> Date:    Fri, 9 Jul 2010 19:53:07 -0700
> From:    Alistair Bell<albell@SHAW.CA>
> Subject: naive A/C lines question
>
> My '86 has factory AC, which is not working, and I plan on removing
> it. But I was wondering about the little AC rad at the front of van,
> and the lines to and from it. Are those lines, and rad, suitable for
> an oil cooler application?
>
> I have no idea what material the lines are made of, and what the
> inside diameter is. Nor do I know anything about the little rad.
>
Well, the "little radiator" is a "condenser".  The material of the OEM
units I've seen is copper.  It's your basic fin and tube heat
exchanger.  ID is probably like 1/4 - 5/16".  The condenser itself,
other than having a pretty high pressure drop across it, would do fine
as an oil cooler.  The hoses, not so much, most likely.  They are
pressure and temperature rated, but it's questionable as to whether they
are stabile with hot motor oil; the material is designed for freon,
which is not particularly aggressive, and mineral oil.   If you're
contemplating using the lines and the condenser as they are currently
plumbed, I'd say you'd have major problems.  Way too much pressure drop
with that length of hose and exchanger.  Also, if you do decide to try
that route, make sure you remove the receiver/drier from the hose path.
A cheaper and more useful solution would be a generic transmission
cooler IMO.

Anyway, the low (here) was 90�F last night, and 110�F today.  Why not
fix the A/C instead?  :-)

Keith Hughes
'86 Westy Tiico (Marvin)