328 A/C Condenser Vent

I saw where Mike996 had removed the slotted vent in the wheel well behind the condenser to get more free air flow. I thought it was a great idea so I decided to try the same thing but using something that wouldn't be quite so open to allowing rocks to get past and possibly into the fan. So I bought some perforated aluminum, cut to match the existing panel and painted it with some Wurth Stone Guard. My A/C is working well now with a new compressor, but as hot as it's been here in Bama, it's still not enough. So we'll see if this helps any.
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Where did you find the perforated aluminum? I might try this upgrade as well.

 

Yeah - thats a better vent than what I used due to the smaller perforations. I still haven't replaced what I used though I keep saying I'm going to...

 

McMaster Carr

 

Thanks

 

Future,
Good effort. There would certainly be more air flow with your new panel. If it's still not cooling enough, try using compressed air to clear out the condenser...otherwise, you will have to spend money on pressure checks, etc.

Also, the high humidity in the air itself requires more time to condition (greater heat capacity); thus, if you can set up for cabin air recirculation, then the air will stay cooler after its first few cycles of humidity removal. If you leave the windows down, then you will maintain an equilibrium at a higher cabin temperature.

 

Not sure I get this... Louvres are very efficient at letting air flow as they present thin edges to the airflow. They are angled but that doesnt really matter.
With the perforated there are all those flat areas between the holes directly obstructing the air which will cause all kinds of turbulence etc.
Also if the holes extend beyond the fan, hot air will get recirculated as its sucked back through the areas outside of the fan.
Personally I think Ferrari got it spot on.

 

On my 328, before I did any further ac work and the system had recently been shop-recharged with 134. the evaporator vent temp on the same day, same outside temp, same engine speed was 5 degrees lower with the louvers replaced by screen material. That pretty much tells the tale of which allows better airflow for the condenser.

It made the difference on my car at the time between staying acceptably comfortable in low speed/stopped traffic and not. Since then I have replaced the exp valve, the drier, and switched to Duracool; I have not re-installed the louver panel to see if those changes may have reduced the need for better low-speed airflow but I suppose it's possible.

Perhaps with R12 (or Duracool - they have essentially the same cooling characteristics) the oem louver would be ok but it clearly doesn't pass as much air as a course screen.