Retrofit of 993 AC condenser

[sjf911]

I took advantage of our recent spring like weather and garage temps approaching 60 degrees to attempt my 993 condenser install in the left rear fender. I had to remove my engine compartment condenser to make room for the IC with the turbo conversion.
I originally had thought to place the 993 condenser in the front left fender by removing the windshield washer reservoir but found I could not easily fit it with a fan so plan B was the rear fender. I also had aspirations of installing the entire OEM 993 mounting bracket and fan assembly but quickly discovered that there was no room in the normal SC fenders. The OEM fan would not even fit without the bulky OEM condenser mounting bracket so I had to fab my own brackets and use a SPAL fan (11" high performance puller 1390 CFM, VA03-AP70/LL-37A). My initial measurements suggested that the 11" fan would fit easily but this turned out to not be the case. I wanted as much fan capacity as possible but it turns out the medium profile fan would have been a better fit (VA09-AP50/C-27A, 970 CFM). I ended up having to drop the fan lower on the condenser as you can see. A lower profile fan would fit easily in the center of the condenser. One advantage is that the lower fan mounts are bolted directly to the lower condenser bracket taking the weight off of the condenser. I also fabricated a rear baffle to block the fan from drawing hot air off of the tailpipe. The condenser is held in place by 2 rubber buffers on the lower backet and one on the upper which on the center of mass line. Also, I would have liked to mounted the condenser horizontally but there turned out to be insufficient room.
Winter weather is returning tonight so the remaining AC tasks will await spring. I plan on replacing the front condenser with a new high efficiency Kuehl unit, replace the evaporator with a new serpentine unit, upgrade the blower motor with the Mr. Jag kit, and install the Kuehl bowtie duct as well as all new hoses and connectors.

[sjf911]

Here is a photo without the condenser and fan without the rock gaurd.

[Joeaksa]

Subscribed. Any updates on this? Am needing to do something like this on my 911.

[sjf911]

I have completed the install of the 993 condenser, new Griffith's updated front condenser, new serpentine evaporator and expansion valve, as well as all new DIY barrier hoses. I also added the Griffith's bowtie vent, system status LED, and the Mr. Jag 3-speed evaporator motor upgrade. The system holds a vacuum, but unfortunately, spring seems to be on hold here so I haven't had a chance to charge it and test temperatures. If I were to do this again, I would wait for hotter temperatures to facilitate manipulation of the hoses during install. Cold hoses just don't bend as easily.

[Joeaksa]

Steve,

Thanks and can you pls give me a ballpark on the cost and labor involved? I have a shop wanting to do this for me but feel that the costs are a bit too much for my wallet, so thinking about a DIY project.

I have two months before the summer hits here and could try this myself.

Thanks,

Joe A

[stormmaster]

Not trying to hijack. I have a 993 Condensor and fan for sale if anybody is interested. $250.

[Joeaksa]

Don,

Got any photos?

joeaksa AT attglobal.net

Thx,

Joe A

[sjf911]

Joe, I found I could not fit the 993 fan assembly in either the front or rear SC fender. I ended up using the "naked" condenser with a fabbed mounting and added a Spal fan that was lower profile than the 993 OEM. I think the 993 assembly would fit in a "turbo" or equivalent wide fender.
Cost for all of the new parts was about $1150.00 with an additional $150.00 for bulk hose and fittings and I probably paid the equivalent of $150.00 for the 993 condenser. I already had a Sanden 507 compressor in the car.
From a time perspective, I wasted a lot of time disassembling the left front fender area to test fit the 993 condenser and then reassembling everything. Fortunately it did make running the front condenser hoses easier. It took about an entire weekend to remove and replace all of the individual components (including the center vent and evaporator fan upgrade, new thermostat switch and AC indicator light) and then another entire weekend to remove, fab, and replace the individual hoses including the addition of a trinary switch. In addition, I probably spent the better part of a weekend figuring out the mounting and wiring of the 993 condenser/Spal fan assembly in the rear. This was compounded by my need to relocate my Tilton electric turbo oil scavenge pump.
Probably the most difficult (painful) thing was getting the flexible hose from the evaporator housing back to the cabin plumbing reconnected. A real PITA.
I purchased 9 ft of #6 hose, 25 ft of #8 hose, and 14 ft of #10 hose (standard barrier).

[Joeaksa]

Thanks for the info.

Joe

[rfuerst911sc]

I am planning on doing the same on my 914. Is the fan you are using a pusher or puller ? By any chance do you know the CFM of the OEM fan ? Just curious if the Spal you used is more or less than OEM?

[sjf911]

I used a 10" puller "high performance" fan with about 1900 cfm rating. I chose this one because it appeared to be the highest flowing fan that would fit. I still had to mount it lower on the condenser than I would have prefered to clear the body. It appears to be just about the same size/power as the 993 OEM but the mounting is lower profile. I used a puller as I don't have a cat or major exhaust component to radiate heat next to it. I don't know how easy it would be to fit this fan as a pusher in the 911. You might need to go one profile lower to ease installation. I have no idea how much room you would have in the 914.