Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 07:43:17 -0700
Reply-To: Larry Chase <lchase@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Chase <lchase@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: RoadHaus - Front AC Kit Install / Preliminary Report
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Volks,
Front AC Kit (European Cooler Air, Inc.) Install / Preliminary Report.
http://www.europeancoolerair.com/repair01.htm
Need to do two more things before issuing a final report & Group Buy or Not recommendation:
1. Take pics of the unit installed and of the tall center vent installed over the ash tray slot.
2. Take Temperature Measurements.
I'll do this as soon as I get the RoadHaus back from the shop.
Till then >>> here's a preview.
Vehicle:
1990 Westy Syncro with exsiting Rear AC.
Kit Report:
Here a few pics of the hardware .... everything seems to be pretty good quality from my perspective.
http://www.fototime.com/inv/B30CCB6F785770F
There are one or two small parts/connectors missing from the pics, so it's 99% complete.
Installation:
I had Jerry West (European Air) do a complete checkout & rebuild of my entire AC (Front install & Rear rebuild).
So the work was significantly more involved than just a Front AC Kit Install.
The work was estimated to take 2 days but took 4 days.
Biggest problem seemed to be tracking down leaks after he installed the Front AC, New Hoses and New 10ci Compressor. Spent maybe 1 1/2 days on that.
After leaving Dallas and crawling thru the install a bit .... some minor things were not done too well.
Example:
1. The front AC install requires new hoses thru the firewall behind the right head lights. I left Dallas in a terrible rain storm. At the first Gas stop 250 miles down the road .... I noticed the passenger carpet was soaking wet.
Days later when I had time to investigate I discovered that no grommets or sealant were used were the hoses went thru the firewall. Easy to fix .... but dumb to have installed them this way.
There were a couple of other things like this ... all easy to correct, but should have been done more professionally.
Front AC Performance:
Before leaving Dallas I put a dial temp gauge in the front right AC vent. Temps got down to around 30 degrees F in 10 minutes with outside temps in the 70's.
Air flow coming out of the vents decreases from right to center to left vents as you would expect. Comparing the air flow to Warren Chapman's front Behr Unit I saw at Van-O-Rama .... I would say the Behr puts out more air flow. But I think this unit will be adequate. If anyone has a simple way to measure air flow, let me know.
The visual outside appearance of the front AC Kit is excellent. The only thing you see if the tall center vent I opted for. The existing left / right fresh air vents are used for the other vents. Also ... because of this, the outside air intake is blocked off .. so you loose the fresh air capability. Not an issue for me, but might be for some folks.
The AC controls had to be rerouted a bit.
The rear fan control is now mounted in the Syncro Decoupler cluster. One other installation peeve ... Jerry never asked if that's where I wanted it ... he decided on his own.
In this case, no problem. But really should be discussed ahead of time.
You end up with three controls.
Compressor
Front Fan
Rear Fan
I hope to be able to issue the final report in 2 weeks.
Hitting the Trail Soon,
Larry Chase
Email: lchase@attglobal.net
Web: www.roadhaus.com - Under Construction
What: The Great North American Road Trip
When: 01.02.03
How: RoadHaus - 1990 2.2 L VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: Mesa, AZ - 12V Stuff
From: Mesa, AZ
