Re: aftermarket ac

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2015/7/23 20:47:14

Compressor HP can be calculated*, but will depend on the size and type compressor, refrigerant gas, and how it's operated and mechanically linked/pulley ratios. If you're using a modern belt driven auto centrifugal compressor, you're roughly in the 5 HP range, if it's a period recip, up to 20. You should choose vendors based on efficiency.
Another thing to consider is the idle rpms. Maybe too low, for much cooling at stops without major re-pulleying.
Kinda why they didn't have much A/C back then until they improved the compression and HP with the OHV motors. Even a massive flat V12 was putting out about half as much HP, relatively speaking. And it only had to be a more comfortable mode than a horse or a bus to sell.
Depending on where you locate the hot side HX, it may or may not impact the radiator temp. If you put it in front of radiator, which it wasn't designed for, then you might have cooling issues. You can lower that temperature with the right refrigerant, but the EPA didn't hear me say that.
If you're not going to drive it much, adding more batteries, voltages, and alternators is more maintenance not justified. Hence the rise of the resto mod...or the leave it alone original.
* - should be listed by the vendor because that's essentially the "size" also.