? Anyone else remember that old song ? .

It's August and we're having a HEAT WAVE so naturally, SWMBO says let's spend a week in fun filled (not) Indio, California where if we're lucky it might get down to 100* F by 02:00 .

I fixed the AC using Rich's SANDEN compressor and a larger, parallel flow condenser, so far it's working well but a three hour Desert drive with four people will give it the acid test .

I changed the clear plastic intake screen , added some Biobor and filled the tank at sunup, washed it and cleaned out the truck of the milk crate full of spares I normally carry, adjusted the fan belts and all seems well.......

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

beautiful,enjoy. I often wonder about areas below sea level. Is granite below them,or basalt like the oceans. Also what caused buckling in the earth's crust like that.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Howdy Nate,
105 here in the HIGH desert. Might be about 10 degrees warmer where you are going. But it is a dry heat;-)

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

Dry heat. Low priced swamp coolers for the win.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Swamp coolers actually work pretty well (in low humidity) if they are large and have good ventilation to blow through the home or room. A small cooler only makes it humid.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Howdy All,
Swamp cooler is the way we survive here.

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

I grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, average humidity about 5% IIRC. Even the humblest hovels had swamp coolers, frequently supported on a 2 x 4 framework up to a window. Before my dad started making money we lived in a modest home that had a swamp cooler on the roof. It just blew the air downward through a large chute. I used to love standing under that on a hot day, and there were plenty of those.

Later we moved into a house that had what they called “refrigerated air conditioning.” I can only guess that meant AC as we now know it, that is with a compressor. Not sure it was any better than swamp coolers but undoubtedly more expensive both in startup and operating costs. If there was ever a problem from humidity with the swamp coolers I was not aware of it.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Nate; where did you get the cross flow condensor? I changed my 300cd over to R134 about 7 years ago and it is pretty good but I think a cross flow condensor would make it perfect

Frank and CMAC; I had a swamp cooler on my trailer in Wichita Falls TX back in the day and it worked great but I don't think it works well anywhere with higher humidity.

Howdy All,
When the humidity gets into the 20percent range you can notice it. But at least it ain't Florida;-)

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

I was curious if my memory was correct about Roswell (haven't been there since we left in '67 - I was 15) on the humidity thing. I'm a bit shocked, more than a bit, one site said it averaged between 30 and 60 (?!?!). It was not Gobi type desert but it was sparse. I thought I remembered 5 inches of rain a year, the site said 15. I dunno what to think.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I got to stay in two different adobe homes. Talk about cool,with aa swamp,and warm with one wood stove. even got the chance to help pour a floor for a home. Clay,and straw mashed down with bare feet,fun

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Hi all ! .

O.K., it got up to 114* F, the SANDEN compressor works well and takes less engine power so I didn't have to slow down much going over the several steel hills with the car loaded and AC cranked all the way .

Mostly the engine remained around 100 ~ 110 * F, a few times it reached 115*.

After passing the grades through Calimesa the engine began to run stronger, less throttle to go 60 ~ 65 MPH, the car wanted to run up to 70 + MPH but the engine is very busy at that speed to I kept lifting off the throttle .

It got down to 99* F last night and was 106* F by 07:30 this morning .

It's breezy and clear, the ducks are running 'round the pond out side, kids splashing in the pool, there's a new rule saying an Adult (obviously not me, I act like a child) must accompany any children near the pool or lazy river, no splashing, shouting, running etc. ~ how the hell are CHILDREN supposed to enjoy the water without noise and tomfoolery ?! .

The car is a 1984 240D with automatic .

I used the Japanese made 7 series compressor and Rich provided me with a link to the condenser supplier .

Looking at the electric fan with the hood open I wonder about 'unshrouding' it ~ this will increase the air flow as well as make it significantly quieter .

I also notice the fan doesn't cover as much surface area as I would if I removed the two round support bars and measured & installed the very largest fan I can squeeze in there .

As I have three W123' and all now have this SANDEN & cross flow condenser setup, I may begin to experiment with the fans to increase the condenser's efficiency .

The old Hot Rodder's trick of jamming the biggest condenser you can, into any vehicle's AC system is an easy way to make it more efficient and reduce the temperature of the cool air....


It's 12:30 PM and 115* F..........

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

If you are looking for a very high volume electric fan try this:https://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-1996-LINCOLN-MARK-VIII-TWO-SPD-RADIATOR-FAN-with-ELEC-PLUG-Free-Shipping/123835872518?hash=item1cd5317506:g:HAoAAOSwA3dYTZq9
They are cheap at the pick n pull and move amazing air. You can buy a proportional controller so it only runs at needed speed.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Thanx ! .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Well ;

So far it's been O.K., the room's AC is gently blowing 73* F dry & cool air and the boys are down at the swimming pool having fun, meeting new friends and behaving .

It's supposed to rain here to - day so I left out early in search of coffee and discovered the RF tire has only 15#in it, good thing I carry one of those cheapo Chinese electric air pumps that plugs into the cigarette lighter ~ it pumped up in a few minutes but the plug part got really hot (scalded my finger when I touched the tip and the plastic plug is beginning to warp) , the ash tray part is fine so maybe time to replace it .


Yelp says there's a fairly well regarded tire shop within two miles, I'll buzz over there in a bit .

It's fairly nice here, not any broken glass/trash/spray paint , just too darn hot for me .

Even SWMBO got dizzy & nearly passed out yesterday waking 15' from the shade to the car .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better