[DeTomaso] Front mounted AC

[Mike Thomas]

Thanks Mike, already have a laydown Fluidyne from Bobby with the mondo
suckers, so just need the AC hardware and sometime/coaching.  That will come
next winter.  Will probably refinish the front trunk while the front hood is
off.

 

Good to see you two last week and congratulations again.  Thanks again to
Lori for helping out at the raffle.

 

Mike T.

 

From: MikeLDrew at aol.com [mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 11:11 AM
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
<mailto: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?)