The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop A/C condensor questions

How close/far should the condensor be from the radiator? System has electric fan w/shroud behind the radiator.
While I've got the front clip removed for repairs I am upgrading in several different areas that are normally hard to get to. I can increase my condensor size by around 40% due to the size of my radiator vs. condensor. Bigger is better, right? Purchased the condensor as a complete a/c unit from "Hot Rod Air" for street rods and one size fits all. I need one about 22" tall by 18-1/2" wide. Know where I can find it? Thanks.

I think you want the condenser right next to the radiator so the fans pull air through both and not between then. Even a little air ducting wouldn't hurt to maximum air flow.

Joe

Another question if you don't mind. I'm looking for a larger condensor from vendors like NAPA that list sizes in their infomation. Found one from a 2003 Lexus GX470 that's close. I noticed this one and many others have a cylinder attached to the side somewhere. Looks like a small radiator recovery tank. What is the tanks function and can I 'lose it' if necessary? Thanks

With out see one, I would guess its the dryer mounted to it or some sort of filter, or a reserve tank, a place where compressed gas is "stored" till needed. I would be carefull of buying one like that, the ends where hoses hook to most likely have a odd ball connection and your aftermarket hoses won't work. Don't the A/C venders, Vintage Air, Hotrod Air, etc... have universal condensers? Thats where I would look, or head to the salvage yard and look around.

Joe

Looked at most aftermarket streetrod A/C sites and couldn't find one as large as I want. Still unsure as to what the cylinder does that's attached to the side of some condensers. I am thinking the same as Joe, but want to be sure.

I guess it doesn't really matter what the tank is, it can't be a valve or orifice tube way out front like that, so unless its in the way, just leave it.

Joe

Chances are the tank on the condenser is the receiver/dryer and the condensor is a subcool unit. Subcools are essentially two condensers in one. Refrigerant enters the first stage of the condenser as a gas, and loses it latent heat due to condensation. The refrigerant then enters the receiver dryer as a liquid where a few things happen. One, the refrigerant is filtered, two any moisture is absorbed and stored by the dessicant, and third it acts as a liquid vapor separator so only liquid refrigerant enters the second stage. The liquid refrigerant now enters the second stage of the condenser where additional heat is removed through conduction and convection. On general I think a subcool improves heat removal over a standard condenser of the same size by about 15%. Manufacturers started using them at least 15 years ago as a way to improve A/C performance of 134a systems. The ones I've seen use what appear to be standard fittings. A subcool would give the best condenser performance per square inch. To tell if it is a subcool unit look at where refrigerant enters and exits the condensr. If both connections are on the condenser it's a subcool. If the exit fitting is on the receiver/dryer it's a standard type condenser. The receiver dryer on a subcool is also generally serviceable. A plug on the bottom can be removed to replace the dessicant when performing A/C repairs.

John