School me on a/c condenser locations, multiple units

[jma0506]

Lots of great info here as I have been considering the best route to go for an A/C system in my 911. One question for those of you that don't seem to have any issues in high temperature areas - are you running R12 or R134a in your system?

[HaroldMHedge]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Charlie Griffith did a lot of design and development on his system. He likely has that information,

Griffiths explains some of his research on his website in the Mr. Ice Project.

[Coastr]

Originally Posted by jma0506

Lots of great info here as I have been considering the best route to go for an A/C system in my 911. One question for those of you that don't seem to have any issues in high temperature areas - are you running R12 or R134a in your system?

Majority are running r134. If you’re doing a refresh plan for r134. With the right size condenser and new hoses r134 works fine.

[pavegeno]

Originally Posted by jma0506

Lots of great info here as I have been considering the best route to go for an A/C system in my 911. One question for those of you that don't seem to have any issues in high temperature areas - are you running R12 or R134a in your system?

R-134 with Griff's four condenser system with hurricane fan in Alabama with temps in the mid 90s and high humidity. Vent temps in between 30-35 degrees. After 10-15 minutes in my 88 Cab, I turn the fan down to about 75% and the temp knob down to about 85% max cold. I like it cold in my car and in my house. Eng temps stay at the 90C line or slightly above but never above 9 o'clock even in stop and go traffic. Glasses fog up when I exit the car.

Best money I spent on my car. Great customer service and quality parts. Been running Griff's since 2008 and put 85K miles on the car with his system so it gets used a lot.

Good luck!

[junkman300SD]

FWIW, Griff is currently out of the fender condensers. None expected until fall sometime. Said my starting place should be with a reliability package. I'll dig in to see what's included in that. I also need to make sure that anything not included is working well enough that the package will do some good. I'd hate to spend the money and find out that it doesn't fix the problem.

[Ryce Stallings]

I live in Miami and have experience with several different AC systems. My present system has a single rear counterflow condenser with two electric fans and the car stays cold. It’s a 1977 911.

Why would you want all those condensers and hoses?

[walt]

Originally Posted by Ryce Stallings

I live in Miami and have experience with several different AC systems. My present system has a single rear counterflow condenser with two electric fans and the car stays cold. It’s a 1977 911.

Why would you want all those condensers and hoses?

I was ready to pull the plug on adding some cooling fans but found too many negative comments in the forum regarding how ineffective they are.

Here is my personal experience. I have an 82 Targa with whale tail and an 81 coupe with duck tail. Both have the Griffiths reliability system installed. The Coupe has marginal cooling and the Targa very effective. The Targa's grill has 50% greater surface area than the coupe plus the louvers are angled in such a way to collect far more air. I am rethinking adding fans to the coupe as a winter project.

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by junkman300SD

FWIW, Griff is currently out of the fender condensers. None expected until fall sometime. I'd hate to spend the money and find out that it doesn't fix the problem.

Yup, this is what happens when you show up late for dinner.

"I'd hate to spend the money and find out that it doesn't fix the problem"
Best if you define the problem, the possible solutions and your expectations.

[GH85Carrera]

When I went to the four condenser system way back in 2007, beside the cold air, they secondary improvement was cooler engine temps. With the fans on the front and two fender condensers blowing the heat away from the engine, it simply ran cooler. Especially when I am going slow in traffic.

The trip down to Key West is the longest trip I ever made at 35 MPH. And more than a few stop lights, and even slower sections. July in the keys is not a cool place temperature wise.

[usera]

I installed a single condenser Electric system from Classic Retrofit. Living in a hot and humid area of the SE, I can say that it is barely tolerable on hot days and can't keep up on very hot days.

[Michael7810]

Originally Posted by Michael7810

I live in Phoenix and have the Griffith system with only 2 condensers. I had intended to use 4 condensers but when I ordered the system last December I was told the 2 auxiliary condensers were unavailable due to supply issues and it could be 6 months to 2 years before they would be available. I talked to a guy at Patrick Motor Sports and he said they don't use 4 condensers (and that was confirmed by Griffith). I replaced everything except the rear condenser. The car is not my daily driver but I have had it out several times in 100+ weather and it works satisfactorily. I think it would struggle if the car was sitting in the sun for a couple hours and then I was stuck in traffic...but for driving around town and certainly on the freeway it does an adequate job. I think the 86+ cars would do much better with larger dash vents. I'm happy with it as is and won't bother to add the aux condensers when(ever) they are available.

Today I checked the pressures and the high side was only 200 at 95F. I added 4 oz of freon and now the pressure (tested per the Griffith procedure) is 250. Vent temp before adding freon was 55F and after was 41F. Much better! The shop that did the initial charge only added the recommended starting charge of 31oz and said it was good.

[kuehl]

"I talked to a guy at Patrick Motor Sports and he said they don't use 4 condensers (and that was confirmed by Griffith)."

True, we do not market our fender condenser systems through Patrick Motor Sports.


Today I checked the pressures and the high side was only 200 at 95F. I added 4 oz of freon and now the pressure (tested per the Griffith procedure) is 250. Vent temp before adding freon was 55F and after was 41F. Much better! The shop that did the initial charge only added the recommended starting charge of 31oz and said it was good.

Pays to read the directions.

[junkman300SD]

Where are the Griffith installation instructions? I'd like to review before deciding.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by junkman300SD

Where are the Griffith installation instructions? I'd like to review before deciding.

He has the best instruction for anything you ever assembled. The instructions, and every screw, bolt, zip tie, hose and part all comes with the box of stuff he sends when you buy.

If you can assemble IKEA or a kids Christmas toys, you can do all the installation with a standard set of tools. It is all pretty easy, if not kinda dirty replacing the hoses.

The only part that is scary, or technical is charging the system. That is pretty wasy, but it takes some special equipment and tools. Many people take it to a pro for that step.

[TRE Cup]

Well, now its going to be no fun assembling systems. Griffiths (and mostly everyone else) cannot supply compressors. Griffiths is quoting September/October for fender condenser kits . They still have front and rear condensers in stock.
We just ordered those along with the barrier hose kits for a couple jobs in the shop. We just ordered the last compressor upgrade kit from one of their distributors (Hope it is actually coming from their shown inventory)

[GH85Carrera]

One of my friends is having AC problems at their house. They have called several local companies for help in a replacement system. They are hearing 20 to 30 weeks out for any new units. Everyone is out of stock, and has none coming in for a while. It is insane.

[nota]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

One of my friends is having AC problems at their house. They have called several local companies for help in a replacement system. They are hearing 20 to 30 weeks out for any new units. Everyone is out of stock, and has none coming in for a while. It is insane.

not seeing that on line I have been hunting

lots of central units and tons of mini splits too

now geting a repairman in a heatwave is always tuff

I just put a windowshaker in the BR until we fix the central unit
and the guy is coming today