Another boring AC thread - installing a 993 condenser in a 3.2 Carrera

[Wavey]

Have you thought about replacing the cat with a pre-muffler to reduce temps in the area?

BTW, after I did my AC I got about 39 degrees at the center vent while driving on an 80 degree day, black car. That was with the stock deck condenser, desert duty front condenser, serpentine evaporator in a sealed, insulated box, procooler and barrier hoses, on R12. I thought I was good until I ran across Kansas on a 95-degree day; the AC did absolutely nothing under that condition. Definitely needed more condenser.

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by Wavey

Have you thought about replacing the cat with a pre-muffler to reduce temps in the area?

BTW, after I did my AC I got about 39 degrees at the center vent while driving on an 80 degree day, black car. That was with the stock deck condenser, desert duty front condenser, serpentine evaporator in a sealed, insulated box, procooler and barrier hoses, on R12. I thought I was good until I ran across Kansas on a 95-degree day; the AC did absolutely nothing under that condition. Definitely needed more condenser.

You see, I've heard this story from Dave a few times, which is why the condenser was my first step!

[NathanR]

Regarding fans, I hooked it up to a power source and it pushed impressively, and I noted the polarity. I didn't note the direction it was spinning, nor can I even see it at this point! Will check when I get it all hooked up.

@CG, thanks for the encouragement.

A larger fan would push more air, but in the process of getting everything to fit together I was glad I had a little wiggle room. Without those considerations, An 11" would have fit perfectly, 12" would have overhung the edge a bit. On the outboard side there is a little flange at the top that interferes.

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by kuehl

I was doing 148 runs... until a black bear appeared in the driveway

You must have one heck of a driveway. Pics?

You should ask Dave (Wavey) about his wildlife encounter. For legal reasons he's always been a bit vague about how fast he was going.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by kuehl

I was doing 148 runs... until a black bear appeared in the driveway

Originally Posted by NathanR

You must have one heck of a driveway. Pics?

I hear that Griff's supercharged 911 goes 0-148 in about 9 feet (as long as Bob K. is not in the passenger's seat, buttofcourse)!

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by wwest

You might wish to reconsider the placement of the 993 condenser rather placing it in direct sight of the engine/exhaust/CATALYTIC converter.

You can easily verify for yourself how much adverse effect your current placement has.

Paint a partially full, <25%, can of R-134a flat black and connect it to your guage set.

Let the can acclimate to the atmospheric temperature and note the pressure.

With the engine/exhaust/catalyst "warmed" to normal operating temperature place the can inside the fender well in what would be the approximate center of the new condenser.

After ~5 minutes note the pressure....

.

I'm not concerned too much about this but will observe pressures once I get it up and running. I already fabbed a simple heat shield that can mount on the bottom of the bracket if warranted

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by wwest

PS: I can't tell for sure from the pictures but you seem to have the condenser installed 90 degrees from optimal insofar as preventing the refrigerant oil from pooling at the bottom of the tubes.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure my mounting orientation matches the original factory fitment.

What I'm finding so far is oil tends to pool in low spots throughout the system.

[NathanR]

Speaking of oil, when you add it to the condenser, do you simply pour it in both the suction and discharge ports, or what? I got very little out of it when I drained it. (Lots more from the front condenser and hose.)

[NathanR]

Question for Ronnie: did you get you smuggler box insulation from a muffler shop? What is it, exactly? (I have insulation envy and must know details).

[kuehl]

Nathan,

U'd be surprised in the difference of CFM between various brand's of fans.
I'd suggest focusing on Spal or their closest competitors; avoid certain
west Pacific imports; over the years we tested many.

If you can fit a 12" with overlap, go for it.
Remember that most of the 'muffin' or low profile fans all have approximately
the same diameter motor case, that section of the fan does little:
3" dia = Area equals Pi times r times r or 7" sq of nothing.

In terms of oil, once you have a fresh system running the oil become homogeneous in the system,
it spreads through out. The primary traps are drier and evaporator. If you trying to add oil to a system
you don't need to pour into the new component, you can put it in anywhere and within a few minutes
of running the system it spreads out. A typical 911 system needs 5 to 6 oz in total .

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by Wavey

Have you thought about replacing the cat with a pre-muffler to reduce temps in the area?

Yes, a few times though not for temp reasons. Not sure what's up with emissions inspections around here, i may not be able to get away with it. I'll find out eventually...

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by NathanR

Question for Ronnie: did you get you smuggler box insulation from a muffler shop? What is it, exactly? (I have insulation envy and must know details).

Nathan, I bought it at a local motorcycle shop, but I'm sure you could find it online (see pic below).

It's really nice stuff to work with - long fairly "thick" strands of fiberglass material, that packs very well into every nook and cranny, without flying all all over the place while doing so, and stays put.

[NathanR]

Thanks Ronnie, I really liked the look of this stuff in your install.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by NathanR

I'm not concerned too much about this but will observe pressures once I get it up and running. I already fabbed a simple heat shield that can mount on the bottom of the bracket if warranted

It's a stupid experiment, and won't tell you anything useful about anything. Elsewhere I have explained carefully about radiant heat transfer and emissivity. The bottom line is that in an non-turbocharged automotive environment, radiant heating is not that much of an issue. For cars running turbos, the turbo, exhaust manifold and downpipe can get to yellow heat, and that can affect fuel and cooling system parts. But that's not applicable here, because the catcon never gets to any kind of heat that shows in the visible range. You do not have to worry at all about radiant heating. As in, put the idea out of your mind, because it just doesn't matter at all.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Wavey

Have you thought about replacing the cat with a pre-muffler to reduce temps in the area?

Radiant heat transfer is so small in comparison to the mass heat transfer (air across the condenser fins) that it doesn't even matter.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by wwest

You might wish to reconsider the placement of the 993 condenser rather placing it in direct sight of the engine/exhaust/CATALYTIC converter.

Stop trolling this nonsense. I have explained before why this isn't a concern. your continued attempts at hijacking these threads has not gone unnoticed.

[NathanR]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

It's a stupid experiment, and won't tell you anything useful about anything. Elsewhere I have explained carefully about radiant heat transfer and emissivity. The bottom line is that in an non-turbocharged automotive environment, radiant heating is not that much of an issue. For cars running turbos, the turbo, exhaust manifold and downpipe can get to yellow heat, and that can affect fuel and cooling system parts. But that's not applicable here, because the catcon never gets to any kind of heat that shows in the visible range. You do not have to worry at all about radiant heating. As in, put the idea out of your mind, because it just doesn't matter at all.

Good to know, thanks. What I noticed was how many other people have used this location with excellent results. Couldn't have been too big a problem, right?

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

It's nice to work with - long fairly "thick".......that packs very well......while doing..........stays put.

Hmmmmm. Ronnie, what's on your mind?

[Ronnie's.930]

Nathan, I forgot to mention that the pictured bag is labeled 450 grams, and I used a whole bag and about a quarter or so of a second bag.

Thanks, and I can't say definitively what kind of a difference insulating around the evaporator housing made with regard to performance (I made several changes at the same time), but I did it primarily for the heck of it, and it makes sense to my limited intellect (right, Eric?!?!), but as you are aware, I have seriously cold a/c even in burnass TexASS, so maybe it helped . . .

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by Tippy

Hmmmmm. Ronnie, what's on your mind?

You are now, Cory; guard yer loins, bro !!!!