Air Conditioning in an ERA??

[jschiller]

Bob, or anyone else that may know--

Have any customers requested you put A/C in an ERA?

Thinking of adding it when I get my car.

I know about Hot Rod Air and Vintage Air but neither offers anything specifically for a Cobra.

My ideal setup would be something that fits under the dash out of sight with the controls relocated to the glovebox.

I could handle an exposed evaporator centered above the transmission tunnel as long as it was not too obtrusive.

What are the possibilites?

John

[Jim Holden]

John:

If you have a heater and a glovebox there is very little room for AC under the dash...

The only "AC" I'm aware of is AWO60... all windows open at 60 mph.

Jim

PS: Having said that ERA has managed to shoehorn a system into the GTs. All it takes to engineer is Bob's time and money... Of course the whole exercise begs the question "Why?" (Although in Fl, I guess the only time you can drive the cars is when the sun goes down.

[jschiller]

Jim--

Most of the A/C units I have seen can incorporate heat into the unit so that will save some space. I will have a glovebox but I would remove the rear of the box to free up the space if necessary and just use the glovebox door to hide the A/C controls.

As to FL driving conditions, yes and yes again. It is hot and sticky here from April to October in the daytime and A/C with a top and side curtains would make the car driveable anytime. My last ERA had a tonneau for daytime use but I am considering other alternatives.

John

[mattr762]

John,
I doubt it's anything alike, but my dad installed A/C in his 1957 Corvette. It is invisible in the cockpit and nearly invisible under the hood. He hid things very, very well. I could take pictures if you think it would help.

Matt

[jschiller]

Matt--

Do you know what unit he used?

John

[RedBarchetta]

Having grown up in Florida, I can fully understand John's need to combat the humidity factor.....it's plain nasty at times. If I still lived there, I would personally just avoid driving her during the hot days (yeah, I know, that's every day!) from around 11am-6pm. Sounds like quite the compromise, but it's either avoid or sweat. Maybe you could pioneer a system for Cobras and be the next Bill Gates....

[rdorman]

The smallest system I know of is the GenII mini from Vintage Air. Heater and air. Five outlets. 7.3" x 9" x 19". They also have trunk mount systems.
Rick

[mattr762]

John,
I'll get all the contact info this evening. But my dad said it's 1/2 the cost of Vintage Air and the supplier is in Fort Worth, TX.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally posted by rdorman


They also have trunk mount systems.

Rick, how do those work? Does the compressor run off the back of the driveshaft? I've seen drag racers mount their alternators back there with a small belt. To me, that would be the "cleanest" alternative, though it might require a little more engineering and thought.

[rdorman]

You know, I really don't know where they mount the compressor. I can see no reason why you could not mount the compressor in the rear. But then what about the condensor (evaporator? you know, the little cooler thing!). Where would you mount it? I really don't even know the basics of air conditioning but I would think with out a good cool air stream through the condensor that it would not be very effective. Why else would they put them in front of the radiator.

How about a cool suit!

Rick

[jschiller]

Thanks, Matt. That would be very helpful.

Red--

I think trunk mount refers to the location of the evaporator/blower unit. The compressor still is an engine driven unit with the coolent lines running to the trunk. That might be doable in a Cobra since the distance from the engine bay to the trunk is so short. A lot shorter than in a van with rear mounted A/C.

[RedBarchetta]

"The Cool Suit".....yeah, I was thinking of that one, too!
Only problem is you don't want to be wearing more than a T-shirt and shorts in Florida, especially during summer.

I forgot about the evaporator component....damn.

Here's a cheap tip. How about getting one of those $10 water bottles that has the built-in rubber-bladed fan?!? Fill the bottle with ice water and give yourself a few squirts every other block! I just saved you $1,000 with that tip....it's worth at least a beer!

Deano

[rdorman]

While the water bottle has merit, I think we can improve......

A solar power pith helmet?

Rick

[RedBarchetta]

[rdorman]

So you have one to!
Rick

[RedBarchetta]

Originally posted by rdorman


So you have one to!
Rick

Nope, but I prefer the baseball style....

[Bruce Edwards]

I am not sure about the ERA but we have added AC to a few different Cobra kits. Both the 4.6 and the black Classic shown in our picture area of this site have AC.
I do have an ERA coming in but it will not get here till late summer. Things at ERA are backed up I guess.

[jschiller]

Deano--

You're right, thats worth a beer.

Stop by tomorrow night and we'll have one

John

[mattr762]

John,
Here is the info I promised you:
http://www.oldairproducts.com/shop/

Old Air Products
4615 Martin St.
Ft. Worth, Texas 76119
Phone: 817-531-2665
Fax: 817-531-3257

At first glance I don't see anything for Cobras, but maybe you can make something work.

Matt

[jschiller]

Matt

Thanks for the info.

Looks like you can install a complete A/C system for under $800.

Very interrrrrresting.....

John