AIR CONDITIONING
Discussion
Guys
Can you help?
I seem to remember that the Chim was available with air con. If so do you think it would be available as a reto fit and if so is it effective in the car anyway?
Mine is a 2000 on an X plate. Only reason for the question is the recent sun was a bit intensive for my wife who is blond and fair. Putting the lid on had us roasting!
Welcome your thoughts....
Ian
Can you help?
I seem to remember that the Chim was available with air con. If so do you think it would be available as a reto fit and if so is it effective in the car anyway?
Mine is a 2000 on an X plate. Only reason for the question is the recent sun was a bit intensive for my wife who is blond and fair. Putting the lid on had us roasting!
Welcome your thoughts....
Ian
It can be retrofitted, but it is a big DIY job and quite expensive. There's a lot of new hardware, from the compressor and its plumbing (including a fuel cooling jacket) to the radiator - it has its own mounted in front of the coolant radiator - to the electrical work, which includes a microswitch on the heater temperature controller to the circuit used to switch on the engine cooling fans for a few seconds every half minute or so (even when the engine's cold).
There's also a motor-controlled air recirculator next to the battery, operated by a switch in the trim beside the transmission tunnel. The serpentine belt is different too, as it also has to drive the compressor (which also has its own heatshield).
Opinion on its benefits is (as usual!) divided, but I'm a fan of it, even with the roof off. With the roof on, I'd say it's a must in the type of weather we've just had.
There's also a motor-controlled air recirculator next to the battery, operated by a switch in the trim beside the transmission tunnel. The serpentine belt is different too, as it also has to drive the compressor (which also has its own heatshield).
Opinion on its benefits is (as usual!) divided, but I'm a fan of it, even with the roof off. With the roof on, I'd say it's a must in the type of weather we've just had.
Am contemplating doing this mod over the winter, but will not use the TVR unit as its very old technology.
Am thinking of using the rear unit from either the latest Jag XJ or the LandRover Discovery 3. These will give much better airflow, cooling, heating and temperature control and also fit quite nicely.
Am thinking of using the rear unit from either the latest Jag XJ or the LandRover Discovery 3. These will give much better airflow, cooling, heating and temperature control and also fit quite nicely.
It may fit, but you will have to get the hoses made up and you require a special crimping machine and hose to do so.
The water flow to the heater is basically an on and off valve so you would either get hot or cold and not much in between (same as standard then).
There is no direction control for the air so you can't have different outlet mode, ie, face, foot, defrost (legal requirement)
As a rough guide, if you bought all the bits and then have to have hoses made I would estimate the cost being about £1200.
The water flow to the heater is basically an on and off valve so you would either get hot or cold and not much in between (same as standard then).
There is no direction control for the air so you can't have different outlet mode, ie, face, foot, defrost (legal requirement)
As a rough guide, if you bought all the bits and then have to have hoses made I would estimate the cost being about £1200.
TVRTimH said:
I have got the factory air con in my 98 Chim, a godsend in this weather, it does increase the engine temp by about 5 degrees or so, not great when sat in traffic when you need it the most, apart from the odd cool blast. I suppose it allows you to get some cool air at least 
I have factory air con as well and find it pretty effective to be honest, was on while I blasted up the motorway from the South of France post Le Mans with the top on and it kept us nice and chilled.
Engine temps go up by approx 5 degrees so if stuck in traffic I always turn it off.
Only effective if you get it regassed by the way!
p.s. legend has it that there is also a fuel chiller that makes up for the power lost running the compressor, not sure if this is true?
I spoke to these people, they don't do a kit for a TVR but did'nt think it would be a problem
www.vintageair.com/about.asp
www.vintageair.com/about.asp
Al 450 said:
I have factory air con.....p.s. legend has it that there is also a fuel chiller that makes up for the power lost running the compressor, not sure if this is true?
Open the bonnet and you'll see it! It's a jacket around the 'cold' pipe straight out of the compressor, the best part of a foot long, that fuel from the tank passes through on its way to the fuel rail.
It certainly won't recover all the power lost from running the compressor, but I'll bet you can hardly tell anyway.
The pipe is going to the compressor from the evaporator 'Suction Line'. In hot ambients +30 degC this pipe could be as low as 15degC depending upon how hard the system is running (roof on or off).
I have never understood why the aircon can only be run at max cold, One of the biggest advantages is to dehumidify the air to stop the windows from misting up in damp cold weather conditions.
I have never understood why the aircon can only be run at max cold, One of the biggest advantages is to dehumidify the air to stop the windows from misting up in damp cold weather conditions.
sjpalmer1 said:
I have never understood why the aircon can only be run at max cold, One of the biggest advantages is to dehumidify the air to stop the windows from misting up in damp cold weather conditions.
It doesn't.... When I asked that question here, the general consensus is that it's ok to connect the microswitch controlled A/C to a separate switch (dash lights?) and then still blend hot/cold air.
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