Dash Air

[tom geiger]

Just was wondering about all I read on the pitfalls of the dash air and was wondering about maybe revamping the system with a couple junk yard
condensers with one in the drivers cab and ine maybe in the dinette or couch area? Crazy talk?? I know I’d have plumbing to do to feed the
condensers.

May be too much work
TG

 

[richard h staples]

TG,
Adding another evaporator (the condenser is up in front of the radiator) is relatively easy to do, and made a HUGE difference in my early '75 GMC.
The Delco A6 compressor is very powerful (up to 45,000 btu/hr) and easily handles 2 evaporators, as GM did with the Suburbans and other very large
cars. Don't know if it can run 3 units, but would be interested if anyone has seen such a setup.

In my case, I followed the idea of the late Jim Anstette, one of the founders of our local GMC Mountainaires club, and put the second evaporator
under the co-pilot's seat. I bought a used rear evaporator/heater core from an old ambulance on e-bay. It just fit within the seat pedestal (Flex
Steel seats). I mounted the dual squirrel-cage blower on the back of the pedestal, blowing into the box. (Fits neatly ahead of the front dinette
seatback.) An old cookie sheet made a drip tray to capture condensate, with a couple of small tubes draining through the floor. A pair of standard
A/C vents with adjustable louvers are mounted on the driver's side of the pedestal allowing a cold blast to the driver, or aimed back to the couch
area. They again just fit in the space ahead of the evaporator. On the other (right) side of the pedestal, I simply made holes for two
vacuum-cleaner hoses to exit the pedestal/plenum, angling forward and up through the armrest area of the cockpit side panel and thence to another
louvered vent in the top of said armrest. This gives the co-pilot a nice cool breeze too. The slightly crude vacuum-cleaner ducts are barely
visible. The Fan switch (came with the used A/C parts) is mounted on top of the armrest. If the co-pilot is wearing mukluks, I can open the Existing
storage compartment door on the front of the pedestal and allow billows of cold air to fill the cockpit. Alternatively, there is room to lay 2 or 3
cans of a favorite beverage in the font of the condensate/cookie tray for quick chilling. The refrigerant hoses are teed into the existing A/C hoses
up front near the dehydrator, run back just right of the engine hatch until they go up through the floor behind the evaporator. The most difficult
part of the job was making the connections to the evaporator working through the blower ports. (Used all my stubby and crow's foot wrenches.) A
charge of Dura-Cool (Thanks for the recommendation, Emery!) Completes the system.
Does it work? Does it ever! Finally, we can ride cool. Easily the best modification I've done to "The Dancing Bear". The ONLY time I've
experienced any overheating problem (indeed the only time in 25 years) it was pushing 100F, we were climbing US285 west of Denver, gas pedal flat on
the floor for about 10 miles, and the A/C on full blast. Turned out my fan clutch had finally reached the end of its slow death and wasn't pulling
enough air. Fixed that, no problems since.

HTH,
Rick Staples
--
Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO

"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien

 

[tom geiger]

Great write up Rick! Was thinking maybe this could work. At this point it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to do alot of camping this summer so I
thought I’d dig into this air conditioning issue. Do you have any pics of all these mods you’ve done? Also any vehicles you might think be best
candidates for the junkyard hunt?

Thanks again!
TG

 

[LQQKatJon]

Should be able to use your stock compressor and condensor.

The compressor if leaking can be sealed of buy a rebuilt one with limited success. There has been reports of short time failure on the stock
compressor rebuilds?

I just completed my A/C changes. I switched to a sandeen compressor and bracket. About $400 worth. The advantage is it is effecient in the fact
there is virtually no engine load when it is kicked in. And the new bracket system is pretty clean/simple adjusting and does not block the valve
cover.

Anyway - search ebay for the aux evaporator. There is a bunch of china- knock off evaporators from $70 and up to a couple hundred.

The other item is the hoses and fittings to connect everything up. A/c hose can be $5 a foot and each hose end can be $10. You need a crimper or
you can always have a hose made locally for a significant amount of money.

Good luck. I will post some photos at some point, but I literally and finishing it today(wire in binary switch). And i am pretty happy with it, but
it needs a good test yet in how well it will work.

One comment, is I looked at adding some other evaporators, but having it blow from near dash allows me to aim the air on me.

I know of an aux unit under a dinette. And it works great but driver is hot for a long time during when the coach first starts Until the whole coach
cools off. Good for long trips. Not ideal for quick ones.
--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

 

[john r. lebetski]

18 horsepower is about 46,0000 BTUS. Can’t change that. The Sanden might have less additional losses but can’t get something for nothing with
energy rules.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[tom geiger]

Yes Jon, not sure if I have leaks in the system. I had the system worked over a couple seasons ago and got it running. It cooled ok but not great.
I did consider a new compressor but my mechanic was all about the A6 compressor and convinced me to stay with it. So I was hoping I can depend on it
being good for this new setup. Understand you just got it done. I’m sure it will be a great improvement on the air. Will stand by on the project
till I hear back on your report.

Thanks,
TG
76 Eleganza 2
Kansas City, Mo

 

[Dean The ResourcefulNorse]

Years ago, like 20, I purchased a Vintage Air evaporator and installed it in
a 23' 1973 Glacier under the dinette. The problem was having 5 of us almost
always in the coach and no one could sit in the dinette while it was
running. It froze their bottom half. And was mostly useless for those who
mattered up front. So I sold it to a friend. I don't really know how he used
it but I bought it back 5 years later. And installed it under the dash in
front of the engine compartment. Bob of Las Vegas can tell us if it is still
working.

I recently listened to Dave of Michigan and his modifications. So, I have
drilled two 3" holes in the front cover plate of my late 74, registered 75,
26' Avion and run tubes into the cabin. I have not figured out where I want
to land the outlets yet, but I know this, the tubes blow big time. I have
eliminated outside air, relocated the radiator overflow container, installed
a ball valve, fixed in place several vacuum pod openings as well as made
other changes. BUT, as of now, I have not had it on the road on a 100 degree
day. Will it help...big time. Will is solve the problem, time will tell. I
am still looking for a truck rooftop evaporator with a distribution system
for vent air as well as AC. But this I also know, the GMC compressor will
handle two evaporators easily and then some.

Dean Hanson

Eager to get on the road with his twin bed 1975 Avion.