55 A/C condencer location ?

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71-CRUISER

71-CRUISER

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OK so im in the middle of a 55 resto project at the shop. It is a 73 w/ a 3F, H55 drivetrain in it and it will have what will effectively be a complete FJ60 Air Conditioning system in it. The issue that I am having is that there isnt enough room between the water pump and the radiator to fit the electric fan. However there is enough room to fit the A/C condencer.

Can I put the fan (pusser) on the front of the radiator and the condencer on the inside or does the condencer have to get fresh air (not radiator warmed air) to function properly.

Thanks

(pictures as soon as get my pay pall figured out and get my star back)
 
x2

I have an 18x14 condenser coming. It will get mounted in the front in the space where the stock radiator used to be.
 
The proper order for the radiators/condensors is first an intercooler if you have a turbo, next is the A/C condensor and last is the rad.

The intercooler is ALWAYS first to ensure the coolest possible air (interheaters don't work well as they kind of defeat the purpose!), the A/C must have reasonably cool air to properly condense the freon otherwise there's no A/C. You can always go to a 4 or more row rad if necessary to supplement engine cooling. I had to go from a 3 core to a 4 core rad when I put in A/C.

Why no engine powered fan and fan shroud?
 
71-CRUISER said:
The issue that I am having is that there isnt enough room between the water pump and the radiator to fit the electric fan.

However there is enough room to fit the A/C condencer.
Click to expand...

There also isnt enough room for the factory clutch fan and shroud.

The 3F must be longer from the front mounts forward than an F or the front mounts bolt farther back on the block.
 
71-CRUISER said:
There also isnt enough room for the factory clutch fan and shroud.
Click to expand...

What if you loose the clutch and go with the fan bolted on direct?
 
I just did a similar water pump/fan dance with my 76 pig with an 84 2F and a 60 rad mounted in there. I believe it had an early 2F water pump and non clutch plastic fan installed in it and it barely cleared the rad. The water pump went out on it and I bought one for an 84 2F...this WP no workie for a couple reasons that I discovered after I had installed it. One the shaft on the 84 WP is longer and two the four holes that the pulley and fan mount onto the shaft are spaced differently than the earlier no clutch fan. I pondered trying to remove (press off) the fan mounting disc off the my old WP and doing likewise to the new WP (plus shortening a smidge), so I could bolt up my old clutchless fan. I pondered a little longer and decided I am just going to put a slim line electric puller in there. Next time the WP goes I'll get an early 2F style WP.

I am pretty sure the 3FE WP is dimensionally same animal as the 84....as both use a clutch fan arrangement.
 
a/c and cooling issues

I have a 72 55 with an 83 2F. The stock fan did not fit and the PO had installed a 14" pusher fan.

When I added A/C, I replaced the fan with a new 14" pusher, but I still had some overheating issues-the engine was running under load at 220+degrees.

I switched to a 16" puller fan that draws 2100 cfm and added a coolant additive that supposedly helps regulate and keep the temps down. So far so good-I am down to the 180-190 range.

The thinnest fan I could find that cleared the waterpump is the Flex a lite FLX 116 ($92 at Summit racing) which I used with a programmable controller from SPAL which allows you to pick temps and to cause the fan to always come on with the A/C. I got that at Classic Auto Air.

Here is the link to my build up thread that includes the a/c and radiator info:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=153628
 
I have a stock fj55 condensor from my '77 that someone can have for some beer money....


bk
 
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