if you could build "The Ultimate" A/C system from scratch...

[WERKD e28]

my heads spinning from all the chatter & posts on this topic...
my SC came without A/C and definetly needs it in Atlanta weather.

If you could build the most effective / powerful setup...
Who's:
condensers
evaporators
blowers
etc would you mix & match to get the best results ?

It seems a few guys are doing this well, but the posts suggest some would like to use a different blower,or another manufacturer's condenser, or...

[Joeaksa]

The newest condensors on the market seem to be made by a gent on this forum.

I make Parallel Flow Micro-Channel Condensers for 911's front and rear

The above is the latest thread. There are people out there who insist that you buy everything from them, but then they want mega $$$ for the stuff. You can do just as well by buying the stuff for your system unless you need everything.

[RSTarga]

If money were no object. I'd go with those new micro channel condensors. Griffin's Kuehl fan and evaporator with the variable speed controler. And i'd have aluminum lines made up like in the 964 and later cars to reduce the amount of hoses.... In a perfect world.

[jackb911]

Hey, Steve,

If I was starting from scratch on a 911 that never had A/C, I'd explore using one of those Vintage Air mini systems that are designed for street rods, except I would use a 993 front mounted condenser. These condensers came with an integral fan.

I'm not a thermodynamics expert (although I took a semester of it in college) but it seems incredibly dumb to mount a condenser above the hot engine as in the stock location, or beside the catalytic convertor or pre-muffler as in the very pricey Griffiths/Kuehl upgrade.

The first 911's that had decent factory A/C were the 964's and 993's. Both had a small condenser behind the left headlight.

While I haven't seen an running example, it would seem that a creative fabricator could come up with a viable, affordable A/C system using the Vintage Air components. I've owned and ridden in street rods with their systems that generated serious, ice cold air. Here's their site: Vintage Air - Inventors of Performance Air Conditioning - www.vintageair.com

If these guys came up with an affordable, workable kit for pre-1990 911's, they would make a fortune.

Here is another place that is a good source for "build it yourself" A/C components:

Southern Air - Street Rod Air Conditioning - Southern Rods and Parts

[Nick Triesch]

The best way to start from scratch with a new A/C unit is to sell your car and buy a clean 993! Really great A/C! Most bugs worked out! Nick

[88911coupe]

What's annoying as hell to me is that any piece of crap sold in the last 20 years has solid a/c...we don't need some ultimate state of the art system in 911s...I just want want what you could have gotten in any 20 year old Toyota at the time. Actually, the pathetic level of AC in our 911s is a little embarrassing, and I don't care about the stories we tell ourselves we we "keeping it real" back in the day.

[Joeaksa]

Jack911,

Good comments but one thing.

Please do not recommend the 993 condensor in the fender! If you like this, and I do, please recommend the "993 STYLE condensor" in the front fender. Problem is that the old 993 condensors are going on 20 year old technology and the newer versions are FAR superior in many ways.

Agree with the concept and useage, just do it with newer products to get better results in the temp drop.

Joe A

[scotricker]

subscribed!
Me too, no factory AC ever, need to figure out what to build.

[Porchcar guy]

Guys, it seems to me that if you buy a "Kit" from one of the big 3 Porsche A/C companies, you will spend somewhere between $2000 and $2800 for the works...Compressor, front and rear condenser, evaporator + valve, drier, dash vents and barrier hoses. I have been exploring the internet trying to find alternatives...buy the hoses and fittings from a company and have a local guy mate them...Sanden 507 compressor from ebay ...condensers from another internet company and some other places to get things a bit cheaper. No complete answer yet but I think it can be done for less and as good...it ain't rocket science...just long dirty work to complete. JM2C

[Kidasters]

You've got the best advice - buy a 993.

I just had the whole A/C system re-done in my car. My mechanic said "you know, this will never be as good as a modern car".

No matter what you do - it will never be as good as a modern car.....

Ken

[WERKD e28]

i would buy a 993 if it was in the budget...

i have to "make do" with what i have (an SC), and want to do this RIGHT the 1st time.

appreciate everyone's input ! very useful !

[Pyregrine]

I'm interested as well! We have a 1966 with no a/c and in 100 degree heat... yuck!
My husband's a mechanic, so we're gathering all information we can before we start this project

[wwest]

Someone should disassemble one of those Home Depot, Costco, <$500 10,000+ BTU portable air conditioners and see if there is a "fit". ~1000 watts at 120 VAC but 2000 Watt MSD inverters have gotten pretty cheap.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by wwest

Someone should disassemble one of those Home Depot, Costco, <$500 10,000+ BTU portable air conditioners and see if there is a "fit". ~1000 watts at 120 VAC but 2000 Watt MSD inverters have gotten pretty cheap.

Actually that's not a bad idea but you'd still need an auto spec compressor for the engine bay... Unless you went full electric only. Hmm

[BGCarrera32]

Originally Posted by jackb911

I'm not a thermodynamics expert (although I took a semester of it in college) but it seems incredibly dumb to mount a condenser above the hot engine as in the stock location, or beside the catalytic convertor or pre-muffler as in the very pricey Griffiths/Kuehl upgrade.

What makes even less sense is mounting 3 or 4 large muffin fans under the engine lid condenser, to "move more air", and then running them in reverse whereby they take hot air from the hot engine compartment and blow it over the hot air exchanger (condenser) and out to ambient. All while the engine is drawing air into the engine compartment across the condenser for intake and cooling. So muffin fans fighting intake and the alternator fan...

Figure that one out.

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

What makes even less sense is mounting 3 or 4 large muffin fans under the engine lid condenser, to "move more air", and then running them in reverse whereby they take hot air from the hot engine compartment and blow it over the hot air exchanger (condenser) and out to ambient. All while the engine is drawing air into the engine compartment across the condenser for intake and cooling. So muffin fans fighting intake and the alternator fan...

Figure that one out.

I was under the impression that these fans were "pulling" and not "pushing" so they actually draw air from the outside through the condenser, which would make a lot more sense.

[BGCarrera32]

Yes- but the install I refer to had them running the other way, as if the guy wired the fans with backwards polarity...

[quattrorunner]

sub

[wwest]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

Yes- but the install I refer to had them running the other way, as if the guy wired the fans with backwards polarity...

Most modern "muffin" fans are brushless and therefore not reversible.

Where did you see/find one of these mods with the muffin fans exhausting air upwards...?

[kramer747]

I'm sorry to be a downer -factory ac in 911's has never been good and aftermarket stuff is not much better. Again, sorry