Small Car Performance, DIY Front A/C Installation

[ALIKA T3]

Good news
_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[Pcforno]

Ok - Im considering adding Vanistan's fresh air kit to my already installed smallcar air setup. Looking for opinions, comments, suggestions. I was thinking of 2 possibilities - just allowing the fresh air to blow in through the rectangular hole I have currently blocked off, or possibly creating a hole in the block off plate and routing an A/C duct hose from it into the side of the blower fan. Saw some pics of this on a hot rod on the internet.

If a did the hole in the fan box idea I would still need fresh air coming out without the ac on as there’s no fan only option on the ac - I guess unless I rigged the fan to run separate.
Anyone like this or just leaving the fresh air open or any other ideas?

[vik]

If I may have a question on two on this system if I understand it correctly.
The vintageair system is offered by SmallCar and vanagain.
They do differ slightly in few items or am I mistaken?

For the working bits part.
- It will cool down the vanagon to the comfortable level. But it takes some time for the rear seating passengers
- Would you all agree it is worth the investment and work?

Thank you
Viktor
_________________
T3 Syncro camper in progress

[MarkWard]

I installed a unit direct from Vintage Air. I installed it in stages to keep the van usable. I had to fabricate a few things and came up with my own wiring system. For reference initially I came across a documented install by Blake Heinline.

I imagine the small car vanagon specific kit should be a complete drop in system. If not, and you have the skills go direct to vintage air.

Well worth the time and money. On a bright hot sunny day, it’s not creating a meat locker, but on an overcast day, it will freeze you out.

I uploaded a few pictures here when I did my install. Our 82 also didn’t have Ac. I just renovated the factory AC in our 90 and it took less time and money vs an aftermarket install if you have access to those parts. Hope that helps.
_________________
☮️

[dougnlina]

The system works adequately, it certainly cools the van. However, I removed a stock tintop system that ran along the whole of the ceiling and installed the Smallcar system. The stock system did a better job of cooling the WHOLE van, it had a big fan and a big evaporator. I removed it because it was completely falling apart, leaking condensation, etc, it even fell completely down once. The smallcar system is nice as it blows directly on the driver, but the rear seats take some time to cool down. The evaporator in it is just not that large, and the heater core is also smaller than the stock vanagon set up. There is only so much space under the dash so these are the compromises. Additionally there is no longer a fresh-air feed into the system, but I have not found this to be an issue. My wife and I are usually the only passengers but if you regularly drive with folks strapped into the back you may need to improve on the set-up with a second evaporator and fan for the back seat.
Additionally he Smallcar system instalation is not for the feint of heart, it took a couple weekends to get it in and all sorted out. Now that it is all in I am generally happy with it. You are shoving a lot of stuff under the dash and it takes some time to get things stuffed in there so that the air flows correctly to all the vents, things are not pinched, your stereo and dash are the way you want them, etc.
YMMV
_________________
"Olive" a '60 Ragtop Beetle
"Grover" a '87 Syncro Poptop 1.8T

[Energy Concepts]

Hi dougnlina,

Excellent Review !!!
If I were to write a one,
I would just copy your post Word for Word !
It's Exactly what I found !
(& I have the big, Gen II Super unit from V/A )!

Too bad there's not enough room to keep the VW Heater,
And add an after market Evaporator of adequate size along side of it.
( I guess one could be added in the glove compartment space )?

The biggest mistake I made was to remove the Rear VW A/C !!!
I wanted the headroom but would now gladly trade that for
the Added Cool Air!
When I get the time I guess I will have to re-install one

dougnlina wrote:

The system works adequately, it certainly cools the van. However, I removed a stock tintop system that ran along the whole of the ceiling and installed the Smallcar system. The stock system did a better job of cooling the WHOLE van, it had a big fan and a big evaporator. I removed it because it was completely falling apart, leaking condensation, etc, it even fell completely down once. The smallcar system is nice as it blows directly on the driver, but the rear seats take some time to cool down. The evaporator in it is just not that large, and the heater core is also smaller than the stock vanagon set up. There is only so much space under the dash so these are the compromises. Additionally there is no longer a fresh-air feed into the system, but I have not found this to be an issue. My wife and I are usually the only passengers but if you regularly drive with folks strapped into the back you may need to improve on the set-up with a second evaporator and fan for the back seat. Additionally he Smallcar system instalation is not for the feint of heart, it took a couple weekends to get it in and all sorted out. Now that it is all in I am generally happy with it. You are shoving a lot of stuff under the dash and it takes some time to get things stuffed in there so that the air flows correctly to all the vents, things are not pinched, your stereo and dash are the way you want them, etc. YMMV

[kourt]

I've been thinking of adding another evaporator in the Westfalia rear closet, perhaps a Vintage Air ShortPac.

This could easily be plumbed to blow cold air on the rear bench seat, and be controlled back there as well.

I really like my rear closet space, however. That will be a tough decision. So far my rear passengers have been content with me putting a Fan-Tastic Endless Breeze between the front seat pedestals, blowing backwards.

kourt

[MarkWard]

I had the same thought, but storage space is premium for us too.
_________________
☮️

[Energy Concepts]

[vik]

Thank you for the feedback above.
As my Caravelle origin was in Finland there was no A/C.
Now with pop top conversion I can not use the VW A/C even if I will find it in decent shape and the one from westy with cold air only from back does not seems to me like way to go.
_________________
T3 Syncro camper in progress

[r39o]

My system works great BUT:

The radiator fan is on high all the time the system is cooling.

That means, van moving or not, the rad fan is blasting on full all the time with AC.

This is not how the original VW used to work. High pressure would command the fan.

Can some one direct me to how to hook it up so the fan is only on when needed???

There must be a better way!
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[djkeev]

[Westaru]

[MarkWard]

The vanagon 3 speed radiator fan came in the Syncros and the later vanagons with factory air.

I wired my vintage air, AC on, rad fan comes on low. Head pressure comes to a certain point and the radiator steps up to medium. High speed is only attained by the radiator fan switch.
_________________
☮️

[kourt]

[r39o]

[Westaru]

[MarkWard]

In Florida with the AC on, the radiator fan is on medium pretty soon and moving slowly is on medium. Going down the highway, it’s likely the rad fan is on low. I can’t hear it and have no method to see. If you have the AC on and the radiator clicks to high, you are in an unusual load and just turning off the AC temporarily is easy to do.

Without a radiator fan someone mentioned is killing the AC. You need the radiator fan to maintain the Freon pressures. A manual switch on the radiator seems risky to me.
_________________
☮️

[r39o]

Thanks Mark,

We are planning on a compressor off switch so just the air circulation fan can run.

Also a radiator fan high on switch so I can command the fan on high if I want. Not a fan disable.

In other words I will manually turn off the AC and also turn the rad fan on high if desired. But never disable any important function.

My issue is currently the rad fan is on blast any time the AC is on and that is not good.
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[Howesight]

I don't know precisely how the SC/Vintage Air AC system is wired, but in very general and simplified terms, the rad fan issue you have could be dealt with as follows:

1. Find the relay that powers the rad fan on high. Whatever signal wire is attached to that relay, disconnect and instead, connect a wire that takes power from the wire that goes from the compressor clutch power wire. This way, any time that the compressor is powered on, the rad fan low speed relay is powered on, which powers the rad fan low speed on.

2. Note that the rad fan speeds are determined by which current path is selected. For Low speed, the current path is through both parts of the two-part factory rad fan relay. For Medium speed, the current path is through only one part of the two-part rad fan resistor. For high speed, an entrely separate relay and wiring path provide full battery power (ie, no resister) to the rad fan.

3. On the trinary switch, there are two contacts/wires for which are connected (ie, go closed circuit0 by the pressure switch inside the trinary switch when high-side pressure is around 200 to 220 psi (the pressure used varies between manufacturers).

4. You need to identify these wires. Then you need to use these wires to power a relay that is connceted to the mid-speed part of the VW rad fan resistor.

5. On the factory VW AC wiring, the "overpressure" pressure switch disconnects the power to the compressor clutch. On your SC/Vintage Air system, if you want, you can use the high-pressure switch on the trinary switch to turn the rad fan on the highest speed. I don't recommend this. Instead, it's best to use the high-pressure/overpressure aspect of the trinary swith to disconnect power to the compressor clutch.

6. If you are not yet using the parallel-flow style condenser, get one. The improvement in cooling is tremendous.

7. It is very important to install foam-rubber type sealing between the radiator perimeter and the perimeter of the condenser. Without this, the rad fan will not suck adequate ambient air through the condenser. On the highway, at speed, this does not matter, but under, say, 30 mph, the difference is huge.


The Rad fan wiring diagram is at 97.145 in the Bentley manual. The AC portions of the circuits are a pages 97.143 and 97.144.
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX