air conditioner/swamp cooler

[greg g]

Hey guys, those don't use ice. they should be filled with water. the concept is evaporative cooling and ice doesn't produce enough water to to make it work. There should be an absorbant membrane (like a furnace humidifier) in the cooler.

The membrane absorbs the water then the air movement throught he membrane causes evaporation which cools the air. Try this, wet a towel, ring it out, place it over your head, get in our car and drive withthe window down. The air movement past and through the towel will create a very small cool microclimate around your head. I know it works as I did this in Tn on a couple days when traveling in a on airconditioned car whenit was 103 degrees.

The determining factor in efficiency is the humidity, the higher the humidity the poorer they work.

If you think you look stoopid driving around with a towel over your head, palce the damp towel infornt of t box fan and turn it on. We are only talking 5 to 10 degrees of difference at best but at 90 and 85 degree breeze is better than nothing.

If you have have been in Az or Palm Springs Ca, or seen the misting fans at a hot weather football game, you have seen Evap cooling at work. But is water not ice.

[TodFitch]

I packed mine with ice and then set up a fan to blow air into the opening to see what would happen. Well it didn't and I swear it was hotter in the car than outside. Mine is different than all of yours and I beleive the one I have must have been an earlier model. I use mine just for show and of course to brake my window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Tucson in the 1950s my parents got one of those window mount evaporative coolers. Used it on one trip "across the desert" and junked it. We were more comfortable with the windows down. Later, around 1962 or so, we got a car with air conditioning which actually did make the car cool.

From that childhood memory, non-scientific sample size of one, I'd say those units are mostly for looks at a car show.

[Young Ed]

I don't have those pieces in my car...there is supposed to be all of that? I don't have a heater core either...could you take a pic of yours and this assembly?

Thanks,

FG.

Heaters were optional so not everyone has them. There are also a few different styles. Here is the cheapest option. Recirculating heater. Happens to be the same as the only Mopar heater option for my 46 dodge pickup.

The next ones look like this. I apparently didn't take a picture of them finally assembled. This is the housing though. The next option was one of these on the pass side with a fresh air housing. Then a second core could be added to the drivers side.

Edited July 19, 2010 by Young Ed
change pic

[BobT-47P15]

Here's mine in place..........it connects by hoses to the defroster outlets,

and brings air in thru the top, across the core, then blows it out at the

bottom. No connection to any ducting. Has a lever on the side that

sets to all defrost, half defrost, half to floor, all to floor. The fan is

variable speed.

[fedoragent]

Folks,

Has anyone ever put a complete replacement heater/AC/defroster in like the ones that come from the Vintage Air or Old School Air folks? I need AC in mine as Socal is becoming a cinder.

FG.

[BobT-47P15]

This is a little newer version of the swamp cooler, probably from the

late 1950s or the 60s. Used 12 volts. Sat over the center floor hump.

You can see some excelsior stuff in this shot.......

[Plymouthy Adams]

Bob, I remember that style unit..worked surprisingly well as the blower motor did all the work..not speed dependent...thee was one in the shop truck at the gas station I worked for while in high school..

[blueskies]

The string is to rotate the absorbent mat inside the cooler through the reservoir of water to get it wet again. The air blows through the wet mat, and the evaporative cooling cools the air. As the mat dries out, it stops working. Pull the string and start the process over again.

Pete

[Merle Coggins]

You could always go this route :D:D

[Don Coatney]

Pull the string and start the process over again.

Pete

Hum, I always wondered what would happen if I pulled the string:cool:

[Plymouthy Adams]

don't go there Don...lets just say things unravel rather quickly ..

[Don Coatney]

don't go there Don...lets just say things unravel rather quickly ..

Sounds as if you have been there, done that:eek:

[TodFitch]

Hum, I always wondered what would happen if I pulled the string:cool:

String is like twine, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EVDBSWXV1Q

[Don Coatney]

String is like twine, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EVDBSWXV1Q

Wow Tod. You busted my quirky humor with two of my favorites, Roger Miller and Johnny Cash.

[Andydodge]

Thanks Merle...............lol.........just wet meself..........lol.........brilliant.............andyd

[fedoragent]

Folks,

In Southern California, from March to January it is stinking hot. Has anyone ever thought about putting one of these in? I am, and I'm wondering if anyone has as well.

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_31000000_31000018_120132035&products_id=4285

Thanks,

FG.

[Frank Elder]

I've done nothing in research but would really like to check out the trunk mounted systems.

I would rather not clutter up the dash as I rather like the way it looks.

[fedoragent]

I've done nothing in research but would really like to check out the trunk mounted systems.

I would rather not clutter up the dash as I rather like the way it looks.

You make a fine point on that one. I may have to look at that myself.

FG.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I suggest that you look at the DANHARD brand for all kinds of differnt mounted evaporators...their catalog is available to download from this site...you are looking for the evaporator kit to see what the interior of the car package will look like....for the rar, shelf mount is your animal..

http://www.danhard.com/evap2.htm

[Frank Elder]

I suggest that you look at the DANHARD brand for all kinds of differnt mounted evaporators...their catalog is available to download from this site...you are looking for the evaporator kit to see what the interior of the car package will look like....for the rar, shelf mount is your animal..

http://www.danhard.com/evap2.htm

They have some nice console mounted ones too:)

[fedoragent]

I suggest that you look at the DANHARD brand for all kinds of differnt mounted evaporators...their catalog is available to download from this site...you are looking for the evaporator kit to see what the interior of the car package will look like....for the rar, shelf mount is your animal..

http://www.danhard.com/evap2.htm

Have you bought from them before?

FG.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes...they are a major mover with the dealer whom I buy from and send customers to...I have the Hugo model for the station wagon, I do recommend to any all that if at all possible stay away from the electronic controlled models..they can be a headache...I recommend analog controls..the proprietory electronics is quite expensive to replace..they do not offer repair to my knowledge..the electro/vacuum controller is a not expenisve but the control panel is their design and one you have to mount and live with..this would be my second choice for in-dash. and probably my only choice for remote mount trunk/package tray units...

[fedoragent]

yes...they are a major mover with the dealer whom I buy from and send customers to...I have the Hugo model for the station wagon, I do recommend to any all that if at all possible stay away from the electronic controlled models..they can be a headache...I recommend analog controls..the proprietory electronics is quite expensive to replace..they do not offer repair to my knowledge..the electro/vacuum controller is a not expenisve but the control panel is their design and one you have to mount and live with..this would be my second choice for in-dash. and probably my only choice for remote mount trunk/package tray units...

Thank you for that. What makes me nervous is that they don't have prices on their website at all...do you you know what their range is?

FG.

[Plymouthy Adams]

seems the most of these units are about priced near the same anymore regardless of the maker of the unit....there has been a big jump in AC prices over the last two years and I do not see the price getting any lower..at the top of the page on the link I posted is an e-mail for sales that one could request info including price or either call the the 1-800 number..

[bobjob55]

who makes the trunk mounted models that you guys speek of ..???? i have found some in the hot rod custom parts books ,,, but they are quite expensive ..