Heat Exchanger Placement?
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 439
Likes: 26
From: IA
Heat Exchanger Placement? With my LSA swap in my 1972, I'm having a difficult time finding a heat exchanger to work. I contacted Dewitts and they can make whatever I want (which is awesome). I have a couple options. First one is to place it in between the AC condenser and the radiator. I'm limited by thickness to around 2". Second option, is to place it in front of the condenser and they can make it fit around the hood latch. With that scenario, I can make it as big as I want. Question is, how bad is it if I completely cover the AC condenser? Will it kill the efficiency or hurt the unit? One of the 2 units will have to be restricted. I'm just not sure which one can be. Thanks
If you want the heat exchanger to do its job, it needs to have front row seating. It needs to be in front of the condenser.
You are correct it may impede the performance of the AC ( at idle) as well as radiator cooling at idle. On my set up I used just one 9" pusher fan to offset the lack of airflow
(while sitting at a light for example). This cured the issue. While cruising I had zero issues. In my opinion you are on the right track getting the largest (or more efficient ) exchanger that you can fit. Be sure to match a pump that can move the coolant volume & you should be good.
You are correct it may impede the performance of the AC ( at idle) as well as radiator cooling at idle. On my set up I used just one 9" pusher fan to offset the lack of airflow
(while sitting at a light for example). This cured the issue. While cruising I had zero issues. In my opinion you are on the right track getting the largest (or more efficient ) exchanger that you can fit. Be sure to match a pump that can move the coolant volume & you should be good.
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Joined: Jun 2014
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I went with an afco pro gt 500 heat x . It sits out front. It's aprox 11x26x2 . And came with fans. I got it at speedway in the garage sale sec for 500$ .from front to back is heat x, trans cooler, Ac condensor, rad. Air intake temps run 90-95, trans temps 150, coolant 175. I'm using a bosch pump. What I'm getting at is you don't need to spend crazy money to get decent AIT .my Ac blows real cold. It's all about the air flow. I have the heat x fans, plus derale 4000 cfm fan set up on the rad. I'm running a painless pwm controller on rad fans, heat ex fans are on a switch. This is on my cutlass ly6/ whipple 2.9
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 439
Likes: 26
From: IA
I went with an afco pro gt 500 heat x . It sits out front. It's aprox 11x26x2 . And came with fans. I got it at speedway in the garage sale sec for 500$ .from front to back is heat x, trans cooler, Ac condensor, rad. Air intake temps run 90-95, trans temps 150, coolant 175. I'm using a bosch pump. What I'm getting at is you don't need to spend crazy money to get decent AIT .my Ac blows real cold. It's all about the air flow. I have the heat x fans, plus derale 4000 cfm fan set up on the rad. I'm running a painless pwm controller on rad fans, heat ex fans are on a switch. This is on my cutlass ly6/ whipple 2.9
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TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 439
Likes: 26
From: IA
So I lied about being able to fit something huge up front. It looks like I'd be limited. I talked to DeWitt's and they can make me dual 9"x11"x 2" HX's that are connected thru some tubing. My hood latch and brace are in the way so they have to work around that. If I go behind the condenser, I can go 12"x 25". Thats a lot more surface area but no longer out front. Thoughts?
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Joined: Jun 2014
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If you get a unit with fans, you don't have to mount it right up against everything else. Just put it where it will receive some airflow, In front of hood latch brace, down low , etc.... There is a chevelle on here somewhere with an lsa blower . Maybe see how he did his? That's why mine is 26x11x2 . I mounted it down low.
