Author |
Message |
Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:28 am Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
djkeev wrote: |
A while back I purchased a NostalgicAir UD-110 under dash unit.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...p;start=20
I just measured it and it's size is darn near identical to the Diavia unit posted above.
So, if you want to try this mod, the UD-110 is on the shelf and ready to ship from Nostalgic Air.
It's probably the same unit......... Keep in mind my dimensions are fast and dirty.
Diavia specs.......
My UD-110
1" = 25.4mm
9 1/2" deep. 241 mm
16" wide. 406mm
5" high. 127mm
Dave |
4 kW cooling capacity with 120 watts draw?
No. _________________ .ssS! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Farf Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2009 Posts: 463 Location: Colorado
|
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 6:14 am Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
The 4KW is the cooling coil rating, no elecrical consumption there. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:51 am Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
I first got this DIY system running back in March of 2013. Now, 8 years later, I have had my first problem. I ran the Westy SVX engine yesterday for a while (moving it out of the garage to work on another vehicle) and let it run for 30 or 40 minutes to get rid of the lifter tick. I switched on the AC system after a few minutes to let the refrigerant oil circulate and oil the compressor seal. I suspect the accumulator since PAG oil dripping onto the driveway was the symptom.
Well, it seems that somewhere in the vicinity of the AC accumulator, either the accumulator, a fitting or a hose sprang a leak.
I will have to investigate later today. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
|
Back to top |
|
|
whyyes.travel Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2020 Posts: 32 Location: California
|
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:54 am Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Howesight wrote: |
I first got this DIY system running back in March of 2013. Now, 8 years later, I have had my first problem. I ran the Westy SVX engine yesterday for a while (moving it out of the garage to work on another vehicle) and let it run for 30 or 40 minutes to get rid of the lifter tick. I switched on the AC system after a few minutes to let the refrigerant oil circulate and oil the compressor seal. I suspect the accumulator since PAG oil dripping onto the driveway was the symptom.
Well, it seems that somewhere in the vicinity of the AC accumulator, either the accumulator, a fitting or a hose sprang a leak.
I will have to investigate later today. |
Thank you so much for your DIY documentation @Howesight and @iulian. Both look great. I'm considering the front AC option since I live in central valley of CA.
Would you guys recommend trying to utilize the existing front blower? Have any other compatible evaporator coils come on the market since? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
|
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
I have read that a number of those removing the factory Vanagon air/heater box and installing the Vintage Air evaporator and associated parts (or the SmallCar kit based on those parts) have found that those units were lacking in winter heat. A minority of those using the Vintage Ari/Smallcar system were unimpressed with the cooling power of those sytems, but most were happy.
To the extent that the cooling performance of those systems was lacking or mediocre, I think that the size of the blower fan used in those systems and the restictive corrugated flexible hose supplied may be to blame. I think that the size of the evaporator core is likely not the problem.
In my DIY evaporator, I used an Audi A4 (B5 generation) evaporator and a Toyota pickup/4Runner blower fan. Together, these can freeze you out of your Vanagon. I should say, however, that the way I set my system up, with only 4 vent outlets, results in very high air speed coming out the vents. This is great for cooling you quickly, but over the course of a few hours, leads to very dry skin on your face. This is a common-place in sailing and other similar activities and just requires some cream or moisturizer on your exposed skin. OEM systems use more vent outlets to achieve the same cooling with lower air speeds out the vents, to achieve the same overall volume of chilled air.
If I had any concerns that the system that emerged from my months of fiddling and experimenting had issues, I would clearly explain those concerns. The only one I have is the dry-skin/air speed problem.
Two things that can ruin an otherwise sound AC installation are:
1. Failure to seal out hot ambient air. For that, use the system made by Chris Corkins of Vanistan, found here: https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/cabin-air-control/ Chris calls it his Cabin Air Control Kit;
In my case, I cobbled this together:
CLOSED:
OPEN:
2. A foolproof means of keeping all hot coolant out of your front heater core in summer. I made my own vacuum-electric heater hose shut off. Chris sells a nifty coolant valve that is a lot less difficult to make and install than my DIY approach. Here is a link to Chris' valve:
https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/t3-vanagon-front-heater-valve/ _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kombi///M3 Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2011 Posts: 427 Location: Vancouver, BC
|
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Hey Howesight.. any chance I can have a look at your set up?
I like your set up better than the others. Do you have a kit for sale?
I've read your old post and thought you've come up with. A kit.
Cheers. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
khughes Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2013 Posts: 747 Location: Phoenix AZ
|
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Howesight wrote: |
In my DIY evaporator, I used an Audi A4 (B5 generation) evaporator and a Toyota pickup/4Runner blower fan. Together, these can freeze you out of your Vanagon. I should say, however, that the way I set my system up, with only 4 vent outlets, results in very high air speed coming out the vents. This is great for cooling you quickly, but over the course of a few hours, leads to very dry skin on your face. This is a common-place in sailing and other similar activities and just requires some cream or moisturizer on your exposed skin. OEM systems use more vent outlets to achieve the same cooling with lower air speeds out the vents, to achieve the same overall volume of chilled air.
Two things that can ruin an otherwise sound AC installation are:
1. Failure to seal out hot ambient air. For that, use the system made by Chris Corkins of Vanistan, found here: https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/cabin-air-control/ Chris calls it his Cabin Air Control Kit; |
Interesting. I have an older version of Chris's kit and I wouldn't call it fully sealed at highway speeds. Your mod looks interesting - how well does it work for sealing at 65-75mph? Any additional pics?
I have a spare heater box sitting on my WorkMate now for modifications to fully seal external air, but still cogitating on the exact method. Any additional challenges you ran into would be valuable as well. It doesn't take much 118-120 Deg F air infiltration to make a huge comfort difference.
Thanks! _________________ '86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
|
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Kombi///M3 wrote: |
Hey Howesight.. any chance I can have a look at your set up?
I like your set up better than the others. Do you have a kit for sale?
I've read your old post and thought you've come up with. A kit.
Cheers. |
Hi Kombi: PM sent. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
|
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Hey KHughes:
My system for sealing out ambient air ingress could be perfect, but it is not perfect at the moment. The reason is that I used an axle-type steel rod at one end of the flaps, instead of at the middle of the flaps. The exterior air pushes against the flap and pushes the flap, the bowden cable and the sliding lever on my HVAC lever panel and allows ambient air in. The kludge I use is to put a rubber band on that lever and attach the other end to one of the diff-lock knobs - - not very elegant. I need a better closing mechanism.
I am going to remove the dash sometime in the near future for a number of things needing attention and will revise the closing mechanism then. If you can place enough force on the HVAC lever, it will keep the ambient air out. In the meantime, I have reduced the force acting against this mechanism by another kludge, duct taping the whole air inlet screen closed except for about a 2.5" by 2.5" square area left open. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
|
Back to top |
|
|
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:19 am Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Howesight wrote: |
Hey KHughes:
My system for sealing out ambient air ingress could be perfect, but it is not perfect at the moment. The reason is that I used an axle-type steel rod at one end of the flaps, instead of at the middle of the flaps. The exterior air pushes against the flap and pushes the flap, the bowden cable and the sliding lever on my HVAC lever panel and allows ambient air in. The kludge I use is to put a rubber band on that lever and attach the other end to one of the diff-lock knobs - - not very elegant. I need a better closing mechanism.
I am going to remove the dash sometime in the near future for a number of things needing attention and will revise the closing mechanism then. If you can place enough force on the HVAC lever, it will keep the ambient air out. In the meantime, I have reduced the force acting against this mechanism by another kludge, duct taping the whole air inlet screen closed except for about a 2.5" by 2.5" square area left open. |
I don't know how you swung your air shut off door, but on my heater mod to stop the Ram Air ingress, I hinged the door to swing out into the stream of air.
At speed with the flap closed the Ram Air closes it even tighter perfectly stopping the air flow.
I had zero Ram Air ingress.
When I did open the flap for air I don't recall it ever being blown shut, but honestly? I rarely opened it, and when I did it was just a smidge. I probably only ever opened it as much as the commercially available door leaks air when closed?
Dave _________________ Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
|
Back to top |
|
|
whyyes.travel Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2020 Posts: 32 Location: California
|
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: DIY Front Air Conditioning |
|
|
Howesight wrote: |
I have read that a number of those removing the factory Vanagon air/heater.... |
That's a great comparison between the two. Thanks so much Howesight. I would also consider your kit if you have anything on the market. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|