are designed to have the shaft flat.
The fan life will be shorter if mounted sideways but probably it will last many years.

Jim

[tygaboy]

I don't think freon or the expansion valve care about their oreintation.
The squirrel cage fans are designed to have the shaft flat.
The fan life will be shorter if mounted sideways but probably it will last many years.

Jim

Thanks Jim!
I'm still in the "hmmm, maybe it'll fit here" stage but the current plan (assuming things will work with the orientation) is to stand the evap unit up and fit it in the general location of an Appearance Group console. I can build a case that mounts two squirrel cage fans, one above the other, and keeps the shafts horizontal.

[Chris914n6]

You can mount it however you want, freon don't care.

The motors will depend on the bearings, but many factory blowers face vertical.

You will need a good drain or it will get stinky.

You can mount it IN the center console if you wanted, it looks small enough. (lol I type slow)

[tygaboy]

You can mount it however you want, freon don't care.

The motors will depend on the bearings, but many factory blowers face vertical.

You will need a good drain or it will get stinky.

You can mount it IN the center console if you wanted, it looks small enough. (lol I type slow)

So it's sounding safe to "Go Vertical!", at least for the evap stuff. I can work out the fan situation. I may want to use something different anyway.
Thanks!

[amfab]

I think orientation makes a difference if it is a parallel flow evaporator

[FL000]

I happen to be researching the same thing right now. Not pushing one brand or another, but checkout the Vintage Air 2019 catalog. Lots of good info that probably applies no matter who you go with. For example they point out that the receiver/drier orientation is critical, since it separates liquid from the gas bubbles, and you want the tube always immersed in the liquid (e.g. vertical). They are also specific about how you mount the condenser. For the eval unit you probably have some more play to modify it, as long as you make sure the condensation can drain.

I will be watching your thread since I am shortly behind you. Heat by this winter, and A/C by next summer is the plan!

[Rand]

AC is for weenies. Spritzer bottle.
(I know, I know)

[mepstein]

AC is for weenies. Spritzer bottle.
(I know, I know)

I’m a weenie. I like heat too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[TravisNeff]

One of my past 914's had dealer installed AC. For the condensation drain there was a hole in the firewall behind the dashboard and a hose was passed through and down into the area of the steering rack to drain.

[Rand]

AC is for weenies. Spritzer bottle.
(I know, I know)

I’m a weenie. I like heat too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

That's what jackets are for. You have to get outside the car at some point. Dress for the weather not the inside of the car.

Just teasing as you know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[76-914]

AC is for weenies. Spritzer bottle.
(I know, I know)

Actually Rand, AC is for comfort Those who walk upright usually approve. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[djway]

Limited understanding here but I believe the liquid feed is supposed to be below the gas out.

[Andyrew]

The case should have some kind of drain port you can use to orient it. Apart from that it shouldn't matter how you mount it. The best spot I found is either directly where the wipers are (no go for wipers) or where I'm mounting mine (glove box area cut into the firewall).

You can go all project Binky on us and totally make a custom housing to fit somewhere but it's all about those fans as they are the bulky item.

[tygaboy]

The case should have some kind of drain port you can use to orient it. Apart from that it shouldn't matter how you mount it. The best spot I found is either directly where the wipers are (no go for wipers) or where I'm mounting mine (glove box area cut into the firewall).

You can go all project Binky on us and totally make a custom housing to fit somewhere but it's all about those fans as they are the bulky item.

Thanks Andrew. I've started looking at DC brushless fans to replace the squirrel cage set up. There are some ~ 5" x 5" X 1.5" that appear to have adequate CFM.
Something like this would really open up where I could fit it and might allow me to totally hide it.
I'm pretty sure I can make this work and not have to cut into the front fire wall.

"Film at 11:00" as I futz with all this.

Thanks again!

[tygaboy]

Limited understanding here but I believe the liquid feed is supposed to be below the gas out.

I know this is true for the condenser and there are rules for the drier mounting, as was pointed out earlier. In the perfect world, I'll be about to keep things oriented "as delivered" but repackage the components.
I think I'll call Vintage Air and see what they have to say.
Thanks!

[andys]

That blower motor for the squirrel cage is a very common part used on everything from Ford to Nissan. I don't recall the part number, but might be able to dig it up, if you need to know.

Andys

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

if a six the new radial compressor mounts on the left front of the engine and the firewall will have to be modified to mount. Ac lines go down the right rocker panel, oil cooler lines (if engine is 2.7 or larger) go down the left rocker panel, the the oil cooler against the front panel, the ac condenser behind it, both with fans so you will not suck hot air from the exit of the oil cooler into the intake of the condenser. The rest is easy

[jd74914]

Thanks Andrew. I've started looking at DC brushless fans to replace the squirrel cage set up. There are some ~ 5" x 5" X 1.5" that appear to have adequate CFM.
Something like this would really open up where I could fit it and might allow me to totally hide it.

Be careful there. Most axial fans have pretty sketchy fan curve documentation. You need to know not only the air flow (cfm) but also the corresponding head rise. The original fan impellers likely have significantly higher head rise vs. flow curves to push through the heat exchanger. Not saying the swap won't work, but you really need the fan curves for the original and potential replacements before making a decision.

Limited understanding here but I believe the liquid feed is supposed to be below the gas out.

I know this is true for the condenser and there are rules for the drier mounting, as was pointed out earlier. In the perfect world, I'll be about to keep things oriented "as delivered" but repackage the components.
I think I'll call Vintage Air and see what they have to say.
Thanks!

There can be ideal evaporator orientations too; it's very design specific though. Mostly comes down to the size of the tubes. Unlike condensers it's not super critical, just provides a slight efficiency gain (we're talking maybe a few percent here). I'd be more concerned about blower bearings TBH. In stationary blowers like that the thrust bearings are generally pretty wimpy since they're really not designed for load, just to prevent contact between impeller and housing. In an automotive application you would think they would put some more thought into them due to lateral loading, but who knows.