Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 06:34:00 -0400
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 85 Westy A/C - Advice
In-Reply-To: <4fd.60bf74d.3242012d@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Last year a listee posted a query wondering how anyone saw 50 degrees
at the vents, this was my reply:
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I spent a bit of time investigating this.
VW changed the AC in our vans around 1986 or 1987. From what I can
tell '86 2WD do not have the change, but '86 syncros have a partial
upgrade (fan, condesnor, compressor), '87 and newer had even more
(this coincided with the switch to the grey interior).
In terms of the condensor, with the '86 syncro they moved from
255272413A that has two sections of fins (with none behind the
separation of lower and upper grilles) to 253260403 that basically
covers the whole rad.
Compressors were upgraded around '86 as well some got the SD510 and
some the SD709. Both were an improvement over the SD508. The first
number refers to pistons, the second to total displacement. In this
case the SD510 is about 11% more powerful than the SD709 but the SD709
is aparently much quieter and saps less power (and it is13% more
powerful than the SD508).
Both are available from Busdepot. I had the more powerful SD510 in my
syncro but its dead now and in the interest of future availability
(Sanden is no longer producing the SD510 - pity it is 25% more
powerful than the SD508 of earlier vans) I will be replacing it with
an SD709. The procedure is detailed in Bentley 87.16 and requires two
specialized refrigerant lines: 253260708E and 253260716A and two each
of these o-rings: 803260749B & 431260749.
Also around '86 fans were also upgraded from 251959455G to the more
powerful 251959455M.
The '87 and up grey interior vans got the extended AC ducting off the
rear AC as well as a larger evaporator and more powerful evaporator
fans.
So, it is possible that the other vanaagon owners who are reporting
50F at the vents have newer vans with the VW AC upgrades noted above.
I was lucky enough to already have the upgraded condensor and fan. I
am changing out the compressor and plumbing in a BEHR aftermarket AC
unit that has a second evaporator and fans up front. I am hoping to
catch a cold this summer...
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Bottom line: The 85 and the 87 are different. If you aren't seeing the
temps you want take a look at your compressor and condensor.
Chris
On 9/19/06, Chris Dixon <Jahsurf@aol.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
> My adventurous mom and I just went in on a beautiful 85 Westy that has had a
> lot of good work done to it by the Autobahn Society in Georgia. Everything's
> awesome on it - especially the remarkable power in the re-headed 1.9 liter
> engine. But the AC ain't so cool. It's got the earlier factory rear ac that fit
> entirely in the rear overhead cabinet - different from the larger rear model in
> later westy's.
> It's got an R134 conversion and appears to be full of refrigerant with a
> brand new compressor. I added maybe 1/3lb of freon in it yesterday til it woulnd't
> take any more (it's now around 33PSI low side at idle) and it just doesnt'
> blow very cold - i'd say it's putting out air in the upper 50's to low 60's.
> Today in Charleston it was about 88 and humid and it barely kept the van
> liveable. Does anyone have one of these units that's been "134'd" and any experience
> on a decrease in cold output because of this refrigerant's lower cooling
> ability compared to R12?
> I had the later rear model AC in my 134 converted 87 Westy Syncro and that
> thing blew plenty cold. Any advice appreciated.
> Chris Dixon
>
