R134a has about 20% of the cooling capacity of R12, so for equal cooling your evaporator, expansion valve AND condenser need to be the same percentage larger. If your condenser and expansion valve are the right size for R12 the I suspect you won't see a change. But I might be completely off base because the rest of the system may be over sized enough to benefit.

One thing you can measure. If this manufacturer's claims are legit then you should see your compressor head pressure (high side pressure) drop a little assuming the same outside temperature, and that would translate to less load on your compressor. But you don't see a drop at the same outside temperature then the product is 100% BS even if it's made with parallel tubes!

Thanks, Tom Hargrave
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2021 5:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: GoWesty Parallel flow A/C Condenser

 Wondering....have any of you tried this?  I have an 85 Tintop, where the A/C evaporator unit hangs just behind the head of driver.  Yeah, that big contraption.  When I got my 2.2 Subie done, it came with a Subie A/C compressor.  My conversion guy did the necessary hookups to make it all work.
System was converted to R-134a refrigerant (by law...if tiny leaks, R-12 can no longer be used).  "Pretty good" performance.  Yes, I have some tiny leaks somewhere, most likely in overhead evaporator or maybe some hoses....but topping off refrigerant at the start of every summer seems to work.  I have the proper A/C gauge thing to monitor system pressures.

I am getting ready to replace my radiator fan; yes is for a 1.9 WBX motor.  These have been NLA for at least a decade and I tried a substitute with so-so success  (fine at 65 MPH, disappointing at 0 MPH).  But Van Cafe now has them!  In fact, my fan is now in my hands....like gold!

So, to install fan, radiator and condenser will have to be dropped.  If there was ever a time to think about replacing serpentine A/C condenser to more modern parallel flow condenser, this is it.  GoWesty claims improved performance https://www.gowesty.com/product/air-conditioning/24380/high-efficiency-a-c-condenser-?v=.  

So that's my basic question.  Is it worth it?  I plan to keep my vanagon "forever".
Rich
San Diego

  
 
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