<VV> AC Alteration

[Mark Durham]

Thanks, Smitty, for your very thorough description of a operational
design.
I would think that the GM engineers felt that if there was sufficient
heat exchange across a condensor and radiator to cool a water pumper
and car interior with so many cubic feet of air, whatever the designed
flow was, that same volume of air should also be able to cool a car
interior via the condensor and the air cooled engine. That makes sense.
They were right in most instances.

That does not mean it cannot be done in a different way, like putting
the condensor in the trunk. I've seen several of those cars work great
too.

The engineer part of my years of experience with using air flow to cool
in production and experimental aircraft also tells me that a condensor
in the right wheel well is possible. Others think the same thing and
are working on making a system work. The air above the trans/diff in
the center of the car is not dirty like it would be behind the wheel,
and ducting\baffling is effective in keeping a condensor clean. Some
classic car guys simply mount the condensor under the car somewhere
with a fan on them and they work great, too.
Mark Durham


Sent from my Windows Phone
From: Smitty
Sent: 10/27/2012 20:05
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> AC Alteration
Smitty Says;  I understand the desire to get that big condenser off the top
of the engine so you can see it.  Maybe even change a fan belt every few
years.  But I feel you are opening a big can of unnecessary worms.  Gm
engineers were not dummys.  They knew there would be air flow problems with
putting the condenser any place but in the normal inflow path to the engine.
The areas under the fenders are prone to damage from rocks and are filthy.
Then you want to add the sheetmetal for ducting such a thing and throw in a
fan to boot.  When done you still won't know what you will have for air
flow.  So what to do?  Put it in the wheelwell and suck crap out of the
wheel well to feed to your nice engine?  Or turn the fan around so it
constantly buck s designed airflow and starves the engine of coolent?

Now just because I did this, don't get the idea it is the only way to go.
But it did work and very well too.  Hang the condenser on the bottom of the
engine lid.  Use cardboard or hardboard or tin to close the irregular shape
under the lid and to the condenser.   Then spend a little more time making
shapes to fasten to the condenser to to drop down to mate as closely as
possible to the engine and its components.  If you are careful you can limit
air leaks to very small ones.    Rotate the condenser to where the fittings
are on the left side of the car.  Hang the hoses in a coupe of loups to
support them across the car.    You will need the hose length to absorb the
twist as the lid goes up and down.  They only have to absorb 45 degrees of
twist so don't get your undies in a twist.

I ran that car for about 8 years till my wife totaled it.  If I were to ever
do an Early again I would do it exactly the same way.  I guess if you still
feel a need for a fan you can put on under it.          BTDT

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