Hotter than Hell in S Tex. - A/C Aux fan install ??!! (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter super90
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My 93 was converted to R134 and cools great when the vehicle is moving.... needs help when at idle.
I'm going to add an auxillary SPAL fan and I have been strongly eyeing this condensor: http://ackits.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Parallel
I'm going to add an auxillary SPAL fan and I have been strongly eyeing this condensor: http://ackits.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Parallel
- Thread starter
- #23
Lars,
The new condenser will help a lot as will the aux fan. After I did my initial 134a conversion on the FJ-60 the cooling was not good. After the new condeser coil and fan, it blows really cold !
Unfortunately some other lucky fellow is enjoying it now.
R.
The new condenser will help a lot as will the aux fan. After I did my initial 134a conversion on the FJ-60 the cooling was not good. After the new condeser coil and fan, it blows really cold !
Unfortunately some other lucky fellow is enjoying it now.
R.
Here too!
I'd be REAL interested in improving the (at idle) performance of the A/C system as well.
I'd be REAL interested in improving the (at idle) performance of the A/C system as well.
You mean, I'm not the only one???
This is great! Although not as hot here in Knoxville, my AC does little for me in stop and go traffic on a hot, humid afternoon. Still great on the highway, though
I'm interested to hear more reports on upgrade effectiveness.
Chip
This is great! Although not as hot here in Knoxville, my AC does little for me in stop and go traffic on a hot, humid afternoon. Still great on the highway, though
I'm interested to hear more reports on upgrade effectiveness.
Chip
super90 said:
I believe the factory fog light rocker switches (at least those used on 4runners) are made by Cole-Hersee. You can buy Cole-Hersee rockers at any marine/boating store. I got mine at Boating World.
It was 109F yesterday in Tucson...we haven't seen highs below 106F in over 3 weeks! Like you, my AC doesn't stay cool at traffic lights, so I don't turn it on until I get moving.
Consider washing out your radiator and A/C condensor with an entire $3 bottle of Simple Green and a strong hose (pressure washers might cut fins). I got significantly colder air out of my Cruiser (didn't measure temp) and something like 15 degree cooler air (did measure) out of my Subaru just by doing this. Your fins are coated with grime/dust that insulate them from shedding heat. Clean them to bare painted metal and it may be the best 20 minutes you'll spend this weekend. It's all about that boundary layer of air touching the metal as it flows past. My 93 easily handles mid 90s with barely a noticeable change at stoplights.
DougM
DougM
IdahoDoug said:
Doug, thats excellent advice. I just used a commercial cleaner on the condensor on my home unit and was amazed at how much crud dripped off and what a difference it made on the units cooling capability.
I hadn't really thought about thoroughly cleaning the unit on my vehicles (aside from bugs etc.) but I think you have a good idea there.
Flint,
Thanks - it truly is a remarkable and simple thing. It came to me quite randomly one day while I was washing the car. Put the nozzle on stream to get max penetration into the fins as you've got two units sandwiched. Take the time (it's a bitch) to really get the back of both units despite the awkward angles, stuff in the way, etc. The condensor's front is easy, but you want to blast through it, too, to get the rad's front. Once it's saturated with full strength SG, spray it REALLY lightly with water to encourage a little better distribution of the degreaser, and prevent it from drying (this is only going to work well if the engine's stone cold, BTW) on the fins. After a few more minutes, liberally rinse it.
When I did it, I could plainly feel the next day that the A/C was cranking out colder air on the 93. So, I measured the temp of the Subaru's dash vents sitting at idle in the garage for a data point since I had not done this on the 80. The next morning, I did the same cleaning on it, then remeasured. I posted this data on the Sube forum and several others got essentially the same result. Frankly, as much oily grime as our roads hold, it should be an annual rite of spring for you 100 degree folks. You'll be amazed.
DougM
Thanks - it truly is a remarkable and simple thing. It came to me quite randomly one day while I was washing the car. Put the nozzle on stream to get max penetration into the fins as you've got two units sandwiched. Take the time (it's a bitch) to really get the back of both units despite the awkward angles, stuff in the way, etc. The condensor's front is easy, but you want to blast through it, too, to get the rad's front. Once it's saturated with full strength SG, spray it REALLY lightly with water to encourage a little better distribution of the degreaser, and prevent it from drying (this is only going to work well if the engine's stone cold, BTW) on the fins. After a few more minutes, liberally rinse it.
When I did it, I could plainly feel the next day that the A/C was cranking out colder air on the 93. So, I measured the temp of the Subaru's dash vents sitting at idle in the garage for a data point since I had not done this on the 80. The next morning, I did the same cleaning on it, then remeasured. I posted this data on the Sube forum and several others got essentially the same result. Frankly, as much oily grime as our roads hold, it should be an annual rite of spring for you 100 degree folks. You'll be amazed.
DougM
Looks like I've got a quick chore to do tomorrow! Thanks for the tip.
Doug I will post some pics of the fan in my rig...I sent THREE pics to someone who offered to post them...they did'nt and never responded to my e-mails...blowhards, I hate em. Anyway, let me snap some more and i'll post later today.
airlaird
airlaird
Airlaird, I have web space also, send em and I'll post em up.
Sheesh.....Well i just tried....I took 5 pics, each of them in 1 Meg...NONE will go. Sooooo, I will have to return to the house and reshoot them in VGA. ( I can't believe just 1 Meg pics are too large to send?)
Once I do, I will send them direct to you.
airlaird
Once I do, I will send them direct to you.
airlaird
airlaird said:
You should just be able to resize the images using software. I believe Irfanview can do it.
http://www.irfanview.com/
tucker74
Moderator
I've got a brand new OEM Radiator in mine and cleaned the condenser while I was at it - doesn't make a difference here in TX. I'd be interested in a group buy as well, mine works great in motionIdahoDoug said:
Tucker
- Thread starter
- #38
I'm still researching this and will certainly clean the unit, but the fan is going to help a lot too.
Cruiser Dan, I'm still interested in the fan you installed. Maybe we do a "group buy" on these, but I don't know what the logistics are on that or what pricing advantage would be possible.
Laird, I'm looking forward to your pics as well.
In the mean time, I called my local a/c specialists here in town known as Vintage Air. These guys specialize in retrofitting a/c units to hot rods and have a kit out to do FJ-40s as well. They are nationally known. They have a 12" fan that will push a well over 1,000 cfm (it's rated for 1,700 cfm but I am told that was measured without a load, so we have to handicap it a little) and it's about $80 and comes with mounting hardware. http://www.hotrodair.com/pg19a.cfm shows a good photo of it. Mounting position points are the trick. For that reason the Toyota solution that Dan has tracked down might be the easiest from that stand point.
It's become a crusade.
R.
Cruiser Dan, I'm still interested in the fan you installed. Maybe we do a "group buy" on these, but I don't know what the logistics are on that or what pricing advantage would be possible.
Laird, I'm looking forward to your pics as well.
In the mean time, I called my local a/c specialists here in town known as Vintage Air. These guys specialize in retrofitting a/c units to hot rods and have a kit out to do FJ-40s as well. They are nationally known. They have a 12" fan that will push a well over 1,000 cfm (it's rated for 1,700 cfm but I am told that was measured without a load, so we have to handicap it a little) and it's about $80 and comes with mounting hardware. http://www.hotrodair.com/pg19a.cfm shows a good photo of it. Mounting position points are the trick. For that reason the Toyota solution that Dan has tracked down might be the easiest from that stand point.
It's become a crusade.
R.
If Dan is going to order a bunch of them from Japan I would like one also. I don’t know if Dan can do anything on pricing on a group buy………but ?.
was looking under the hood today, there are two unused threaded tabs on the near passenger side of the condenser, well the lower looks like it might be used by the OAT sensor but that is easy enough to move, or maybe they will stack OK? And there is a slot in the center support facing that side, this OEM fan should have the typical Toyota quality it also looks like it bolts in securely and cleanly without having to make brackets. I think is worth the coin.
As for control, I would really like it to stay off on the freeway unless it is truly needed (should not be), I spent some time a few nights ago looking for the thermostic switches that slide between the fins, no luck, I have used them in the past they came with a electric fan kit. I did find some adjustable units at Jeg's and Summit, they look exposed (poorly packaged) cheesy and generally cheap. Just looking for a discrete thermal switch. There are a lot of front wheel drive Toyota’s in the junk yard, most would use electric fans so would have thermal switches for them, wonder if any would be in the right range? Something about 190° or maybe higher? The water outlet would have to be drilled and tapped for one. Outlet temperature of the engine changes less with ambient conditions than outlet of the radiator, makes the range of the switch more critical.
I spend some time in town in bumper to bumper shopping district traffic today lots of sitting at lights, bank sign said 99°, when I got home after some 10 miles of good medium speed country road driving the water outlet read 189°, IR thermometers are not accurate on aluminum though, I have to go back into town tomorrow it will probably be hot again, I’ll try to wrap the outlet with some black electrical tape and get some more measurements.
There is a spot on the fuse box for the relay for this fan “CDS FAN” (condenser fan) wonder how it is controlled? Would be nice to get a hold of a wiring diagram from one of the international 80’s
was looking under the hood today, there are two unused threaded tabs on the near passenger side of the condenser, well the lower looks like it might be used by the OAT sensor but that is easy enough to move, or maybe they will stack OK? And there is a slot in the center support facing that side, this OEM fan should have the typical Toyota quality it also looks like it bolts in securely and cleanly without having to make brackets. I think is worth the coin.
As for control, I would really like it to stay off on the freeway unless it is truly needed (should not be), I spent some time a few nights ago looking for the thermostic switches that slide between the fins, no luck, I have used them in the past they came with a electric fan kit. I did find some adjustable units at Jeg's and Summit, they look exposed (poorly packaged) cheesy and generally cheap. Just looking for a discrete thermal switch. There are a lot of front wheel drive Toyota’s in the junk yard, most would use electric fans so would have thermal switches for them, wonder if any would be in the right range? Something about 190° or maybe higher? The water outlet would have to be drilled and tapped for one. Outlet temperature of the engine changes less with ambient conditions than outlet of the radiator, makes the range of the switch more critical.
I spend some time in town in bumper to bumper shopping district traffic today lots of sitting at lights, bank sign said 99°, when I got home after some 10 miles of good medium speed country road driving the water outlet read 189°, IR thermometers are not accurate on aluminum though, I have to go back into town tomorrow it will probably be hot again, I’ll try to wrap the outlet with some black electrical tape and get some more measurements.
There is a spot on the fuse box for the relay for this fan “CDS FAN” (condenser fan) wonder how it is controlled? Would be nice to get a hold of a wiring diagram from one of the international 80’s
