Add-on A/C or repair A/C? [message #73906] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 12:28 |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548 Registered: March 2007 Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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It's beautiful here in Northern California today and my thoughts are on my poor dash air. Should I try the retro-fix or just toss in the towel and buy a Vintage Air kit from Jim K?
I know this has been discussed many times, and I see from searching the forum that some very handy fellows have replaced the entire HVAC dash system (my first preference, but last project choice), enclosed bone-yard van systems to be attractive, or installed manufactured add-on systems.
We are still in the Honeymoon phase with our Palm Beach and want to drive, more then work on, our beauty so I think a total re-work of the dash is unlikely.
I'm half tempted to just run the roof air - is that effective?
What say the net?
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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Re: [GMCnet] Add-on A/C or repair A/C? [message #73915 is a reply to message #73906] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 13:45 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442 Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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On Feb 15, 2010, at 11:28 AM, Larry Davick wrote:
>
>
> It's beautiful here in Northern California today and my thoughts are
> on my poor dash air. Should I try the retro-fix or just toss in the
> towel and buy a Vintage Air kit from Jim K?
>
> I know this has been discussed many times, and I see from searching
> the forum that some very handy fellows have replaced the entire HVAC
> dash system (my first preference, but last project choice), enclosed
> bone-yard van systems to be attractive, or installed manufactured
> add-on systems.
>
> We are still in the Honeymoon phase with our Palm Beach and want to
> drive, more then work on, our beauty so I think a total re-work of
> the dash is unlikely.
>
> I'm half tempted to just run the roof air - is that effective?
>
> What say the net?
> --
> Larry Davick
> The Mystery Machine
>
Sure, that works. I used to do that before installing my additional
evaporator.
However, it takes about 1 gallon per hour to run your Onan.
So, after about 100 hours you've spent enough to pay for upgrading
your dash air conditioning system.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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Re: [GMCnet] Add-on A/C or repair A/C? [message #73917 is a reply to message #73915] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 14:02 |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548 Registered: March 2007 Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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Well that puts it in perspective! My Palm Beach is a '76 with the
silly Type II A/C duct low on the dash.
If I go wit Jim K's Vintage Air system should I remove that snorkle?
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
Ljdavick at comcast.net
On Feb 15, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
>
> On Feb 15, 2010, at 11:28 AM, Larry Davick wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> It's beautiful here in Northern California today and my thoughts are
>> on my poor dash air. Should I try the retro-fix or just toss in the
>> towel and buy a Vintage Air kit from Jim K?
>>
>> I know this has been discussed many times, and I see from searching
>> the forum that some very handy fellows have replaced the entire HVAC
>> dash system (my first preference, but last project choice), enclosed
>> bone-yard van systems to be attractive, or installed manufactured
>> add-on systems.
>>
>> We are still in the Honeymoon phase with our Palm Beach and want to
>> drive, more then work on, our beauty so I think a total re-work of
>> the dash is unlikely.
>>
>> I'm half tempted to just run the roof air - is that effective?
>>
>> What say the net?
>> --
>> Larry Davick
>> The Mystery Machine
>>
> Sure, that works. I used to do that before installing my additional
> evaporator.
> However, it takes about 1 gallon per hour to run your Onan.
> So, after about 100 hours you've spent enough to pay for upgrading
> your dash air conditioning system.
>
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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Re: [GMCnet] Add-on A/C or repair A/C? [message #73972 is a reply to message #73944] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 21:31 |
Neil
Messages: 271 Registered: July 2007 Location: Los Angeles and Magalia, ...
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Back to the question at hand about the A/C.
I have a 76 with the snorkel. I re-did everything and did the Clevenger recirculation mod, plus added the Jim K fans by the mirror to move air around. That, and a good curtain seperating the cab from the rest of the coach and it gets... too cold.
I can't say if just adding the vintage air would be cheaper, but it can be fixed and it does all work.
I found that both roof airs blasting did not do the job on a 100 plus degree cross country trip, but the dash air does.
Just what I did.
Good luck.
Neil
76 Eleganza now sold
Los Angeles
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Re: [GMCnet] Add-on A/C or repair A/C? [message #73975 is a reply to message #73972] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 21:40 |
GMCWiperMan
Messages: 1248 Registered: December 2007
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Neil,
I agree with you that the '76 dash air can be made to work well. When we
first got the coach and I refurbished it, I installed a transparent shower
curtain behind the seats to enclose the cockpit without causing
claustrophobia. After doing the Zay Brand mods to the a/c, we never used
the curtain, even in our S. GA weather and travelling all across the
country. Converting to Duracool improved it even further.
The changes I made when I completely redesigned and rebuilt the HVAC were
not because the a/c didn't work well.
Ken H.
On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 10:31 PM, Neil Martin <nmartin@hfbllp.com> wrote:
>
>
> Back to the question at hand about the A/C.
>
> I have a 76 with the snorkel. I re-did everything and did the Clevenger
> recirculation mod, plus added the Jim K fans by the mirror to move air
> around. That, and a good curtain seperating the cab from the rest of the
> coach and it gets... too cold.
>
> I can't say if just adding the vintage air would be cheaper, but it can be
> fixed and it does all work.
>
> I found that both roof airs blasting did not do the job on a 100 plus
> degree cross country trip, but the dash air does.
>
> Just what I did.
>
> Good luck.
> --
> Neil
> 76 Eleganza
> Los Angeles
>
>
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