[DeTomaso] Front mount A/C

[Mikael]

It pops up once in a while: the idea of front mounted A/C. Before you spend
the time and money (unless you're rich and retired and needs to get through
the day), consider this:

It would have been easier and cheaper for DeTomaso to have the A/C in the
front, so why did they go to rear mounted? Very simply because having two
hot things close to one another doesn't help.

 

A/C:

1.    If going slow or standing still in stop and go traffic, which would
you rather have? A rear mounted no restrictions system is for sure better
than a front mounted where it would be sitting next to a hot radiator and
airflow would be restricted by having to pass through both of them

2.    If cruising or going fast, the extra air flow from the car moving
MIGHT give better A/C cooling. I've never seen figures to document that, and
my own rear mounted A/C deals with German/French highways and stop and go in
summer, without me having to turn the knob to full cool, it's just working
as designed

Engine cooling:

3.    Who would dispute that the risk of overheating the engine is bigger
when a hot restrictive A/C system is placed in front of the radiator?

 

So what are the pros and cons? There are two definite "cons", 1. and 3., and
one maybe "pro", 2. Do the math, and save the time and money, and spend it
on getting the original system to work as designed. Remember little tricks
like making sure it's properly filled, and that the heater water cutoff
switch and cable and lever actually cuts the water flow 100%. It didn't in
my Longchamp, when I fixed that, it was as if the A/C was doubled in
capacity. Make sure the capillary tube is placed where it should be, or get
an electronic sensor/switch. Make sure the lever controlling whether the
cold air goes up or down or in your face is properly adjusted. And if you
have a shaker A/C, maybe get a centrifugal motion one, I think they're
better, and they give less vibration. 

 

Be cool

 

Mvh/Regards

Mikael

 

 

Fra: Ian Hannington [mailto:ihannington286720mi at comcast.net] 
Sendt: 3. november 2013 22:56
Til: MikeLDrew at aol.com; jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com; charlesmccall at gmail.com;
detomaso at poca.com
Emne: Re: [DeTomaso] Front mount A/C

 

Mike wrote:

"I would make sure you have a deal in hand before you spend any money,
however."

 

Heck Yeah!!!  You must think us folk up here are stooooooped! J

 

Seriously though, it is only my intention to provide him with advice and let
him know what the cost of the parts would be.  I also told him that he could
have the parts shipped to me and I would throw them in the trunk and ship
them along with the car if he ends up purchasing it. That would save him
$350 in shipping charges. I have no intention of purchasing the parts myself
or installing them

 

I am the seller and looking to gain money not spend it, but at the same
time, I am not a A-hole and am willing to help any potential buyer with
advice or assistance, because at the end of the day, I want the buyer of my
car to be as happy (or happier) with the car as I have been over the years.

 

Thanks for the info and I will pass it along.

 

Ian

 

From: MikeLDrew at aol.com [mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com] 
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2013 2:19 PM
To: jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com; charlesmccall at gmail.com;
ihannington286720mi at comcast.net; detomaso at poca.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Front mount A/C

 


In a message dated 11/3/13 6 49 10, jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com writes:




As a seller, you may be better going to the stock location as I doubt any
buyers would view that as a negative element of their buying decision while
someone looking for a car that they could easily revert back to stock in the
future may see it as a negative.  My point being that your universe of
buyers may be larger with stock location.



>>>I think it all depends on the nature of the car.  If the car is a true
concours original example, then retaining an original setup is paramount.
But if a car has already been subjected to a number of
modifications/improvements (as Ian's car has), then the potential for
superior performance would trump originality.  If the cost delta is
relatively little, you'd probably be better off going for a front-mounted
system, as you could advertise that it blows COLD, rather than a stock
system, where perhaps at best you could identify that it's THERE.

Too, you already have a Fluidyne radiator and sucker fans, so you're well on
the way.  Bobby Byars sells a drop-in setup consisting of a condensor to go
in front of the Fluidyne radiator, plus all necessary hoses, dryer, etc.
making it a pretty straightforward installation.

At the end of the day though, you have to ask yourself if the increased cost
would be offset by a higher selling price.  The answer is probably no.  If
profit is all you're after, you're probably better off selling the car as-is
and letting the buyer sort it out.  Or alternately, selling the car as-is,
letting the buyer then pay for the additional A/C components himself, and
perhaps you get the stuff installed and sorted out here before it goes to
him.

I would make sure you have a deal in hand before you spend any money,
however.

Mike

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