source for 87 911 updated rear AC condenser

[b moe]

Anyone know of a source of a parallel flow condenser which is drop in for 87 era cars?
anyone know who would make them for us? The rear condenser is easy to get to and reportedly 4 row parallel flow condensers are 40% more efficient that tube and fin.

[HaroldMHedge]

I purchased one as part of a kit from Rock at RetroAir in 2016 for my 87 Carrera. RetroAir is now part of Classic Auto Air and I'm not sure they still sell the parallel flow condenser.

RetroAir

[Arne2]

I'd be interested as well, if it was a true drop-in. All of the PF rear condensers I've seen have significant hose changes, with both inlet and outlet on the same end.

[Uwon]

Griffiths, good stuff!
https://griffiths.com/
Site is nice and direct. Great exlanations.
You can buy direct or from our host.
Cheers,
Johan

[HaroldMHedge]

The RetroAir rear condenser is a true drop in. For my system I used a mixture of RetroAir and Griffiths parts. Griffiths has the best instructions and quality parts. The RetroAir are good but just slightly below Griffiths.

Here are photos of the RetroAir rear parallel flow condenser.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

The RetroAir rear condenser is a true drop in. For my system I used a mixture of RetroAir and Griffiths parts. Griffiths has the best instructions and quality parts. The RetroAir are good but just slightly below Griffiths.

Harold, did you use Griffith's hoses with the RetroAir condenser?

[HaroldMHedge]

Yes, I did use Griffiths' hoses since they are full size barrier hoses and fit the factory hose clamps.

[Arne2]

Good. My '72 coupe had factory A/C, my plan was to use Griffith's hoses, evaporator, compressor and PF front condenser. My original rear condenser is corroded, so I need to replace it as well. I was going to just go with an OE type with all the rest of Griffith's stuff. But if I can just get a separate PF rear condenser like yours from ClassicAutoAir (new parent company for RetroAire products), I'll do that instead of OE. With both PF condensers and Griffith's better evaporator, should give good results.

I don't see any separate listings for the condenser only on their site, will need to contact them for a quote.

[HaroldMHedge]

You should get very good results with that system. In 105F heat I have a 55F vent temperature with RetroAir PF rear condenser, Griffiths second gen front condenser (not PF) and Griffiths evaporator. Fan wise I'm using RetroAir's aftermarket front condenser and evaporator fans. The front condenser fan is good but I can't recommend the evaporator fan. It's using a hose clamp to hold the motor and twice now the motor has slipped enough that the fan is rubbing the evaporator.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

...... The front condenser fan is good but I can't recommend the evaporator fan. It's using a hose clamp to hold the motor and twice now the motor has slipped enough that the fan is rubbing the evaporator.

Interesting. I've done two evaporator conversions on two cars without issue. Maybe the clamps aren't not tight enough? Maybe use some epoxy to glue the motor to the mount as well?

[HaroldMHedge]

Originally Posted by Peter M

Interesting. I've done two evaporator conversions on two cars without issue. Maybe the clamps aren't not tight enough? Maybe use some epoxy to glue the motor to the mount as well?

Thanks Peter,

I've tightened the clamp once already and used a glue (don't remember which one) to try and fix this. It's not only that the clamp loosened but the way the fan is attached to the housing. To tighten the hose clamp, I needed to drill a hole in the housing. Then if I
want to change the clamp the housing will have to be cut open. It's not setup for easy maintenance.

I'm considered finding an early evaporator housing so I can mount the Griffiths Hurricane Evaporator Motor.

[khamul02]

Can you just buy the back condenser?

[pavegeno]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

You should get very good results with that system. In 105F heat I have a 55F vent temperature with RetroAir PF rear condenser, Griffiths second gen front condenser (not PF) and Griffiths evaporator. Fan wise I'm using RetroAir's aftermarket front condenser and evaporator fans. The front condenser fan is good but I can't recommend the evaporator fan. It's using a hose clamp to hold the motor and twice now the motor has slipped enough that the fan is rubbing the evaporator.

I've had my full Griffith's for 12 years now and my center vent temp is always in the low to mid 30s even on the hottest and most humid days. I replaced the stock front and back condensers with Griff's and added the dual left rear wheel well condensers with integrated electric fans. I did the evaporator fan conversion using Griff's hurricane fan. 55F vent temps is not good.

You might want to try adding the two add'l condensers in the wheel well. It's the key as greater heat dissipation from more condenser area means lower output temperatures.

Good luck!

[HaroldMHedge]

I'm very happy with my vent temperatures. My wife has spoken the best of the AC system since updating it. She said "I'm cold!"

This is actually my second Griffiths system the first was a 911SC which I had in Malaysia. That car had the full Griffiths system evaporator, front condenser and dual condensers in the left rear wheel well with fans (front and behind wheel). For my US Carrera, I decided to use the RetroAir rear engine lid condenser instead of the additional condensers Griffiths offers.

[b moe]

So Retro Air had a condenser that was drop in from the pictures.Anyone know much about the company Rock sold to- Classic auto air? I went to their office/warehouse 2? yrs ago, not too long after buying out Rock at Retro Air. very disorganized-they could not even show me the parts and had no knowledgeable people. As I remember the rear condenser had both ports on same side and not drop in- part of a kit? The website now does not work at all. May be able to call and see. It seems many sites want to do 1960s US cars. Hopefully they will sell parts separately. Generic parallel flow condensers are in $100-200 range so we should make some

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by b moe

As I remember the rear condenser had both ports on same side and not drop in- part of a kit?

The condenser they show with their kit has both ports same side, which is why I hadn't thought there was a PF drop-in replacement. I hope they still have the standalone part, but after trying to find ANY condensers with fittings on opposite ends on their website, I'm not optimistic.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by Arne2

The condenser they show with their kit has both ports same side, which is why I hadn't thought there was a PF drop-in replacement. I hope they still have the standalone part, but after trying to find ANY condensers with fittings on opposite ends on their website, I'm not optimistic.

Here is a photo of one of Rock's:




Having both hoses attached at one end didn't cause any issues - just need a longer hose! Rock supplied some simple brackets to mount it up that could be reasonably easily made yourself. As for the evaporator it appears to be just a generic one that has been curved over a former. I've never bent a evaporator before but imagine it wouldn't take too much effort.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

Thanks Peter,

I've tightened the clamp once already and used a glue (don't remember which one) to try and fix this. It's not only that the clamp loosened but the way the fan is attached to the housing. To tighten the hose clamp, I needed to drill a hole in the housing. Then if I
want to change the clamp the housing will have to be cut open. It's not setup for easy maintenance.

I'm considered finding an early evaporator housing so I can mount the Griffiths Hurricane Evaporator Motor.

Harold,
I suspect your fan is out of balance and this is causing the motor to vibrate and to shift in it's mount over time.

[HaroldMHedge]

Thanks Peter for the insight.

[b moe]

Peter M
Does your system have any more modifications than a better rear condenser? Was routing the longer hose a problem?