My Parallel Flow "Condensa Advencha"

[techguy512]

Some folks have asked me to document my parallel flow condenser install experience - with part numbers, etc.

Overall, the job was fairly simple given the fact I had an extremely competent AC shop nearby to fabricate hoses, bend tubes, etc.

In the first photo below, you see the old OEM tube and fin condenser. Lots of bent, mangled fins and bug carcasses clogging up the works.

Second photo shows the new parallel flow condenser, Frigette P/N 203-355. This is a 15.5 x 20 aluminum parallel flow condenser with input and output O-ring fittings on the same side. This was chosen because the finned area was approximately the same as the OEM condenser, and the mounting holes closely aligned with the OEM mounting points. Mounting brackets/straps were fabricated from sheet aluminum. Note that the inlet and outlet tubes were bent to approximate the OEM shape, and thus present the fittings for hose attachment in a similar location to the OEM unit.

Third photo shows old and new condensers side by side.

Next photo shows the only major incompatibility between the two condensers. The OEM vapor inlet is a #10 fitting. The Frigette condenser uses a #8 inlet fitting. Welding would be necessary to fabricate a metal tube with #10 on one end and #8 on the other. It's easier to fabricate hoses with different fittings than tubes, so a #8 to #8 tube was used, and a new manifold to condenser hose was built to change the fitting at the condenser end to #8. Total cost $20.

Picture 5 shows the new condenser mounted in the car with the fabricated aluminum brackets. No metal cutting was needed to fit.

Total cost for the condenser, tubes, hoses, etc was about $170.

Cold air? Priceless

Bob
'82 300D