The Truth about A/C

A totally stock Pantera A/C is iffy. Some work, some work for a while and some never work. The fixes vary: 1)- the OEM compressor is a piston type right out of the dawn of the industrial revolution, which many swap for a modern rotary that increases efficiency, weighs less and doesn't shake the car when working. 2)- The dashboard heater control is mis-designed such that the linkage is wrong for completely turning on, or off, the hot water. And the heater core is between the circulating fan and the AC evaporator, so the AC must typically overcome a partially-on heater before blowing cold in the passenger compartment. 3)- the Pantera has some 20 feet of rubber hose snaking all over the car and trying to contain the freon that does the cooling. Leaks abound, especially if the car was converted to cheaper R-134a freon, which is both less efficient and more leak-prone than the almost-unavailable OEM R-12 freon. 4)- cooling efficiency with the condenser in the rear will depend on your having the trunk liner in place. The rear fan is a sucker and pulls air in from behind the car, & depends on the trunk liner to direct the spent air out of the rear and away from a second trip through the condenser. The efficiency of this arrangement varies with speed. It works OK at lower speed but at high velocities, theres a partial vacuum right where the fan is trying to suck air. There are other, minor issues, but straighten out those 4 and you'll need mittens with it full-on!

Coming back to Texas from LA this summer, and driving through the desert, I had the A/C running on high (it was a rotary conversion) and it stayed very cool. Yeah, they are only 2 fan outlets for the cabin, but its so small it doesn't really need much more.

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Originally posted by Dallas:
Ok guys. What's the real scoop on Pantera air conditioning. Does the system cool the car at temps over 80 degrees, or is it pretty much window dressing? Do the upgrades make the system work better, or just keep the car from overheating? Is there enough volume from the vents, or are they saddled with the wimpy fan motors typical of that era? If I wanna cruise around or take it on the open road in 110-120 degree Nevada desert heat am I going to fry my brains, or can I actually wear a shirt that won't look like I've been running alongside the car when I get to my destination? Gimme your best, most brutal shots. Do I drive from June thru Sept., or wait for the sun to go down (still 100+)????

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