Aircon - is it still possible to retrofit?

Aircon - is it still possible to retrofit?

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chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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As I am 10 years older since my first Tamora, and the traffic seems to have got worse since then, I find myself, more often than not sitting in traffic queues. Now, then the car is moving, it is great, but when going at a snails pace, the cabin heat can become very uncomfortable - more so when we have this interchangeable weather, when the roof has to stay in place.

So, is it still possible to have aircon retrofitted? I know this would cost at least £2k, but the car is a keeper, I love it, so I don't mind spending the money, especially as I plan to go on a few Euro trips in the future.

If it is possible, who would be the best to do the job, any recommendations?

alex_gray255

6,313 posts

204 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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Str8Six used to offer to retrofit it from memory.

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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alex_gray255 said:
Str8Six used to offer to retrofit it from memory.
Thanks, Alex. I shall email them and see what they come back with. smile

PGNCerbera

2,926 posts

165 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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They do but you're looking at closer to 3k all in

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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PGNCerbera said:
They do but you're looking at closer to 3k all in
Yeah, I figured as much - but I guess there's a lot of work that has to be done.

SonicHedgeHog

2,534 posts

181 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Any news on the cost of this, Chris?

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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SonicHedgeHog said:
Any news on the cost of this, Chris?
I sent an email to str8six this morning. Will let you know if/when I get a reply.

coco79

390 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Remove the cats..made a considerable difference in my Tuscan in terms of heat in the cabin..I can live with the noise smile

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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coco79 said:
Remove the cats..made a considerable difference in my Tuscan in terms of heat in the cabin..I can live with the noise smile
That's just it, though. Not sure I could live with the noise.

I was thinking about buying new cats, and having those, as well as the manifolds ceramic coated - but after reading about this, I'm not sure the difference that makes is worth the outlay.

coco79

390 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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chris watton said:
That's just it, though. Not sure I could live with the noise.

I was thinking about buying new cats, and having those, as well as the manifolds ceramic coated - but after reading about this, I'm not sure the difference that makes is worth the outlay.
The noise isn't too bad (maybe I have just got used to it?!)- you do have the 'drone' at lower revs, but there are inexpensive exhaust modifications you can have done to eliminate this. I've hardly ever used the AC in mine, the fuel consumption is bad enough without it on! £3k is a lot of money for something you are not going to use often..IMHO

Edited by coco79 on Wednesday 27th August 13:24

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
coco79 said:
The noise isn't too bad (maybe I have just got used to it?!)- you do have the 'drone' at lower revs, but there are inexpensive exhaust modifications you can have done to eliminate this. I've hardly ever used the AC in mine, the fuel consumption is bad enough without it on! £3k is a lot of money for something you are not going to use often..IMHO

Edited by coco79 on Wednesday 27th August 13:24
Had an answer from Jason at str8six - they no longer offer this, so that's £3k saved, I guess.....

New parts are scarce to non-existent, so I suppose the only way to do this would be to trawl through the breakers, pay silly prices for second hand parts, and pray that you can get together everything you need and make it work. Ultimately, not worth it unless you could put it all together yourself - and that's not me...

ETA - I wonder if exhaust wrap would be better for the cats and manifolds, rather than ceramic dipping?

Did you get my email, BTW?

Edited by chris watton on Wednesday 27th August 14:47


Edited by chris watton on Wednesday 27th August 14:50

coco79

390 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Nope? let me check..it may have inadvertently gone into my 'junk' folder..

sidpinup

998 posts

254 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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chris watton said:
coco79 said:
The noise isn't too bad (maybe I have just got used to it?!)- you do have the 'drone' at lower revs, but there are inexpensive exhaust modifications you can have done to eliminate this. I've hardly ever used the AC in mine, the fuel consumption is bad enough without it on! £3k is a lot of money for something you are not going to use often..IMHO

Edited by coco79 on Wednesday 27th August 13:24
Had an answer from Jason at str8six - they no longer offer this, so that's £3k saved, I guess.....

New parts are scarce to non-existent, so I suppose the only way to do this would be to trawl through the breakers, pay silly prices for second hand parts, and pray that you can get together everything you need and make it work. Ultimately, not worth it unless you could put it all together yourself - and that's not me...

ETA - I wonder if exhaust wrap would be better for the cats and manifolds, rather than ceramic dipping?

Did you get my email, BTW?

Edited by chris watton on Wednesday 27th August 14:47


Edited by chris watton on Wednesday 27th August 14:50
Hi Chris,

I had mine cats removed and the Powers decat pipes installed by Dom as my cats had collapsed. To be honest I don't think its any more noisy for normal driving but you do get more pops and bangs on over run and a lot of great noise up the rev range. It is cooler so I would recommend getting it done.....oh did I mention its faster too?

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
sidpinup said:
Hi Chris,

I had mine cats removed and the Powers decat pipes installed by Dom as my cats had collapsed. To be honest I don't think its any more noisy for normal driving but you do get more pops and bangs on over run and a lot of great noise up the rev range. It is cooler so I would recommend getting it done.....oh did I mention its faster too?
Yours is faster anyway, Ed, you have the 4.3! hehe

Perhaps I need to sit in/listen to a Tam without cats again - but in the past, I found the noise too harsh (for me, at least), and the sports exhaust being borderline acceptable.

I emailed HHC about the cats they advertise in the classifieds, as £500 a pair seemed a good price, and £400 cheaper than the RG sports cats. I figured that having brand new cats fitted when having the 4.3 would help remove any potential bottlenecks in performance, and I could perhaps wrap them before fitting. Turns out the cats aren't really £500, they are £600, as VAT isn't included! I do with people wouldn't do this, unless you're in the trade, we all have to pay the VAT! having said that, still quite reasonable for OEM cats, I guess....

V8 GRF

7,294 posts

209 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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These guys might be worth investigating.

http://www.autoairandaudio.com/universal-cooling-s...

SergSC

508 posts

161 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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I wouldnt wrap the cats if I were you. Do some research on this. Those things are designed to operate at high temperatures... wrapping will make the internals hotter, then it might eat itself and/or bits of it getting sucked back into the cylinders, or fire... probably a better idea to insulate the areas around it instead?

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
V8 GRF said:
These guys might be worth investigating.

http://www.autoairandaudio.com/universal-cooling-s...
Looks interesting, a US site! I think that, if I were ever going to have it done, it would have had to be what TVR used. I don't want to hack away at the car (potentially) to fit aftermarket parts - I may end up regretting it...

SergSC said:
I wouldnt wrap the cats if I were you. Do some research on this. Those things are designed to operate at high temperatures... wrapping will make the internals hotter, then it might eat itself and/or bits of it getting sucked back into the cylinders, or fire... probably a better idea to insulate the areas around it instead?
Thanks for that, perhaps fitting a better heat shield near the cats may help.

I must admit, fitting de-cats does seem to have a few positives (no possible engine damage and less cabin heat), from what I've read. Wonder what it'd sound like if I put the standard back box back on and had de-cats.....

shep1001

4,599 posts

188 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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chris watton said:
Thanks for that, perhaps fitting a better heat shield near the cats may help.

I must admit, fitting de-cats does seem to have a few positives (no possible engine damage and less cabin heat), from what I've read. Wonder what it'd sound like if I put the standard back box back on and had de-cats.....
I laughed when I was being lined up for new cats after my Lambdas died the other month and I had done about 500 miles with no lambda control. I explained the poisson pussies were sleeping soundly in a box at home in the loft where they had been for the last 4 years and they will continue to do so. It was agreed that was the best place for them and that they could stay there come that nervous time we all have once a year.....

chris watton

Original Poster:

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
shep1001 said:
chris watton said:
Thanks for that, perhaps fitting a better heat shield near the cats may help.

I must admit, fitting de-cats does seem to have a few positives (no possible engine damage and less cabin heat), from what I've read. Wonder what it'd sound like if I put the standard back box back on and had de-cats.....
I laughed when I was being lined up for new cats after my Lambdas died the other month and I had done about 500 miles with no lambda control. I explained the poisson pussies were sleeping soundly in a box at home in the loft where they had been for the last 4 years and they will continue to do so. It was agreed that was the best place for them and that they could stay there come that nervous time we all have once a year.....
hehe

OK, I guess I'll have to try de-cats at some point....

Whitenoise1

197 posts

138 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Have you looked at this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

The gap between rad an air inlet needs to be blocked otherwise fans will blow hot air through the vents.

Andy