Ferrari Mailing List: Re: GTB and other car stuff

[Rick Lindsay (rolindsay]

Hi Michael, et al.,

> Thanks, Rick!
> 
> My engine will be going back-in within weeks, and I hope
> to try-out the A/C system from RetroAir very soon...  
> ...I hope the fan-box isn't too much of a challenge.  

It comes out pretty easily.  You disconnect the hoses in the forward 
compartment, remove the expansion valve the just unbolt it.  With the fuse 
panel unmounted and pushed slightly aside, the blower and evaporator box will 
come out through the passenger footwell.  I had the seat out of my car when I 
did the R&R so it was quite easy.  Pictures at www.aubard.us/hvac

> I think the hardest part was the new hoses and the condenser
> - both required some 'customization'.  The hoses lost their
> 'ends' to be able to make their run through the sharp corner
> into the well running behind the fuel tank along the body of
> the car.  

We removed the hose ends too but used the old hoses to pull in the new ones 
WITH the fittings on them.  Of course, we pulled from the direction that let us 
pull the straight fittings through the sill.

The condenser is not hard, just laborous.  The radiator has to come out as 
that's the only way to mount/dismount the condenser.  And to get the radiator 
out, the hood has to come off.  When you do that, keep a careful eye on the 
hood strut.  When disconnected and the hood off, it can fall forward and damage 
the paint!

> No way were they going to make-it with the pre-crimped fittings.
> RetroAir was informed, and they sent me a new set of un-crimped
> fittings at no charge - I still have to take the car to an A/C
> shop to have those re-attached, but it shouldn't be too much of
> an issue.  The hoses were plenty-long enough to provide enough
> slack to be able to pull them out and have someone do this easily
> without gymnastics.
 
Good deal.  We found the hoses a little long too and chose to route the extra 
hose behind the fuel tank.

> My car's black interior looks great, but absolutely SUCKS in
> the summertime.  The only time I really enjoyed driving the car
> was in the Fall/Spring or EARLY mornings.  

That was the same with my car as it has the dark navy blue interior.

> My Welsh heritage doesn't approve of removing the GTS top during
> the day, otherwise I get my 'Ferrari tan' and enjoy sleepless
> nights reeking of aloe vera.  
 
Mom was Welsh.  Dad was a Scott.  I don't have a chance in the sun!  
Fortunatley, my car is a berlinetta.

> How does the A/C of the TR compare?  Charles Perry's car had two
> speeds- Hot, and Meat-Locker.  Perfect to Southern climates, if
> lacking any fidelity whatsoever.
 
The TR's A/C works great and is continuously variable!  It moves much more air 
than the stock 308 design and perhaps even a little more than the RetroAir 
blower.  I think that is just a size issue.  I had intended to install a 
'helper blower' to feed air to the left side of the driver but found that I 
really didn't need to do so, even in yesterday's 100 degree heat.  We converted 
the TR to R134a because we had to replace the drier (read: open the system) and 
because our supply of Freeze12 had dried up - and I wasn't going to pay 
$60/12oz can for real R12.

> Keep us posted,
> 
> M
 
Will do.  Both the TR and the 308 are running R134a now while the Mondial, the 
E-Type and the Rolls-Royce are using R12 and Freeze12.  Should I need to do 
anything other than top one of them up, I'll have them converted.  There's a 
product called ES12a that is a direct replacement for R12 but its flameable and 
it too may be going the way of R12 and Freeze12.

With best regards,

-rick