We have installed a Gen II Mini, 66005-VUX-A, behind the seat of a 1933 Ford three window coupe. Controls are 4 knob, Gen II Streamilne Panel, #491229. My question has to do with the evaporator thermostat, and it's capillary tube. We would like to mount the Streamline panel on the header above the front windshield, on the passenger side. The evaporator and blower fan assembly is behind the bench seat, centered in the middle. As you can see, the capillary tube will not reach from above the front windshield, to the evaporator. Is it possible to utilize an ambient air thermostat in series with the capillary tube thermostat, or an ambient air thermostat by itself? It appears that all the capillary tube type does is allow the compressor to be engaged, until a threshold temperature is reached with the evaporator. Any problems with icing, that I have not forseen with omitting the capillary tube? What do you suggest for mounting the controls in the header panel, with the evaporator behind the seat?
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The capillary tube thermostat can be mounted to the evaporator case, and wires extended to the rest of harness.
Yes, that would put the capillary thermostat underneath the seat. Would prefer all AC/Heat controls to be together, in the header panel above the windshield.
I have installed several vintage air systems . found it best to call them .maybe you can get a longer capilary tube.
In other applications I have found that most people always set the A/C to max cool and leave it there. I would get another thermostat and mount it by the A/C unit (you can get a fixed temp universal thermostat with capillary tube pretty cheap from your local A/C guys), then wire it in series with the thermostat in the overhead panel. The one in the panel will turn the A/C function on and off, while the one at the unit will sense evaporator temp. Obviously the one in the overhead panel will not actually control the temp; but like I said most people put it on max cool and leave it there anyway.
Rich B: That is more in line with what I'm thinking, yours is a simpler solution. My hat is off to you.
The capillary thermostat, cycles the compressor. I set mine once, according to instructions I had at time, and left it alone. If set too high, it can freeze up the evaporator, too low, and it cycles too much and never seems to cool.
Algom56: Thanks for the information of setting it and leaving it. That's what we will do also, along the lines of Rich B suggestion, unless someone adds another idea here.
The capillar tube controls the temp of the evaporator I'd set to keep it from iceing up and control cabin temp with fan speed.
GROB 284 I put the same set up in my Willys coupe, and mounted the unit behind the seats (actually in the trunk, but that is directly behind the seat in a coupe) Had their control panel in a nice console in front of shifter...same problem as you...cap tube would not reach, and I did talk to Vintage, and they did not have any longer cap tubes, and wouldn't make one. I bought their cheapie cap. tube knob set up and mounted it on the baffel between trunk and passenger compartment, and wired it into the system. I can reach it to tweak it if necessary, but it is out of site yet functions. The response from RICH B is about the same as I did and it works fine. g-willys
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