Classic Retrofit A/C Experience & Guide

[Duc Hunter]

Some folks in other threads have been talking about water ingress and condensation dripping into the frunk. I.e. threads like this.

Some water can come in the fresh air vent, meaning rain water or from washing your car. Normally it would drain out the blower drains and not be an issue. However if your blower is not well sealed, or the seals are old (min are currently 6+ years old) it could leak into the frunk. Also, make sure you use the seal CR provides to seal the blower to the back of the fresh air vent. Check your frunk seal too. Take a dollar bill or something similar, put it between the frunk seal and the frunk, close and latch the frunk and see if you can pull the dollar out. You should feel some decent resistance, but be able to pull it out. Also try to slide is sideways across the car. In my car's case I was getting water in the frunk and the dollar bill had no resistance from the passenger wiper almost to the drivers corner. So I have to build up the seal to make sure water doesn't run off the windshield and cowl and into the frunk. Mine is like this even after I dollied the cowl up towards the frunk to help the seal make contact.

In Florida my system drips condensation a lot. All the air hoses do, the blower does, etc. Even my vents in the car can have condensation on them, esp, the aluminum ones (plastic ones suffer this less). It's because of my humid climate, and in dryer climates (Az, CA, etc) this is FAR less frequent. I am not sure there is much you can do about this. I noticed teh same thing in my Carrera, which has a Rennair (i.e. similar to Griffiths) improved stock style A/C. Though the CR make a lot more condensation as it moves a lot more cold air. To me this is just a cost of doing cool business.




In my hot and humid climate I decided I did not want any fresh air coming in, as it just makes it much harder to cool the car well. Also these cars leak air a lot anyway, so it's not like I will suffocate. Having recently completed a 15 month partial restoration I "solved" this issues permanently. I made a block off panel for the fresh air vent intake. No more water leaking in, no fresh air to come in either.

[Duc Hunter]

Originally Posted by paulmose

Chris, even though I went with a Griffiths system (I was so close to yours but Griff was more inline with my budget) I have learned so much, thanks.

You mentioned some changes in your vents, I just did about the same thing, adding the F-150 vent on the left, moving the gauge, and adding a vent to the radio hole, using the Porsche radio blanking plate. I found Dorman, a company that makes vents for large industrial trucks, their 216-5101 vent (Amazon, $10.80) looks sensational in the radio spot.

Good luck and thanks again for all of your info.

Paul, amazing find! What did you put behind this vent to direct the air too and through it?