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8 & 10 cyl Bristol cars Type 407 onwards - restoration, repair, maintenance etc

411 air conditioning

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  #21 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-20, 11:22 AM
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Paul,
I would be very interested to see some pictures of your AC system.

I had a Vintage Air system installed on my 411 about 20 years ago, but it was a bit of a bodge job and the compressor did not bolt straight onto the intake manifold or the block.

I had an engine rebuild done by a Jensen specialist who convinced me to go with the original Chrysler AC compressor. It is a more tidy installation, but it's performance was very poor by comparison. It also resulted in the power steering pump being at a 45 degree angle which is far from ideal. I later asked Vintage Air about this and they said the modern compressors are far superior in performance.


Regards,
Kevin
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  #22 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-20, 01:29 PM
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Hello Kevin,
Here goes. Remember this is a LHD Interceptor with a 440. But the kits fit RHD as well and all brackets and bolt on points are the same as on 383.
The kit came with all bits needed, brackets hoses, dryer, condenser, the lot and was a doddle to install.Please note I have a higher output alternator and have a similar one on the 411 but mounted on the other side of course.
The fan shroud is original Jensen with newer Bosch fans off an Audi. the rubber flap let air though at speed but the fans pull them closed when they're on.
As I said the condenser sits in front of the radiator but does not have its own fan. Hope this helps, best Paul
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  #23 (permalink)  
Old 14-05-20, 12:22 PM
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Kevin

I have had brackets made up to install the vintage air compressor to our motors.They bolt slightly to the right of the thermostat housing in the valley.I can have extra sets made quite easily and cheaply if you wish. This setup requires the alternator to be moved to the left of the motor above the steering box.
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  #24 (permalink)  
Old 21-05-20, 10:32 AM
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Sorry about the delayed responses!

Quote:
Originally Posted by peter dowdle View Post
Kevin

I have had brackets made up to install the vintage air compressor to our motors.They bolt slightly to the right of the thermostat housing in the valley.I can have extra sets made quite easily and cheaply if you wish. This setup requires the alternator to be moved to the left of the motor above the steering box.
Thanks Peter,
Any chance of a photo?
My alternator has already been moved. The main issue I have, (other than the fact that I'm using a very inefficient Chrysler compressor), is that my power steering pump is on an angle!


Quote:
Originally Posted by paul robert View Post
Hello Kevin,
Here goes. Remember this is a LHD Interceptor with a 440. But the kits fit RHD as well and all brackets and bolt on points are the same as on 383...
Thanks Paul. That's one very clean engine bay! Interesting to see those rocker covers - did they come standard with "Jensen" cast (or machined) into them?
.
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  #25 (permalink)  
Old 21-05-20, 12:34 PM
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Yes they are standard Jensen cast ally covers. They do a lot to lift up an otherwise pretty dull looking engine. Much to my surprise I discovered my Bristol had the same ones but whoever put them on there had a little aluminium, Bristol machined plate made to cover the Jensen name.
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  #26 (permalink)  
Old 21-05-20, 10:53 PM
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Kevin I will organize some photos shortly. The brackets are very simple just 2 flat plates that utilize the long bolt that the power steering pump pivots on. I do not understand what the problem is as to why you are having problems with the mounting of your pump, mine sits in its normal position as supplied by Bristol and that matter Chrysler.

The integration of my Vintage Air system is slowly progressing but as you have pointed out it isnt easy to fit the unit where the original blower and heater were sitting. I have decided to mount it in such a way that it protrudes through the floor of the shelf that the heater and blower sat on so that the bottom half of the unit sits flush on the gearbox tunnel and the top half in the engine compartment. I then need to make up a steel cover to seal the cockpit from the engine bay. To that end I have made up a plywood mock up of the firewall and heater shelf and fitted the test unit vintage air supply. I now should be able to tap into the original air box that supplies the 4 dash vents and likewise the windscreen vents.
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  #27 (permalink)  
Old 21-05-20, 11:02 PM
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Continue. With that installation and the vintage air 4 knob switches I will have hot and cold air to my feet , the dash and the windscreen. The only thing missing is fresh air from out side. The big hold up is there are no units available in Australia till mid June .If all this goes to plan looking under the bonnet the soft cover that fitted over the original heater and blower will remain unaltered and in place.
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  #28 (permalink)  
Old 12-01-23, 06:53 PM
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Has anyone installed air conditioning in a 410, apart from the factory of course. I contacted Fen Air but they said it was too big a job as my car had never had A/C and they weren't prepared to do it.
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  #29 (permalink)  
Old 13-01-23, 01:00 AM
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I am planning to install a Vintage Air unit in my 410. One of the members of the Chiltern section of the BOC installed one in a 408 and was very pleased with the result.
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  #30 (permalink)  
Old 13-01-23, 01:08 AM
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I have been looking at the Heritage under dash cool only unit.
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  #31 (permalink)  
Old 13-01-23, 10:18 AM
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Thanks David. Did your car have a/c originally or is this a new installation? I would be interested to hear how you get on.
I guess you will retain the factory heater as well. I had thought it might be possible to remove the heater and blower and site the evaporator in its place and just pipe the air from there.
Best wishes
Bob Livermore
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  #32 (permalink)  
Old 13-01-23, 12:20 PM
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I don't remember seeing a 410 with air con from new. I imagine a few were modified by the factory. Hopefully someone will be able to contribute pictures. New compressors are much smaller and lighter so it should be easier to do a neat installation now.

I decided that replacement of the original heater / blower would be too invasive and far too much work. A cool air only unit would be easily removed by a future owner wanting to go back to original. It would also allow warm air to the feet and cool air to the face.

Will let you know if I make any progress. For now the priority is getting the overdrive and lockup switching sorted.
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  #33 (permalink)  
Old 15-01-23, 12:03 PM
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My 411 has a factory installed under dash unit. I really dont like the setup, as it makes the legroom for my left leg a bit narrow. When I turn my knee to the left, it touches the corner of the evaporater housing
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  #34 (permalink)  
Old 15-01-23, 12:16 PM
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To Continue My Posting Of A Couple Of Years Ago Where I Was Trying To Instal Intergrated Air Which Would Feed Air Through The Existing Air Ducts And Not Have A Unit Hanging Below The Dash I Must Say That I Have Largely Achieved My Goal Of Having A Fully Intergrated System Which Would Leave The Cockpit Of The Car Basically Unchanged.

It Has Taken A Lot Of Work And Experimentation To Get To This Stage . Unfortunately Though I Have One Major Problem And That Is While The Vintage Air Unit Actually Works Its Fan Really Is Not Up To Pushing The The Air Though Itsels And On Through The Various Tubes And Vents Built Into The Bristol Dash. This Means That On A Hot Day In Australia It Is Not Realy Up To The Job.

I Either Need To Some How Instal A Booster Fan To Force Air Through The System Or

Pull Out The Gen 2 Cooling System And Replace It With An Underdash System Like A Vintage Air Slimline Under Dash. I Fear That The Second Option Including Reinstalling The Heat Will Be Where I End Up
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