Recommendations? Aftermarket Air Conditioning

[Auto*Legends]

There are probably more Air Conditioning suppliers out there but so far I have found Griffiths, RetroAir, and Rennaire. Anyone have experience with the products from these suppliers? I want to add a complete air conditioning system to an early 911 driver.

[Mac911]

My 73.5 911T came with factory air conditioning. What I did was have CPR http://cprclassic.com remove that heavy piston compressor and the small ineffective front mounted condenser along with the crash brace. They installed a vintage A/C conversion. This conversion consists of a bigger (6x) more efficient condenser on the rear deck lit. The squirrel fan, thermostat control and receiver dryer are all now in the smugglers box. It runs on R 134 refrigerant. It's a beautiful installation. I left the original factory air vents (registers). It looks original but now has a highly efficient A/C system. It works great.

[Frank Beck]

SWB or LWB?

The battery boxes in '69-'73 create some challenges with installing a fan equipped, front fender mounted condenser (which is BY FAR the most efficient and avoids runaway oil temps). One of the biggest problems with the factory engine lid mounted condenser was the pre-heating effect of incoming air into the engine. If you use that style of condenser you may need to add an auxiliary oil cooler system, depending on what part of the country you're in.

Mac911,
6X more efficient? I would love to see the data on that. Not dissing you as I'm sure that's the line they fed you.

By the end of the "rear lid condenser" days (1989), Porsche was using a fairly efficient, small tube, double row condenser.

[RSTarga]

Griffiths is pretty much top of the line although I've seen Frank's front fender condensor and it far nicer. As he says though, with a battery box it would be tough to fit. Griffiths has a rear fender mount that is a good alternative. $$$.
Rest is pretty standard. Sanden 507 or Nippondenso compressor, upgraded lines, front condenser and evaporator.Really depends on where you are although Scottsdale has to be the most extreme, dry heat.

[super9064]

I just had TRE install a Rennaire system in my 73 Targa. Its very much like the OEM system, but with lots of improvements. The condenser is mounted under the engine lid, but is 20% larger. The compressor is much more efficient, and the hoses are not perforated to allow refrigerant to escape. The system is better than an original A/C, is it the best out there? Only a side by side test would tell.

Call Dave at TRE and ask what he thinks.