[DeTomaso] aftermarket heat-A/C unit

[Matt]

Thank you Jack. 
And thank you for the many replies guys,very nice and helpful having more than one mind! Bimmer forums got nothin' on you guys.
I read an old post of yours in the archives which described your conversion,including the shorter dryer needed to fit. Good stuff.
I have a forward mounted rad and after more evaluation there is not enough room.
So that leaves the stock mount in the back.
One thing about the stock mount position,this might sound silly but which direction does the condensor fan flow?
Does it push hot engine and rad air through the condensor out the back or suck the outside air in? Since the belief is that the air is basically nuetral behind the car wouldn't the latter be the logical choice?

I did notice one of the vendors mentioned a condensor mounted in the right wheel well.
Have you ,or anyone done this? I've heard of oil coolers before but not the A/C.
Seems doable but besides being hidden and slightly cooler air than the back,I see no advantage,only negatives(dirt,grime,crap getting thrown up into it, accessibility)
Any thoughts?

Cool it,
Matt
3584

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JDeRyke at aol.com 
  To: matt at nwpantera.com ; detomaso at realbig.com 
  Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 10:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] aftermarket heat-A/C unit


  In a message dated 2/11/10 8:15:21 PM, matt at nwpantera.com writes:


    I'd like to also know if it would be better to mount the new condensor in the front ,the right wheel well(?) or the back. Any gains to be had? Regrets?


  I like the condenser up front. It gets lots of airflow at no cost or complication, a good unit does not restrict airflow into a good water radiator (both being non-stock), and the car's wt and balance is improved. If you consider that the cabin space in a Pantera is very close to that of a mini-pickup, there are LOTS of cheap condensers available that don't completely cover a Panteras water radiator.

  The drawbacks are, you basically have to re-engineer the whole system if you want optimization. Sure, some gys dragged stock hoses forward to a front-mount of the stock condenser, and that seems to work too. And because DeTomaso/Ford did some odd things with the Pantera's AC design, a redesign nowadays should keep cars from blowing hoses whenever temps get above 100F (which is precisely when we need A/C!) Go for it- J DeRyke