Air conditioning in a Healey...see photo

[anthony7777]

Roger,

I have seen two or three successful AC installations in Healeys. Most were from the Texas club guys. I have considered it if I were to do a few of the runs down to Texas with the wife. I am restoring a hardtop in anticipation of bringing the wife along on long runs (3000 or more miles in one trip) and would only use it with AC.

--- bighly, very considerate of you wanting to have your wife be comfortable in the healey but 3000 +_miles? id need something more then a.c. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[anthony7777]

Does the air-conditioning unit creat more hear under the bonnet? I'm not sure there would be enough room under there and the second radiator would reduce the air to the main one?

-- th, remember no matter how you slice it you must be very selective about when your gunna use it, do they work? ya, do ya wanna have it on while sitting in downtown rush hour traffic in houston texas in august? hay this aint ya girlfriends caddy! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Fortunately, I had a bad core in my orignal "fork-lift" Healey radiator and had an american core put in with about 25 to 30% more cores. I'm actually considering putting back in the 180 degree thermostat(no kidding!!). Car runs 165 to 175 going done the road which isn't good for the engine. Of course the temp climbs when stopped and the compressor drag doesn't help, but when the electric fan comes on, the temp is maintained with no problems.
... make sure you have someone install a AC unit that knows AC and knows Healeys!!

 

[anthony7777]

patrick. you are a very fortunate person /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif i think id rather be sittin in my girlfriends caddy! ah please dont tell my wife i said datt! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

 

[healeynut]

Patrick -

You can attach photos by going to the "post options" box below where you type the text when posting and then click "File Manager" and that's where you can upload pictures. It's a bit clunky but it works.

I'd like to see your install of: the blower, the vents, where the tubes go through the fire wall and the heat exchanger install in front of the radiator...

THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!

 

[tosoutherncars]

To Patrick (and others) I would add,

If you would like to attach pictures larger than those that can be hosted here, and/or if you would like to host them for your own use (and to share in other forums) you may want to consider https://www.photobucket.com . I find it to be an excellent resource, free to use, with virtually unlimited photo storage. You can even publish photos directly from Windows to the website without having to upload them all seperately. (PM me for details if you would like.)

No personal interest here, I just find it an excellent site to store and catalogue the pictures for my two restorations.

Best,
Duncan

(hosted picture follows!)

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Thanks for the info on photobucket.com!! I did it and now have a way to post pictures for everyone to see without having to resize all my files.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Alan,
My photo efiles are too large to post on the forum. I got a tip from another user and put them on https://www.photobucket.com
Go to this site and enter "pyoas" to see them.
I spent the time to add captions to the photos so you'll know what you're looking at. I have lot's of other phot's of other cars that have been AC'd by Bret Blades of Blades Design as well as pitures of a couple of cars that I took at the San Antonio Conclave that were done by another system(I think "Smitty" originally made their brackets).
I will try and post the orignal factory AC installation instructions on the site, but i don't think I'll be able to do that unless each of the thirteen pages is posted individually.
Patrick

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

I'd probably like to be sitting in your girlfriends caddy too and I won't tell your wife if you don't tell mine!!

 

[Cottontop]

Alan,
My photo efiles are too large to post on the forum.Patrick

Patrick,

I am the web master for the North Texas AH Club and because of the interest in this thread, I am in the process of making a web page showing pictures of several of the cars in our club that have recent, mostly Blades, A/C installations.

If you will contact me, I can host all of your material on our club web server and with your permission add your material to our club web site.

My Email link is at the bottom of the Club web site home page - https://www.ntahc.org.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Tim Moran

I'm adding A/C to my Healey too, but then, I have a Ford V8 engine. THAT makes it pretty easy.

 

[Dave Richards]

I know the UK is cooler (at least for the time being) than some parts of the US, but, I spent most of the last winter super insulating the cockpit. There were some very useful ideas on here. My genuine concern now is that the heater is not powerful enough! I'd super insulate before considering air conditioning.

Even with all that "super insulation" which cut down the heat substantially for me, it's still plenty hot enough, especially after 50 miles, or so...