Need some help from the Air Conditioning Cognocenti.

Starting to locate the bits for cooling up in the nose of the Molvo. So, obviously, it is time to locate a condenser.

The car will use a Ford compressor and a Miata evaporator. While I have a Miata condenser, it's design is such that it really does not want to integrate with the available space. If I did though the parts pile, I have a condenser from a Lincoln that seems to integrate nicely. The lincoln unit is much bigger than the Miata.

So, the question is "How much latitude do I have when mixing and matching parts? The Miata evaporator is a constant because it fits where it fits and runs on the Miata controls. I want to run a Ford AC compressor because it fits the stock fox body accessory drive. Can I get away with "best fit" and custom hoses for the condenser and dryer components?

Over-sizing the condenser shouldn't hurt anything, I think.

I'm not an expert but having gone through a restart on both the e30 and Durango and converting the e30 to 134 this year I think the biggest concern is matching the condenser and evaporator capacities. Pressure in the system can be modulated a little with charge weight, but if your condenser can't cool enough or your evaporator can't absorb enough the system doesn't function right.

itsarebuild wrote: I'm not an expert but having gone through a restart on both the e30 and Durango and converting the e30 to 134 this year I think the biggest concern is matching the condenser and evaporator capacities.

There is food for though in there. I will keep searching for more knowledge. Thanks.

I'm not an ac expert, but I have a basic understanding of how they work and I can't see how an oversized condensor could hurt anything. Undersized would be a problem. When its time to charge it run the ac and have the engine revved a little, like 1200-1500 rpm, just watch your gauges and add until you hit desired pressures on both sides, around 40 psi on the low side and 150-200 on the high side if memory serves me. It should get cold. Also, if you are running an electric fan make sure it is wired to be running any time the ac is on regardless of engine temp.

gearheadmb wrote: Also, if you are running an electric fan make sure it is wired to be running any time the ac is on regardless of engine temp.

If there's a port for it in the system, there are sensors available that'll trigger the fan based on high side A/C pressure. It makes for a nice solution, as the fan will run with A/C on when stopped, but if you're on the highway with plenty of airflow and the fan isn't needed to keep the condenser cool enough, the fan won't run.