AC Fitting questions

[SpyderMike]

I am creating a hybrid AC system on my 1985 backdate and I ran into a snag. I have the Porsche (Mahle Behr front condenser) and the Classic Retrofit front fender condenser and compressor in the trunk. I need to make some hoses and I was thinking for shortest hose path I would go from compressor to front condenser, from front condenser to fender condenser, from fender condenser to drier, from drier to evaporator and then from evaporator to compressor.

Classic Retrofit suggests that the lines to the first condenser be #8 hose and from the evaporator to the compressor as well. All other hoses should be #6.

Their shipment to me had their fender condenser before the front condenser, so I am missing a #8 hose adapter fitting to the front condenser and a #6 fitting to fender condenser. I am also missing two fittings for the drier and the two fittings to the evaporator.

I want to locate those locally if at all possible to save time. Anyone know what the female end of the hose fittings should be? Are they all 5/16-18 or something metric? It looks like the large one on the evaporator might be 3/4-16 or thereabouts (or is it metric). How about the small one on the evaporator?

Does anyone know the details on these fittings?

Also, is there any reason to consider height of the condenser in the action of condensation? For example, it seems that most systems hose input to the condenser at the highpoint and leave the condenser at the low point. Given that the front condenser on the car is below the fender condenser, should I change my strategy and go from compressor to fender condenser then from fender condenser to front condenser then to drier? Is there any benefit in performance in either routing?

Thanks...in advance.

[Jonny H]

You should use our (fender) condenser as the first in the line, given that it has greater cooling capacity and a larger fan than the Porsche 'belly pan' unit.

[SpyderMike]

Thanks for your reply Jonny. Actually, I have got a serious blower upgrade on the front condenser. Also, the line from front condenser to fender condenser is less than two feet....doesn't that help the combined performance?

I need to find out what fitting I need to buy for the fender condenser to the #6 hose. Can you tell me please?

[SpyderMike]

Okay, some research found this out -

The #6 fittings are 5/16-18 thread and the o-ring size is 5/16" ID, 7/16" OD, and 1/16 thick.

The #8 fittings are 3/4-16 thread and the o-rings are 7/16" ID, 9/16" OD and 1/16" thick.

The large fitting at the evaporator is a #10 fitting at 7/8-14 thread and the o-ring size is 9/16" ID, 11/16" OD and 1/16" thick.

Use HNBR o-rings with R134a juice.