TheSamba.com :: View topic - All about dealer installed a/c in a 61-67 beetle

Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:18 pm

So a thought.......

VW installed two old tube style condensers under the vehicle with one fan.

With the new serpentine tube condensers, is their efficiency such that probably only one is needed?

I am a huge fan of R12a (RedTek) and have used it for years with great success.

As I understand the design of the unit sucks air up, off the highway and blows it against the chassis?

The cooling fan on the 14x20x4 1/2" one that Nostalgic Air sells claims it moves 1000CFM of cooling air.
It fails to say the capacity of the Condenser though........ the core is only 13x18 and they fail to state a thickness for it.

https://nostalgicac.com/parallel-flow-condensers/r...hroud.html

Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:11 pm

I am curious as to the bracket that relocates the fuse block. I perused the photos and did some searching. Nothing shows one in detail. anyone have this part?

Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:37 pm

Not a part link, but here are a couple of threads about it:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10118600
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=725734

Mon Oct 30, 2023 5:42 pm

I had forgotten about this topic. Can anyone help ID what this evaporator assembly looked like when it was complete? It's 12v, and has a faded "Volkswagen" silver label on one side.
It may be a late model acessory from the looks of it.

Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:24 pm

the evaporator is inside that housing..

Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:51 pm

The top contour seems to fit the underside of the Beetle dash, but that is a different style evaporator /dash housing than in any other accessory photos I have seen.

Tue Jan 02, 2024 2:36 pm

I recently SCORED a NOS 2019 Gilmore AC kit for 58-67 Beetles.. (half price :wink: ) Looks decent enough with modern parts.

It made me come back to this topic to look around, I soon realized... :shock: I never added pictures of the Delanair Evaporator
box I sold in 2011

I wanted to add to the topic and to the Samba for photo documentation.

Should have kept it.. ](*,) :lol:

Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:16 am

I actually drug out all the ac parts I collected and took pics to post in this thread. I did what you just posted also, a look inside the Evaporator box. Funny that I had resurrected this thread looking for a pic of the fuse block bracket and I actually had one in the box of parts. I will post pics when I get some time. Thanks for the contribution.

Sat Jan 13, 2024 4:43 pm

Here are some more detail pics of the innards of the Delanair unit

Sun Jan 14, 2024 12:50 pm

One thing that hasn't been really seen in this thread is the fuse block relocation bracket. I took this Delanair from a 67 bug back in the 90's. This is a unique example because in 1967 the fuse block went to a ten fuse up from the earlier 6 fuse block. Notice that Delanair ''added'' a piece to accommodate this change. I mounted it in my '66 to show how it looks in the car. This bracket moves the fuses from the interior 90 degrees so that they face the bumper direction. The underdash unit interferes with the normal location.

Sun Jan 14, 2024 12:58 pm

Does anyone have a copy or link to the Delanair unit instructions/manual? I have only a page or two.

Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:24 pm

Found the link up to 65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/air_conditioning_parts_list.php
Anyone have 66 - 67 info?
I think 68 up is the later unit that works for the padded dash bugs and sits flatter under the dash area

Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:54 pm

This is all I have from a 67 manual. The fellow was selling a unit, and these few pages were what he posted in that ad (back in 2001). It was pricy or I would have got it just for the booklet. LOL. Anyone have this info?

Sun Jan 14, 2024 4:03 pm

Good information and photos. . =D>

Id add my Gilmore kit... but .. it doesn't fit the "dealer installed" guideline. :lol:

.

Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:30 pm

That fuse box bracket is excellent. Thanks for posting photos of it. I'm installing a DPD full length late model unit and I'm at the point now where I'm ready to flip the fuse box and get all the wiring done!

Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:24 am

You are welcome. Looks good! Here are a few detail shots of the pressure switch that shares the fuse holder bracket

Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:33 am

My Grandfather bought a '65 new and had the dealer install AC in it. I was given this car when I turned 16. As I remember, as a kid, the AC worked quite well, although it was no longer working when I got the car. Even still it would rob a ton of HP when I turned it on. I eventually pulled the whole system out of the car and was glad for it.

In these pictures you can see some detail shots of the various components added to the engine compartment. You can also see the 6v Bendix Sapphire II that I bought for $4 at a flea market around the same time. The seller said it was out of a Mustang.

I also have two unused water slide decals that were included with the kit that were meant to be installed on the quarter windows that said AirConditioned and had an outline of the Beetle using the two Os as the wheels. I have never seen another set.

Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:38 am

bluebus86 wrote: djkeev wrote: I am assembling an A/C set up not using a kit.

Can anyone measure the Condensor sizes used on the early Beetle Air Conditioners?

Here is the parts drawing and a photo......

How close to original size is this unit Joel posted earlier?

Joel wrote: 2 would be too much, unless you staged the fans you would risk over condensing most of the time.

they are 4 row and about 4" thick which is why you only need one.

They market them as being perfectly sized for all their universal evaporator kits.

This is my condenser, its 7/8 thick and 20"x12"

.

I can tell you that checking and adding Transaxle oil was a royal pain with the Delanair system installed. Pretty much had to take the left rear wheel off to do it.

Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:17 pm

not sure on the sizes but here is a couple fairly complete pics of them and the bracketry. Also, those are great pics of your grandpa's bug splitjunkie. Scan us the decal pics if you can. was there any paperwork he got with the system?

Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:33 pm

djkeev wrote: I am assembling an A/C set up not using a kit.

Joel wrote: 2 would be too much, unless you staged the fans you would risk over condensing most of the time.

they are 4 row and about 4" thick which is why you only need one.

They market them as being perfectly sized for all their universal evaporator kits.

This is my condenser, its 7/8 thick and 20"x12"

I reserve the right to be wrong but I don't think that over-condensing is a bad thing. The evaporator wants a steady stream of subcooled liquid refrigerant; so as long as there is enough capacity in the filter/dryer/liquid tank, it should be just fine. There are definitely ways to measure the system to know for sure. Because these systems use an expansion valve, you can't measure subcooling; you'd need to measure superheat at the condenser outlet to see what kind of temperatures are leaving the condensers. The total superheat will tell you how the system is running - mostly related to refrigerant charge - but if the charge is good, it should also show any flaws in the condenser sizing and/or fans and shrouding.