Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:17:25 -0700
Reply-To: t bill <tbil@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: t bill <tbil@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Hot weather modifications
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
As we have established this as the 2nd hotest summer on record here in
Texas (and maybe other parts south), I've been busy making changes to
run cooler. With any luck, I'll be finished by the time winter gets
here.
This applies to 83.5 Vans and up.
1. First and most importantly, if your van is over 10 yrs the foam on
your vent control surfaces has deteriorated to the point that you can
not fully close your heat off. It is a MAJOR job to get to them, so
the solution is to take off the grill and the intake screen above the
radiator and block it off. I use a sheet.
2. Insulate. I've done some of this, need to do more. someone on the
list detailed how he had taken everything apart and added 100's of lbs
of insulation. Fine, but what I'm interested in is the hot spots that
are well over outside air temp. Just lay something on the floor for a
while, then feel the underside! A spontaeous combution candidate!
So, take up the carpet and put down some sort of insulation. Carpet
padding works, also thin styrofoam sheets. Check areas plastic
consol. Get can of foam and foam hot spots and leaks.
I glued insulation to the wall of the radiator fan well.
3. Remember to close the door vents!
4. Of course, keep AC well maintained.
5. And this summer's big project: I installed a manual high speed fan
switch. Normally, temp rises until high speed fan comes on, then fan
cycles. That's too hot, so I leave the fan on until temp comes down
to usual temp. This is not necessary unless outside temp is over 100
and AC is on. The AC condenser completely covers the radiator,
meaning the air passing the radiator is well over 100.
The next problem is that with power going to the high speed fan, the
compresor disengages. so you get hot as the engine cools. With help
from the list, found the relay that does this, but couldn't figure out
how to get around it. Thot about installing another switch to run
power directly to the compressor. Then thot about putting the switch
on the battery cover (less wire, goes along with my manual starter
button), finally ran a wire from my AC blower to compressor. You must
disconnet the orriginal circut, otherwise power will flow to the
blower motor, drawing more amps than that circut can safely handle.
Drawback is that now your AC will be on at all times, ie, your
thermostat control will not work. But then again, in this kind of
heat you want it on at all times. My other cars did not have a air
temp switch. When I got cool, I just shut it off for a while. When
summer is past, it is easy to change it back if your want your
therostat back.
Whew!
TBill
83.5 Westy
(for sale)
***When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.***
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