a/c hose kit, experience?
 

I am considering the purchase of the RennAire Barrier hose kit for my '89 911. This seems reasonable, as the cost of the single bad hose I need to replace almost matches the cost of the entire Barrier Hose kit, per Pelican.
Question: does anyone have experience with this kit? Or at least access to a hose routing diagram of some sorts? Don't want to put the wrong hose in the wrong place.
Also, while some may suggest a complete upgrade of all of the a/c components, I'm just not there in terms of finances. So I was thinking of the best bang for my buck (in getting some version of chilled air into my car) might be to also purchase and install the RennAir Pro cooler kit. Again, anyone with feedback on this? Thank you, Tom

RennAire makes good products. Though I didn't buy their hose kit, I'm sure it will fit just fine. Also, I have the ProCooler. The car seemed to blow cooler after I installed it, but I added some other things as well at the same time, so it can't say for certain how much of a difference the ProCooler made. Since you're going to have the hoses out of the car, installing a ProCooler now makes sense because once you open the system, you'll need to replace the receiver/dryer anyway. So, why not just replace it with a ProCooler.

Also, you might consider fabbing your own subcooler (which is what the ProCooler is). Do a search for "Jim Sims" and "subcooler" (without the quotation marks) for more info. HughR, another BBS member, is a big proponent of the Sims subcooler.

Good luck!

You can also have your existing hoses replaced with barrier hose, re-using the end fittings, for about half the cost.

Good point. If you can take your hoses out without having to chop them up, a local a/c shop should be able to make up a new set and reuse your ends.

I didn't have any problems figuring out what went where. It is pretty straight forward.

I did this install a couple of years ago. It's not hard to figure out where the hoses go. Adding the procooler makes it a little trickier than just replacing the existing but IIRC the hoses came labeled. And even without labels its still pretty straightforward.

Of course if you're going to add a procooler you can't simply have the existing lines replicated since you'll need to reroute things a bit.

Tom,

I've known the folks at RennAire for about 10 years.
They are the best.

On our '86, we installed not only the Pro-Cooler, but the High flow evaporator,
reset the A/C thermostat, and are very pleased.

Everything else is 100% stock A/C.

We had 45F air on the freeway yesterday with 100F ambient.

pm me with your email address, and I'll send you the reset steps,
along with pictures, and the final results.

It's a no-brainer.

Good luck,

Gerry

IIRC, the ProCooler kit comes with some new hoses, and instructions on how to re-route your existing hoses. If my memory is correct, then having existing hoses replicated will work fine. A call to RennAire can confirm this, however.

This is correct. The Procooler comes with a hose that is an extension to be added to an existing hose.

RetroAire
 

Just installed COMPLETE single rear condenser RetroAire (Texas) A/C lash up in my 86 Carrera. Included Evap, hoses, switches, drier, barrier hose, condenser etc. Everything I needed. I used the Denso compresser of my 993.
Inexpensive, straightforward deal. 37degrees @101 last week in Tucson.

Instructions are crude but common sense and patience prevailed.

EP Slick - Tucson

why has no one come up with an aluminium tube retrofit kit for the older 911. The factory finally made the switch with the 964. It sure would be cleaner than running 40 ft of hose everywhere.

AC Hose install
 

Bought and installed same kit 2 months back on my 87 when I had a single hose failure at the rear deck lid. Just figured at 23 years, couldn't be a bad idea. Very dirty and tedious to install all 5 but nothing horrible. New hoses seem to have aluminum fittings vs. steel on original if thats a concern. Old fittings are in excellent condition so no issue with re-use, I kept mine. The method of keeping the old fittings and putting on new hoses would work great if you have a place to do it close by. New green o-rings are available easy. New hoses are smaller diameter so they fit a little loose in the clamps but everything is secure because there are so many. Be sure to get a new dryer as the system has been open awhile at this point.
The old hoses actually looked remarkably good, inside and out once the dirt was scrubbed off a few of them.

Also, considering now adding the procooler myself this winter. I think it replaces the dryer so its only the incremental cost you're talking about, maybe not a bad idea.
I also need to address the evaporator and controls, my system doesn't seem to cycle properly. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone on this forum for your great replies! Your skills and knowledge are invaluable. I also live in Tucson and regrettably I have not been able to drive my 911 for 5 months. It is hot, hot...and with no a/c, almost impossible to stand. Your feedback has caused me to rethink a 'one step at a time solution', as it would probably lead to disappointment in the cool air delivered. I am now re-examining my approach, and believe that the best results would be achieved via a whole kit, by RennAire or Retro Air. I would like to think the compressor is good and I could save $ by doing everything but the compressor...but I think I should have it checked out first. thanks again, Tom

Check on the inside of the decklid above the compressor. If there's a 'stripe' of oil then the compressor shaft seal is most likely shot.

does anyone know if the Rennaire hose kit is compatible with their Procooler? I tried to ask them via their website but so far have not heard back. I have a pro cooler and would like to replace the hoses and have thought about just buying the hose in bulk (reusing my existing connections) and doing it myself but I'm not sure about all the different hose sizes. Not sure why the hose sizes vary on 911s but I assume there is a reason.

I sent my original hoses out to have the hose material replaced with barrier hose, using the original ends. I think it was only about $150 plus shipping both ways. Easy way to do it, economical and guaranteed fit. If you search some more you can probably find the thread about it; I think the company was Arizona Mobile Air?

Toss the procooler, it does absolutely no good since our systems are always underperforming during cooldown periods and thus have no EXCESS cooling capacity downstream. Once the cabin is cooled to your comfort level, if ever it is, there might be some minor level of cooling capacity downstream of the evaporator (***). Even at that you'll be robbing Peter to pay Paul, more HEAT entering the compressor so the compressor must now work harder to reach the same end result.

***.) Entirely possible if CG is correct and the TXV never fully closes. Me, I think he's WRONG.

ProCoolers work well with modern day systems that use an EPR, Evaporator Pressure Regulator, valve to control the evaporator outflow volume. These systems ALWAYS have excess cooling capacity downstream of the evaporator once the comfort setpoint is attained.

I think the procooler works well only if you have a second condenser at the front, under, or in the wheelwell of the car. However, my system cooled marginally better with it, with only the stock condenser.

I think our cars lack two things. Condenser capacity and cfm from the blower. You gotta throw that heat somehow/somewhere. I did a full griffith system and the only thing lacking in my opinion now is air speed/volume. That's a little tricky without getting a lot of noise I think.