How do you stay cool in non-AC car?

[Fleetwood]

Another two day road trip relocating my SC from Salt Lake City to Olympia, WA and even with relatively mild temps (75-82F) I felt like I was being baked by the overhead/western sun. Normally had the drivers window down a short distance and internal ventilation set all different ways to get some air movement down low in the car but never felt very successful

Speeds above about 85 had lots of wind noise so I opted to open the passenger window some and close the drivers side. This worked for a while til I had both windows open (part way) followed by ear plugs to combat the noise. I was also trying to keep pace with my bride in an E-Class wagon in the near 90 range as traffic permitted. Wind noise, vibration, heat, etc had me totally exhausted at the end of a 500 mile day. Pretty sure my "individual climatization" was not good as it was a relatively cool spring with only a couple days over 80 get me used to the higher temps

35+ yrs of ownership with most driving in the cool Pacific NW and never a huge need for AC. Many consider an air-cooled that never had AC installed a bonus, and I'm typically part of that crowd, but I'm reconsidering

Short of installing a new aftermarket system what can I do to make myself more comfortable? Is the under-dash air deflector I've seen on this site and advertised any help? Thanks ahead, I'm relatively sure the Southern Pelican have some fine ideas.

[shamrok]

High percentage (70% 3M Crystalline in my case) ceramic window tint helped quite a bit with mine, tho I didn't do the windshield and should have, as a lot of heat comes in through it. I'm not a fan of the tint "look" on old cars, and this was a good balance IMO.

Eventually I'd like to do hinged rear windows, I hear they push a lot of air, but parts aren't easy to come by *ahem*Rennlinewannahelp?*ahem

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by shamrok

High percentage (70% 3M Crystalline in my case) ceramic window tint helped quite a bit with mine, tho I didn't do the windshield and should have, as a lot of heat comes in through it. I'm not a fan of the tint "look" on old cars, and this was a good balance IMO.

Eventually I'd like to do hinged rear windows, I hear they push a lot of air, but parts aren't easy to come by *ahem*Rennlinewannahelp?*ahem

Those gunmetal Fuchs look fantastic.

[Jjm4life]

its too damn hot in my car without ac, i need to find a solution.insult too injury, my fresh air blower motor seized up recently. need to fix that...

Id buy a set of pop out 3/4 windows if they were available. we cant be the only ones.

[EC900]

Center fresh air open and fan high, crack open rear quarter windows and let the flow-thru system do its magic, I never did this long drive but it does help get air front to back.
For all that 911 wind noise and buffering, I guess it’s the closest thing to riding a motorcycle cross country.

Yes ….its always been a wishlist item is to change out my window frames too for the old style operating front vent windows….Targa last had them on the 75-76(?) , directs that wind right at me, had them on the VW works wonders - when moving…never considered any wind drag or noise to have them open.

Oh and I’ll never use my sunroof for air flow ,

[walt]

If your desperate, 12V car fan?

[mepstein]

Open windows and noise canceling headphones. I use over the ear Bose for long drives in my old diesel truck. Works wonders.

[Cory M]

Achtung Kraft ducts and a well functioning fresh air system helps a lot. Fabric seats is a big plus and a windshield shade when you're parked. Not like having AC but makes things a lot more bearable.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by EC900

crack open rear quarter windows and let the flow-thru system do its magic,

^^^ +1 Yeh, this.

I had to drive 800 miles against a deadline right after I bought the car, ambient air temps were 100F during the day. Even with both driver & passenger windows completely down, there was a bubble of super-heated air (just baking from sunlight through the rear screen) in the cabin just behind my head - there was only the flow-through provided by the rear vent over the screen - and it couldn't keep up at freeway speeds, despite there being no foam left in it.

Eventually, on one of many rest stops, it occurred to me to clamber into the back seat and open the rear quarter windows - I didn't think it'd do much, but was willing to try anything by that point.

Probably lowered cabin temps in the front by 20F, maybe more. With the air flowing through/over you, it was a lot more comfortable...

[dannobee]

Take out the clock. You'll get airflow.

[chucksmith]

for trips, an ice water cooled t shirt, like worn in racing works great. You can make one cheaply by buying a cooler system like those used after orthopedic surgery on EBAY and buying the t shirt from a racing supplier. Not daily practical, but good on occasion, like your trip.

[Cherry Bomb]

[pmax]

Try water cooling and pretend you're Andretti.

[Bucketlist]

Nearly 10 years later and still cool......
Put an ac in your non ac car. Retroair is gone but there are still sellers out there.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-930-turbo-super-charging-forum/842475-retroair-complete-system-my-non-c-car.html

[GH85Carrera]

Put the AC back in??

[creaturecat]

i converted my centre vent to fresh air.
the Achtung vent thing does help.

[Rtrorkt]

I drive once a year from the Phoenix metro to Carmel/Monterey for car week in August. Needless to say, there is heat. My strategy is fairly simple. I leave around 4-415AM which is getting to the coolest part of the day in the desert, which tends to be just around sunrise. I carry a cooler in the passenger footwell with ice and waters along with some yogurts. Usually throw in some gatorade.

My strategy is to stay off the interstates as much as possible, drive fast windows down and stop every 2 hours or so. My route typically takes me through the edge of the Mojave on US 95 which is a very pretty drive. Like PMax, I have my squirt bottle with fan and usually have one cooling towel on my neck and another in the cooler.

From Phoenix I can make Tehachapi or Bakersfield with little trouble. That is about 8 hours of driving or so. About all I can take.

Trying to find '68 window frames with the vent windows but they are either outrageously expensive or in really bad shape.

My advice it just embrace the environment and run as long as you feel well.

[Kraftwerk]

Black car, no a.c.... to drive during the day: keep a frozen water bottle between the legs, keeps the core temp down or at least freezes my balls. The bottle is an insulated Camelback bicycle water bottle so the water stays cooler longer and it's not THAT cold. Also, stay hydrated, stop anywhere the a.c. is cranked..every few hours or so at a rest area, a big store etc.

[jac1976]

Agree with Rtrorkt and Kraftwerk. I drive almost invariably solo so this helps.

[EC900]

One more thing came to mind… the heat flapper boxes, if out of adjustment they may not be sealing completely (not that they’re actually airtight anyway), also can allow some unwanted heat to enter the cabin.
My VW’s boxes rusted (open) so every April I’d remove hoses and seal off the boxes with half cans and band clamps until November.