Date:         Mon, 22 May 2006 15:24:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Kim Springer <kimspringer@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Springer <kimspringer@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Doka AC
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I've p-mailed a few about my plans for AC in my Tristar, and I've put a lot of time into the wiring and evap unit mounting, and ducts, etc.

It's amazing how much time it takes to do all the work.  When you look at it, it seems simple, but...

So, mostly because I didn't want to pull the dash, but also partially because I didn't want to put the condenser behind the radiator (because of all the horror stories I've read on the list about overheating in the Summer while using the AC), I decided to put the evap. unit under the rear seat, and the condenser under the truck with 2 cooling fans. No hoses forward of the spare tire.

I'm using the stock dash switches to run the unit and have everything on relays to keep the voltages down at the switches to prevent wear on the switches.

I'm probably about 3 weeks from having it up and running, so I'll let the list know of my success or failure.

The aftermarket unit is big enough to cool down a 14 passenger van (according to my AC guy who has installed plenty of these units) and it has 2 outlets.  I've mounted it sideways under the rear seat and have two hoses, one from each outlet going to two outlets (adjustable vents from a vanagon dash), mounted in the seat base as close to the rear heater outlet as possible, so as center mounted as possible.

The outlets should send a stream of cold air up between walkthrough towards the windshield.  I'll not get the air blowing in my face, obviously.

Only time will tell how satisfactory the results will be.

All the best,

Kim Springer
'89 Tristar 2WD #7