Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Plate/Fin Style Condenser? (Read 2081 times) previous topic - next topic

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

I'm not sure where I saw this, but I thought I read that there are plate/fin-style condensers available for our cars and Mustangs.  Does anyone know if that's true?  If they ARE available, does anyone know where I can get one?  If you're wondering, I'm going to run R-12 in this car, just like I'm running in my other Bird.
William

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #1 –
The stock one cools my car just fine, even with a transmission cooler almost as big as the condenser in front.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #2 –
After searching high and low, I found a place called getallparts.com that has condensers for our cars for $74.  Even if it's a tube and fin style condenser, that's not a bad price at all.
William

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #3 –
Not sure if this helps, I copied it from Rockauto.  Im not sure what serpentine contruction is??

VISTA-PRO Part # 1057  {#471057}
W/Factory Installed AC; Tube and Fin Construction (Only 1 Remaining)
 
 $89.79
Add Part 
VISTA-PRO Part # 1046 
W/Factory Installed AC; Serpentine Construction (Only 2 Remaining
Mike

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #4 –
Well, that condenser showed up today.  It actually IS a plate and fin style condenser.  Unlike a tube and fin condenser, which moves the freon in series, this plate and fin design moves the freon in parallel.  That's a more efficient way to move the freon.  This is why plate and fin tranny coolers are more efficient than tube and fin tranny coolers of the same size.

For UNDER $73.37 plus shipping, I got a great condenser that will be a much more efficient heat exchanger than the OEM tube and fin style condenser this car came from the factory with.  Not bad!

Here's a link to the place I bought it from.  http://getallparts.com/parts/1988/ford/thunderbird/radiator__and__ac__condenser/ac__condensers/cnd35540/product-detail.aspx
William

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #5 –
Let us know how it works. If it's a high quality piece than it might be a good upgrade for those who have converted to R134A.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;377083
Let us know how it works. If it's a high quality piece than it might be a good upgrade for those who have converted to R134A.

It sure looks like a quality piece.  I can't see how this thing won't out do an OEM style condenser.  It's even painted black which is a nice touch.  After I've had time to put it through it's paces this summer, I'll let you know how it's doing.  :)
William

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #7 –
Seems like it'd make a good tranny cooler too...
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #8 –
It would.  It would be able to cool any tranny.
William

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #9 –
If the new one I purchased isn't enough in the July heat (it better be it's pretty big and rated for 26000 GVWR), I may just try this out.....
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #10 –
I have one of those on the Sport. It's been great, and it gets blazing hot in the summer here.....and hotter (last summer was a record setting season, and people were, at times, actually bursting into flames as they walked down the sidewalk). The price was right, and I figured since I was adding all new A/C to the car, may as well try it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..
 

Plate/Fin Style Condenser?

Reply #11 –
I was looking at replacing my SN95 condenser with a drop-in condenser and found a true parallel flow that is a drop-in. Downside is it is quite $$$ at $279. Although that's what I paid for my SN95 condenser. :wtf: It is made by Classic Auto Air, however, it isn't in their catalog. Classic Auto Air  sells it for $299.
http://www.npdlink.com/store/products/mustang_condenser_a_c_parallel_flow-169523-6267.html


You can still get 6mm piccolo condensers from O'Reilly. $114
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MHT0/1046/02669.oap?year=1987&make=Ford&model=Thunderbird&vi=1140220&ck=Search_condenser_1140220_1314&keyword=condenser


As a general rule of thumb, 6mm piccolo is 15% better than the stock tube/fin. Parallel flow is 33% better than stock tube/fin.

6mm piccolo uses tubes similar to the 3/8" tube/fin, except they're smaller (~1/4" instead of 3/8") and it uses header volumes on both sides of the fins.

Parallel flow uses flat tubing similar to a single core radiator with headers on each side.


I'm pretty sure the condenser 88 Blackbird 5.0 purchased was 6mm piccolo, not parallel flow.