Anyone else tried a redneck AC in a 914?, hope my terminology doesn't offend anyone Options

[Mowog4]

I will be driving my 914 from Phoenix to WCR in June without AC. It will be 100F+ across the desert anytime the sun is up and 90F+ at night. Since the passenger seat will be empty I decided to make a foam cooler AC unit (aka redneck AC) to help on the drive. There are many youtube videos and they are all basically the same. Cut 2 holes in the top of a foam ice chest; stick a fan in 1 and a PVC nozzle on the other. Fill the chest with ice, turn the fan on and enjoy the coolness.
I had an old tower PC fan and the foam cooler and PVC cost about $10. It was 95F on Saturday so I let the car sit in the sun for a while, inside temp was 101F, loaded the RNAC unit with 30 lb of ice and went for a drive. I didn't check the outlet air temp but it was slightly cool at best. While traveling north the inside temp dropped to 94F after about 25 miles on the highway which was still uncomfortable but with the slightly cool air blowing on my face it felt doable. Holy crap, when I turned south to head home and the sun was on the windshield (original glass with zero tint/UV protection) the inside temp jumped back up to 101F and after a while I thru up the white flag and rolled the windows down. Temp with the windows down was a pleasant 97F.
After many hours of R&D while measuring the outlet temp I found that adding a second outlet hole gained a -2F improvement. I then moved the 2nd outlet close to the fan inlet to allow some recirculation and got another -2F improvement (-4F total). I put a 2nd fan inside the cooler to stir up the air inside but that did not reduce the outlet temp; neither did adding additional outlet holes or a second fan. I got another -3F improvement by adding a piece of pipe on the outlet hole inside the cooler to pick up the air closer to the ice...so now I'm at around 7F lower outlet temp and ready for another test drive.
My wife thinks I'm a total idiot for even thinking about driving my car across the desert in June and even more so once she looked at the contraption in the passenger footwell. I commented that she didn't have to worry about me picking up anyone along the way since there's no room beside the 40 Qt ice chest, to which she replied she never worries about me picking up anyone while driving my 914 even when the passenger seat available...ouch.
Any other ideas or experience out there? Is my wife right?

How many cars from Phoenix are going Up? I have always been a fan of group poor decision making.

[Andyrew]

It could be one more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[76-914]

Try one of these. http://www.b-kool.net/

Aircraft AC requirements are quite a bit lower than an auto in the desert at < 1000' AGL. OAT @ 5500+ AGL vs OAT in the Mojave. The only advantage I can see is the 35mph fan it uses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[db9146]

How 'bout a B-Kool in the front trunk with the output tied into the dash vents for better distribution and control with the remote. Then you have more passenger space....sounds like a good summer solution.

[zipedadoo]

The b-kool only lasts for an hour or two with 20 lbs of ice

Read that some pilots use if for take off and then switch it of at altitude saving the rest of the ice for landing.

[SirAndy]

I have one of them spray bottles with an electric fan. Creates a nice mist that cools you off.

You'll have plenty of cold water in that chest to last you through the desert.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/img.auctiva.com-179-1490124706.1.jpg)

[Coondog]

I have made several trips in my 914 from Apple Valley "Desert" to Phoenix "Desert".
Takes me about 5 hours. As long as I am on the freeway by 3am it's not that bad, your concern is not wanting to drive up the Cajon Pass in the heat of the day.
Just remember you will be cold in Mammoth so it will equal out.

Bottom line is your going to be driving a long time.

[76-914]

I have one of them spray bottles with an electric fan. Creates a nice mist that cools you off.

You'll have plenty of cold water in that chest to last you through the desert.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/img.auctiva.com-179-1490124706.1.jpg)

This makes sense. Before I added AC I used a "I can't believe its butter" spray bottle. The must is so fine It doesn't soak you or your shirt and instant gratification.

[Evil Older Brother]

The thread makes me laugh as there is an "ice chest" and then a "chest full of ice".

Personally, whenever I put an ice pack on my chest my nipples get hard.

That leaves to other things and well, we could end up in the sandbox. ;-)

My 914 had this thing called a removable top and with the windows down, the top off and a hat, eastern Washington heat was nice.

[Front yard mechanic]

2-60 air works best

[Dave_Darling]

Taking the top off is not a good option when temperatures are in the ~110F range and there is zero cloud cover or shade.

Once the temps get into triple digits (F), the 2x60 AC feels worse than nothing.

--DD

[Rand]

The thread makes me laugh...My 914 had this thing called a removable top and with the windows down, the top off and a hat

Experience it before you laugh about it. Works great in the PNW. Not so much in, let's say Vegas, Phoenix, etc. If it's 113 degrees, you'll want that roof back on, the hat tossed, and be spraying yourself with cold water and dousing your tshirt, still miserably hot.

Having said that, now that I'm back in the PNW, I'm jonesing for a plexi top from 914rubber and heat exchangers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[JustinMeier]

You just sweat, and have lots of cold water to replace the sweat!

[michael7810]

I have made several trips in my 914 from Apple Valley "Desert" to Phoenix "Desert".
Takes me about 5 hours. As long as I am on the freeway by 3am it's not that bad, your concern is not wanting to drive up the Cajon Pass in the heat of the day.
Just remember you will be cold in Mammoth so it will equal out.

Bottom line is your going to be driving a long time.

Based on your picture, you have way more experience dealing with heat than I do. I can make it leaving at OH DARK-THIRTY with plenty of ice water, however if possible, I would like to enjoy the drive.

[michael7810]

Based on what I've read here, tested in my car/garage, and looking at a couple off the shelf units like B-Kool, to get the most out of an ice chest AC I have to cool the air using the water/ice at the bottom of the cooler versus my current design which blows incoming air across the top of the ice; and get a strong fan that blows directly on me. Two methods I've read about are 1) pump cold water from the bottom of the ice chest thru a heater core which cools the cabin air which I believe I can accomplish inside the ice chest similar to the B-Kool product or 2) place a turbo intercooler at the bottom of the ice chest and pump the incoming air thru the intercooler and out the vent. Either design will cost under $100 using a marine engine compartment vent blower and bilge pump or universal intercooler off eBay. I like the intercooler idea better because it has fewer moving parts and I believe I could use dry ice as an option since the cooler would be sealed preventing the CO2 from leaking into the cabin.
I'm going to cogitate on this for a week 'cause I have a couple honey-do projects to finish and out of town company this weekend. Hopefully I'll get back on this next week as I would like to have a working unit to test on the Rt 66 drive the 3rd week in April. Stay tuned.

[Kansas 914]

Stay tuned.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[Andyrew]

I think if you combined what you built with a mister you would be able to have a fairly effective system.
The question would be mist before ice or after.

[flmont]

I know this sounds crazy,.But, could you install a 110 converter and then use the smallest AC unit possible...Or then again maybe just a ICE hat....Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) !!!,. Frank

[Elliot Cannon]

The Bkool unit works about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You can carry extra ice in the front trunk (if you have one) to replenish the ice you have already used. This is actually a pretty good system and yes, pilots use it primarily for take off and landing or any time they are on the ground in a hot climate. You can turn it off when at altitude because it is usually much cooler once you are in the air. I used a home made system not unlike the Bkool system and I could get about an hour of really cool air with a much less efficient system with a much smaller ice chest. The limiting factor is how much ice you can carry. I think it has a great potential and I might try the Bkool myself this summer.

[peteyd]

This is designed for the 911, but perhaps it could be used in the 914


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc9oj_EwioY