Hold post for AC system replacement announcement

[SuperVanagon.com]

Hi,

This is Andy Vanis (Vanis13 personal Samba profile).

I'm the guy who brought over to the US the Land Rover mirror solution from the UK https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=707387

will be posting an AC upgrade/replacement project I've been developing over a year now.

Intention is to provide info so folks can DIY and may consider offering install service - though I believe in self-empowerment so you do it if you want to.... You can do it!

Lots of testing has been going into it and have been waiting to get that cleaned up ...... And the hive is stirring so well be posting what I have.

Here's a similar implementation by Steve. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10244695#10244695

Post up questions and thoughts.....it'll be COOL!!!

[SuperVanagon.com]

Hold (in progress, there is more to this than just these parts)

The 6-vent version is the 32,000BTU item. The 5 vent UN0886C is only 22 pass / 22,000BTU (5596 Kcal./H) / 390CFM

Talked to UNC, they buy this part overseas and no longer make it. they do not have the black avail....Would be nice to see where QualyAir is buying them to go direct on the black one.

https://uacparts.com/Downloads/UAC_UnivesalUnderdashUnits.pdf

Rock Auto (switches not pictured in description. I sent an inquiry on this but not sure if I'll get response)
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=12211333&cc=0&pt=1002013&jsn=367

QualyAir (who I initially bought from either Directly or through their Ebay store)
Black
https://qualyair.us/products/a-c-universal-under-d...&_ss=r
Gray
https://qualyair.us/products/new-a-c-universal-und...&_ss=r

There is also a more "retro" look UN 0891C which is also 32,000 BTU

Rock Auto https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=12211365&cc=0&pt=1002013

Cold hose (which is a GREAT place to get stuff BTW) has it with the control knobs that Steve used https://coldhose.com/collections/under-dash-system...7191291135

Relay
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CF1SLXPV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It takes some special wiring logic to send just trigger/signal signals to avoid sending the full fan amps from front of vehicle to back.

[SuperVanagon.com]

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[SuperVanagon.com]

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[SuperVanagon.com]

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[SuperVanagon.com]

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[shagginwagon83]

Hi everyone,

I have been working with Andy on this project. Last year, I overhauled my entire 83.5 dealer-installed headbanger system but didn't see great performance. I replaced everything except for the evaporator.

There is an image here on The Samba comparing the core size of the early AC to the later model, which led me to consider upgrading my evaporator.

After speaking with Andy and seeing pictures of the universal 32/35k unit next to the original Westy headbanger box, I decided to move forward with the project.

I went out of my way to maintain the stock look and the original headbanger faceplate. I removed the vents from the universal AC evaporator, cut the sides off the housing (to fit the speakers), and modeled and 3D-printed pieces to adapt the output to the stock two-vent faceplate.

It was a ton of work and days of 3D printing, but I have it all installed, and it is working well. I'm not finished with my install yet. Currently, I'm using Redtek and seeing about a 32°F delta. I hope to get better results with R134 and plan to recharge soon since there is one fitting piece I didn't have at the time. I also had cans of Redtek on hand and wanted to use them.

More pics/info to come.
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[shagginwagon83]

This is a large project Andy has been working on.

He has helped me with this project and I have some information/photos to contribute to.

That being said, these initial posts will take some time to create. Be sure to come back and look for new edits in these early posts.
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[zerotofifty]

If you has something neat to post, then do it, dont hold it, it makes the author seem constipated. Try Ex Lax.
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[Corwyn]

_________________
'90 White Westy ("White Lightning")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[steve244]

Or just axe the headbanger. Its aesthetics are lacking.

A parallel development:

It's been running about a week. Maybe 4 hours active time.

It is oversized for the application. It gets the wife's approval. The fan is strong enough that your whole body is cooled. On high speed it moves hair.

Need more time to evaluate, but so far it works better than any other car's A/C I've had.

It's running with a 18x26 condenser with a single 16 inch cooling fan.

The compressor is a smaller sanden, less displacement than normal. Model SD7H13. This was to fit the limited space on an air cooled. The compressor, mounting kit are for a 79 bay window from Gilmore Enterprises. I had to add spacers to the mount and drill an extra bolt hole to accommodate the shape of the Vanagon's fan housing.

Only downside is the idle speed had to be increased. Now it's annoyingly fast when the compressor is off. I'm working on electric idle control.

It affects power noticeably, but not a lot. Driveability is no worse. On high, the evaporator fan uses 12 amps @ 12volts. On low, 6 amps. The condenser fan is a Spal and uses less than 5 amps.

Spal 30100400 16" Straight Blade Low Profile Fan https://a.co/d/09muY974

http://www.sanden.com.sg/opencms/opencms/sites/def...p?pid=1004

Anecdotally, with interior temps above 100, and outside temps above 90, by the end of the block it's comfortable inside. At idle it remains comfortable in full midday sunlight

At 45mph+, I turn down the fan and and increase the temperature. The compressor runs about 2/3 of the time.

I just got some thermometer probes and will do some proper checks this week when my son is available to do the driving.

Carry on...
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[DanHoug]

i really like the axial fan. gotta be much quieter. thanks for sharing the secret sauce for the community.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[shagginwagon83]

Yeah I spent way too many hours keeping the stock headbanger look. I don't regret it one bit.

Steve, looking forward to hearing your numbers. What did you charge your system with, Redtek or R134?
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[steve244]

R134
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[zimflux]

Awesome! Custom wiring kit or?

[SuperVanagon.com]

[steve244]

Yeah, I used 5 relays:
3 for fan speed control
1 for the clutch
1 for the condenser fan.

The temperature control is low current and needs to be connected directly to the evaporator thermistor leads.

I cut PVC boards for panels and used 7 wire thermostat cable to connect everything, except for the high current wires, those are all 12awg.

The only thing I don't like is the temperature control makes a buzzing noise when it engages.

The 65 amp alternator seems not to notice the new loads.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[vanis13]

re^

first (currently) I removed from the control unit/block/brain and moved the controller to the front by the switches. You are correct, the relay switch noise is annoying so I'll be moving it back to the unit since I can just move the fan switch relay controls by low voltage signal wires though Relay panel.

I don't really understand your relays in back and the PCB board behind the glove box. my layout uses only the cited relay block and a separate fan relay off the trinary switch by the RD in front.


..its nice to have these conversations, its helping me structure the complete response to be posted above.

you did really nice work on your system.
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[steve244]

I ran 24awg wire from the trinary fan switch in front to the relay array in back. Relays are cheap, about $3 each. Wire is expensive. 24 awg single-strand 7-wire thermostat cable is cheap.

Did I mention I'm cheap?

The relays I don't hear, it's the Chinese temperature control next to the fan switch that buzzes. I jump every time it engages.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[vanis13]