CanAm Aircon???
Discussion
I'm looking for some advice through experience here.
I'm at the stage of deciding if i should fit aircon or not on my CanAm ... Okay, I've read so often that with the GTR there is no question that it's required. All you have to do is count the threads on here about methods of reducing heat into the cabin to realise there's an issue. But is it still the case with a CanAm, yes i will be driving it with the hood up but it will more often be the case that i'll be driving it with the hood down, and in that situation is there still a heat issue? To add to that, the only reference to aircon and a CanAm i've seen mentions that the aircon is not up to the job, what does that mean exactly....Advice please!
P.S. I will be running an LS3 if that makes any difference to anything.
I'm at the stage of deciding if i should fit aircon or not on my CanAm ... Okay, I've read so often that with the GTR there is no question that it's required. All you have to do is count the threads on here about methods of reducing heat into the cabin to realise there's an issue. But is it still the case with a CanAm, yes i will be driving it with the hood up but it will more often be the case that i'll be driving it with the hood down, and in that situation is there still a heat issue? To add to that, the only reference to aircon and a CanAm i've seen mentions that the aircon is not up to the job, what does that mean exactly....Advice please!
P.S. I will be running an LS3 if that makes any difference to anything.
fresh air intake is far more important than the aircon, I wonder how much it is worth when driving open, but there is a lot of heat coming from the radiator
from the bulkhead. I have a canam and even at colder outside temps there is a good wave of hot air coming, and I have already installed the panel between radiator and battery compartement that is blocking of the heat.
get some decent heat insulation in there if you are worried about hot air rather than fighting it later with the air con.
from the bulkhead. I have a canam and even at colder outside temps there is a good wave of hot air coming, and I have already installed the panel between radiator and battery compartement that is blocking of the heat.
get some decent heat insulation in there if you are worried about hot air rather than fighting it later with the air con.
biggest problem with can am is hot air exiting from the top engine vent and being drawn into the cockpit which is a low pressure area. this keeps you extremely warm in the body area even with aircon on. Blocking that vent or draping the softop over the roll bar to stop it helps a bit. All aircon does with top down is cool your legs. If like I have done you run the aircon flat out for hours with top down in hot weather ie south of france the whole thing eventually freezes up and gives up. I have taken to driving with the top up when it is really hot. Aircon works great then! When I say hot I mean sitting in a puddle of sweat if driving in a spirited fashion ie mountain roads!
We need to invent something that creates negative pressure in engine bay or something!
We need to invent something that creates negative pressure in engine bay or something!
MarkWebb said:
biggest problem with can am is hot air exiting from the top engine vent and being drawn into the cockpit which is a low pressure area.
Hi Mark, never get any hot air inside from the engine bay, my air intake is working very well, and also insulated hot engine bay air against the passenger compartment. Yesterday I temporarily removed the air filter, what a sound !!
Edited by spatz on Monday 11th October 14:15
I was going to add that you would hear the hollow sound more because of your air intake. I am worried about the noise of the air intake when installed like yours as this is adding to the overall engine noise I think. So I am going to route air intake to side pods I think to try to make it quieter.
this is the best sound you can have and it will mask some others not so nice ones
I like your idea Spatz, i'm still a way off the body and engine install, but if your air filter set up will work on an LS3 (i'm assuming yours is an LS7), then i think i'll look at doing the same.
Don't take this as a critisism of your metal work, but when i get to that stage, i'll probably make up a carbon airbox and intake scoop of some sort which sould make it look really tidy.....i'm just a fussy bugger, oh! and i can make things out of carbon which helps!
Don't take this as a critisism of your metal work, but when i get to that stage, i'll probably make up a carbon airbox and intake scoop of some sort which sould make it look really tidy.....i'm just a fussy bugger, oh! and i can make things out of carbon which helps!
Have to agree with Mark, I have insulated and fitted air con, I have face vents though, and I have to say that with the top down I can feel some cool air hitting me but it is more efficient with the hood up. I have also blocked the centre vent (factory used to do same) to stop air coming out and washing into the cockpit and have a blower motor at the passenger brake duct in the front forcing air into the cockpit.
I think the trick is to prevent the hot air from around radiator pipes being sucked up into the cockpit, to that end I have packed with close cell foam all around the pipes going through the front of the chassis.
It still gets bloody hot in there but not as hot as it has been in the past.
David Weeks (Clynos1) has a perspex sheet within the rear roll hoop to prevent hot air washing in from the engine, said it worked quite well.
Good luck
Graham
I think the trick is to prevent the hot air from around radiator pipes being sucked up into the cockpit, to that end I have packed with close cell foam all around the pipes going through the front of the chassis.
It still gets bloody hot in there but not as hot as it has been in the past.
David Weeks (Clynos1) has a perspex sheet within the rear roll hoop to prevent hot air washing in from the engine, said it worked quite well.
Good luck
Graham
Dear Graham,
have already forgotten about this empty space and makes perfect sense, the pipes are heating up and this hot air is coming inside the
passenger compartement, already wondered why my additional panel did not make such a big difference.
I will just push some stone wool or similar stuff that can insulated heat in these empty compartments. I had insulated the pipes and side containers and
that worked out very well but completely forgot about this area, thanks for the hint.
have already forgotten about this empty space and makes perfect sense, the pipes are heating up and this hot air is coming inside the
passenger compartement, already wondered why my additional panel did not make such a big difference.
I will just push some stone wool or similar stuff that can insulated heat in these empty compartments. I had insulated the pipes and side containers and
that worked out very well but completely forgot about this area, thanks for the hint.
Thanks for all the info, the decision is made, aircon: definitely! insulation: everywhere!!!
Thankfully i'm at a stage where i can get easy access everywhere and i can look to prevent any air escaping from the front radiator into the cabin area.
Spatz: you've got me thinking about the air intake position, is that a design of your own or are there manufactured parts to place the filter where you have put it? IMO you should be getting a lower induction air temperature compared to when the filter is placed at the back which can only be a good thing especially if it also prevents heat getting drawn back into the cabin.
Is there a down side apart from induction noise...like you, i think it's a beautiful sound.
Thankfully i'm at a stage where i can get easy access everywhere and i can look to prevent any air escaping from the front radiator into the cabin area.
Spatz: you've got me thinking about the air intake position, is that a design of your own or are there manufactured parts to place the filter where you have put it? IMO you should be getting a lower induction air temperature compared to when the filter is placed at the back which can only be a good thing especially if it also prevents heat getting drawn back into the cabin.
Is there a down side apart from induction noise...like you, i think it's a beautiful sound.
Edited by chucknorris on Monday 11th October 15:31
You can buy the Under Dash unit (Evaporator) in the states for under $250 bucks. If you don't want the expense of the complete kit now then at least fit this as it harder to fit afterwards.
http://www.southernrods.com/categories/heating-and...
just run the heater side then if you feel you want AC ( I would always fit AC ) then you can do the piping of the ac lines later...
http://www.southernrods.com/categories/heating-and...
just run the heater side then if you feel you want AC ( I would always fit AC ) then you can do the piping of the ac lines later...
When looking at building a few years ago I was under the impression if in doubt fit the air con pipes from engine bay to heater asssembly as the running of these lines afterwards was a lengthy process with the body fitted...Having not fitted one I can only go by previous advise..
However I dont run my aircon that often in the GTR as the heli vents are so effective, and only tend to use it when in traffic as the GTR does get hot....... On another point I have found since lowering my side windows and windscreen sun sticker the inside of the car is noticeably cooler as I dont often see the sun..
Dom
However I dont run my aircon that often in the GTR as the heli vents are so effective, and only tend to use it when in traffic as the GTR does get hot....... On another point I have found since lowering my side windows and windscreen sun sticker the inside of the car is noticeably cooler as I dont often see the sun..
Dom
As i've mentioned earlier, i've decided to definitely fit the aircon as it seems most are recommending it and i'd hate to live to regret it later on.
It was never really about the money, more about whether it was neccessary or not. However after looking at the site GTRClive mentioned, it looks like i could possibly save a packet by fitting an alternative system to the factory one.
Does anyone know if the unit Clive mentions will definitely fit under the dash, i'm not worried about the pipework as i can sort that out myself.
It was never really about the money, more about whether it was neccessary or not. However after looking at the site GTRClive mentioned, it looks like i could possibly save a packet by fitting an alternative system to the factory one.
Does anyone know if the unit Clive mentions will definitely fit under the dash, i'm not worried about the pipework as i can sort that out myself.
chucknorris said:
I'm looking for some advice through experience here.
I'm at the stage of deciding if i should fit aircon or not on my CanAm ... Okay, I've read so often that with the GTR there is no question that it's required. All you have to do is count the threads on here about methods of reducing heat into the cabin to realise there's an issue. But is it still the case with a CanAm, yes i will be driving it with the hood up but it will more often be the case that i'll be driving it with the hood down, and in that situation is there still a heat issue? To add to that, the only reference to aircon and a CanAm i've seen mentions that the aircon is not up to the job, what does that mean exactly....Advice please!
P.S. I will be running an LS3 if that makes any difference to anything.
Its all down to the large windscreen on the can-am. The smaller aero screen stops that problem, but most cam-am owners dont use the aero screen even in summer as they are worried about stones etc. but it will cure the problem. I'm at the stage of deciding if i should fit aircon or not on my CanAm ... Okay, I've read so often that with the GTR there is no question that it's required. All you have to do is count the threads on here about methods of reducing heat into the cabin to realise there's an issue. But is it still the case with a CanAm, yes i will be driving it with the hood up but it will more often be the case that i'll be driving it with the hood down, and in that situation is there still a heat issue? To add to that, the only reference to aircon and a CanAm i've seen mentions that the aircon is not up to the job, what does that mean exactly....Advice please!
P.S. I will be running an LS3 if that makes any difference to anything.
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