[DeTomaso] Front mounted AC

[Charles Engles]

Dear Mike and Forum,


         Topic Pantera AC function

         We recently tested a mostly stock Pantera AC system  { stock
compressor--I think. It has been I while since I looked; stock condenser
{original}; stock evaporator and hoses; R12  }  at speed for long extended
periods on the way to and from the rally.

         Maybe I have low standards, but I was quite comfortable. I was not
"frozen out" of the cockpit, but I was not miserable with mild tepid cooling
even at speeds well into the elevated range in the great Southwest desert.

         Granted that the condenser should work better up front and granted
that the rear condenser efficiency is reported to drop at elevated speeds,
however...I know of at least one case where a near stock AC set up performed
very well under adverse conditions of high speed and heat.

          Panteras can be frustratingly variable.


                 Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at poca.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf
Of MikeLDrew at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:11 PM
To: mbefthomas at comcast.net; detomaso at poca.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Front mounted AC


In a message dated 4/19/13 19 08 42, mbefthomas at comcast.net writes:


> I want to do this right, and  will likely not have the car on the road 
> again until it's time to drive to next years' Fun Rally, so any and 
> all advice is welcome.
> 

>>>I don't think there is any question that the front-mounted A/C works
better, under ALL conditions, than the stock setup.   The stock setup works 
fine until the speeds get elevated, then airflow is disrupted at the rear,
temperatures/pressures spike, and if you don't have a pressure switch to
shut the compressor off, you blow a hose.

LOTS of Panteras have no A/C for that reason.

The only issue is that the A/C in the front discharges hot air into your 
radiator, so your cooling system has to be robust enough to tolorate that.

Lots of people have successfully switched to front-mounted A/C systems, so
it 
is a proven technology, but rather expensive.   Bob should be able to hook 
you up with the necessary hardware to use your existing radiator; it will
require removing the stock fan mount brackets, tilting the radiator forward,
and mounting mondo sucker fans; the fans will need to be rewired to turn on
whenever the A/C is turned on, and also whenever the engine coolant temp 
rises to a certain level.   He can sell you a complete kit minus the
radiator 
and you'll be in business.

Mike (whose rear-mounted A/C lives in the spare bedroom...someday it might
find its way onto the car?) _______________________________________________

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