Reply to "AC CONDENSER UPGRADE IDEAS??"

Bill has contacted me off list with his help - thanks, Bill.

In my research, I have learned that the newer design serpentine and parallel flow condensers are more efficient than our stock tube and fin design, and thus a smaller and thinner, newer unit can do just as good a job as our OEM unit. Not sure if Jack's DeRyke's Toyota unit (found doing an archive search) fits the newer description, but if it does then it may be better, or at least as good as, despite being thinner. Our stock unit is about 10 3/4x16 1/2 x2, but I haven't found any newer units that small.

I'm looking at a generic 12x20x3/4" parallel flow unit as my potential replacement. Vintage Air has a unit with condenser, shroud and Spal fan (12x20x4) for $199. I've done some cardboard mock-ups, and the 12x20 can easily be made to fit, even with the tub in place. This unit IS a parallel flow unit, compatible with R12 and R134.

That 12x20 gives about 35% more surface area and the parallel flow units are said to be 30% more efficient for equal sized tube and fin units. Thus that size should easily be at least 50% more efficient than the stock unit.

Larry