A/C Condenser in FRONT of Rear Tire?

scottb · 01-09-2005, 12:11 PM

Has anyone mounted an auxiliary air conditioning condenser in FRONT of their rear left tire, using the torsion bar bolts as mounting points? Can you post, or send me, some pictures?

Griffiths has its "Dual Kuehl," but it's spendy. I think I've sourced the correct size condenser, but I'd like to see how its mounted before I buy the condenser and fan, and start fabricating the brackets.

TIA for your help.

brcorp · brcorp's Garage

Scott,

Ah, it must be that time of year when the thoughts of young men are filled with notions of getting cooler air in the 911.....

What are you using for a condenser? I'm planning on adding a condenser here, plan is to use a front condenser mounted vertically.

scottb · 01-09-2005, 02:22 PM

Bill: Here's what I'm looking at. Nice and compact, but should work nicely.

brcorp · brcorp's Garage

Is that a parallel flow or tube and fin? Are you going to continue to run R-12?

rfuerst911sc · 01-09-2005, 02:28 PM

Today I fabbed the brackets to mount a condensor behind the left rear tire.I purchased a 12x14 condensor from MTG,they are a limosine supplier of AC and other products.It fits nicely behind the rear tire and would also fit in front of the tire.Their part number is AC-8041 and sells for $119.95 which includes a 11 inch fan,not a bad deal.The condensor uses # 6 fittings,so if you are plumbing with # 8 hose you have to use fittings that reduce from # 8 to # 6,other than that it is a good fit.

scottb · 01-09-2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brcorp
Is that a parallel flow or tube and fin? Are you going to continue to run R-12?

I'm not certain, but if I had to guess I'd say fin and tube (I haven't purchased it yet). I will continue to use R12.

Rfuerst911SC: I'm hesitant to go behind the wheel for several reasons. First, there's a LOT of heat back there. Second, all sorts of junk kicks up from the tire and shoots toward the back, and even with a guard I'm worried about a rock making its way into the condenser. I'm more comfortable with it being in front of the tire.

brcorp · brcorp's Garage

rfuerst911sc,

Do a search on condenser + dimensions for an excellent post on integrating the MTG condenser. What a fine example of work in progress....

rfuerst911sc · 01-10-2005, 02:10 AM

Scottb I do agree there is a lot of heat back there but there also is a lot of heat in the engine compartment and the OEM condensor is mounted right over the engine,so when sitting in stop and go traffic the heat rises into the condensor,this is not a problem once moving.My installation will have lots of heat around it in stop and go traffic but will have a 11 inch fan going all the time and I believe this is the difference,and once moving this will not be a problem.Also I have a underbelly condensor plumbed before the rear condensor.With a rock guard I don't believe there will be a issue,apparently there is no negative feedback that I can find on the Griffiths system that has one mounted back there.We are all in the same boat,we are looking for adequate AC,if we get there taking different paths it opens up the options for others to follow.

exhaustfumes · 01-10-2005, 02:59 AM

i've had a 11" x 6" OIL cooler mounted in front of the pass side rear tire for 5 years, no problems. i added a 7" motorcycle electric cooling fan, and some mesh-y material from lowes as a rock guard. i fabbed the brackets and welded them to the inner fender. this is a 77 without an original external oil cooler, and i wasn't into spending $500 for OEM oil lines to run it in the front fender.

brcorp · brcorp's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by rfuerst911sc
Also I have a underbelly condensor plumbed before the rear condensor

What kind of underbelly condenser is that? Any Pictures?

kepperly · kepperly's Garage

exhaustfumes? Is yours a slant nose with brake vents? mine is and the mocal cooler I installed works great in that location.

Keith Epperly
87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

rfuerst911sc · 01-10-2005, 03:19 PM

brcorp do a search for my name and you will see all the imfo on the underbelly condensor and some pics I recently posted.

Erakad · Erakad's Garage

First -- all please get your AC projects completed. I waffle daily on what to do. I know (from posts) the front/engine condensor arrangement is woefully inadequate for everywhere except north europe. Second, in my waffling I consider left front fender with/without front condensor, underbelly with/without front condensor, and now (sigh), left rear fender with/without front condensor, or in front/behind the tire....help!!!

Oh, the humanity...too many choices, when all I want is cold S Texas air!

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

on BB2 we used the performance aire underbelly condenser (actually had it on BB1 and it survived the farming excursion and car's demise at Laguna) That coupled with the later 80's evaporator and front mounted condenser, 3.6 rotary compressor and barrier hoses- works very well.

We experimented with a behind the wheel unit (964 front condenser shrouded and installed in left REAR well. In bumper to bumper traffic, the pressures shot way up- even with a ducted fan blowing cooler air over it. So that experiment did not work

How about this? 2 front condensers- one mounted in the oem spot on the sc/carrera, and the other in the left rear well ahead of the tire, but you will still need the larger one on the rear lid- just not enough surface area.

Scott- didn't you have an aftermarket condenser unit in the left front on your car? i though that was working out well

Quicksilver · 01-10-2005, 04:44 PM

Just a quick note about condensers and the heat in their mounting location. A condenser is a heat exchanger not a radiator. It exchanges heat through direct contact of the air to the condenser. The energy transferred by radiation (infrared) is negligible.

The heat in the area where the condenser is mounted isn't important. The air temperature is important. That is why the deck lid mounted condensers and the rear wheel well mounted condensers work.

Oh, and BTW, an automotive "radiator" isn't a radiator either. It is an air to water heat exchanger. If it was a radiator then it wouldn't need a fan.

Wayne

niner11 · 01-10-2005, 05:07 PM

Ok, here's my plan for this spring. Already have a rotary compressor update for my 82SC. Just picked up a procooler and a 964 condensor to be mounted on the left front fender. I will need to add a fan for the condensor and have some lines made up but I figure it will give me pretty low vent temps even in traffic. I would prefer to see some pics of a similar install but can probably work something out. Anyway, here is what I'm starting with.

niner11 · 01-10-2005, 05:17 PM

It would look different since the pic is from a 964 and my install would be in an SC but the general idea is the same

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

with a 964 cooler- it mounts pretty low on the 911SC/ Carrera- even if you angle it in. the back of the headlamp bucket could need some mods too

niner11 · 01-10-2005, 05:42 PM

Thanks, any info is helpful. Planning on using a small electric fan and replacing the washer bottle with a smaller one.

Erakad · Erakad's Garage

Finally got to ask (and not trying to hijack a thread...but), what's the best bang for the buck. I like the economics of the $120 condensor, but not the fabricaiton. The 964 condensor can run $300-$400 as can the underbelly...thoughts. Cool air at best price.