US Wedgers - A/C does yours work?

[jeff m]

Ok, I'm ready for the "get the top down you wimp" but this is a little different I've no problem with the cold. It's easy to throw on an extra jersey.

But it does get sorta warm here and you will not see many tops down on any cars during the day in July and August. You can't sit on the seat for a start. Ok late evening though.

So who has an A/C that works well enough for use during the day?
Note, I do understand how to use temp/humidity charts for setting high side pressure, so if yours works well what did you set yours at?

Jeff

[cdt]

Just buy one of these instead:

www.aegissales.com/kool_suit.html

[grady]

Hi Jeff, I still somewhere in the process of fitting one... Bought the wrong bracket from the UK (talk about shipping pig iron around), then got the correct one from Allan's V-8 conversion and also got an excellent set of CAD plans from a wedge-er in CA (name is at home, memory shot) and mounted the compressor. While having the radiator re-cored and the otter switch replaced, I had a condenser installed.

As summer approaches in Houston, I hope to move to the inside but having seen recent posts on evaporator issues, I really dread ripping out the entire dash as it's bound to cause consequential problems. But from what I've read, it will be necessary to get the air hoses and flappers working (even if - a big if - the evaporator is OK)

Grady

[jeff m]

Hi Grady,
If you have a vacuum pump I would pre test the evaporator to see if will hold a vacuum. That of course doesn't prove the expansion valve but it gets you half way.
Did you upgrade the condenser, always a good idea as I asume you're going to use 134A. System designed for R12.
I'll do a search for the evaporator threads, should make some scary reading.

A lot of Arizona, Texas and South Cal early 911 guys have underfloor condensers, reckon they have to wear a jacket!
That's a lot of plumbing on a 911.

Good luck with those flapper things.

Jeff

[txcoyote]

Mine works at full efficiency and isn't worth much. Marginal cooling here in TX where it gets hot. I would recommend that if you truly want A/C, retrofit a system for a Street Rod. Love my Wedge but heating and cooling is poor, really only to Kit Car Standards. So drop the top and enjoy the wind in your hair (or in my case what is left of it)

[taimar78]

Jeff,
You might even look into Vintage Air setups that are very popular with street rods and see if they have one that would fit the wedge. Also, perhaps some of the Florida wedgies can offer some words of advice as I believe a number of them have A/C that blows cold.
Marshall

[jeff m]

Thamks Marshall,
It seems to be the design of the box and the flappers that dictate the AC performance as much as getting the high side right.

Did you see this post
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=244171&f=12&h=0
of a few days ago?

Jeff

[TXcoyote]

Hey Marshall,

Does anyone's AC work to modern standards? While mine blows cold, there are too few vents and nothing in the footwells.

[taimar78]

I'm not sure whether any US wedge owner has their A/C working to "modern standards". But it might be worth making contact with Ted Smida, the Southeastern R.O. in Florida. He has a 1987 280i and there are others there in his region and perhaps he can offer some information that could help. I know when I had my wedge for so many years, I had simply removed the A/C from mine. However, if I had kept it much longer, I was seriously considering having a more modern system installed. My Taimar, for example, has A/C and on its last test, blew cold down to 29 degrees F. It's A/C system has been completely redone and is great in the hot weather to be driving along in 90 degree weather and be very comfortable inside.