[PANAVIA]

Update 2-16-12 ; Well it has been getting interesting, - and there has been much done and even more to do. -- The recent work has revolved around hydraulic plumbing , bleeding and sanitizing things.

--we have been working on steering geometry, suspension and will update you later on that adventure.

Among our work also has been the reconditioning of the air-conditioning.

My original plan involved help from Vintage Air - I thought they would have a modern system that we could graft and adapt.

--- Well I can tell you they were less than helpful.

The idea that they helped with the Ford GT system and all the huffing and puffing about solution A vs B , is just that - huffing and puffing.

They talk about the vintage air solution and magnum this and servo that , but if you cannot fit their exact box under your dash , they throw their crayons in the air and refuse to discuss.

if you call them and want specific help for a custom application , they have no real interest in helping. (unless you are FORD ) I was in initial contact with an engineer who said they would love to help , then they went radio silent. = I was finally told that whatever I did was not going to be supported by vintage air, and they left it there. ( I am not impressed ) .

--keep in mind, up to this point I have been a vintage air customer with other items from their catalog and have been happy with the quality that we have obtained.

The best thing about vintage air is that you can actually buy their stuff from summit racing and not actually have to deal with corporate.

with that in mind, I have just about resurrected the original system with some key differences and updates.

1. heater valve is now on a motorized controller ( from a vintage air heater kit , which I love ) -so I can dial-in the exact amount water inbound into the heater core.

2. I have had the original AC evaporator (in the HVAC box) rescued and the expansion valve replaced

3. I have obtained a condenser (front AC heat exchanger )that is 25% greater surface area and is of a paralleled flow design easing and allowing better plumbing and greater heat exchange from the cabin.

4. Replaced Air Drier with a Vintage Air unit with a trinary switch from summit for pressure /compressor cutoff, and FAN actuation.

5. Obtained a Sanden SD7 compressor ( new ) and have installed it on the engine.

6. reduced the capacity and surface area of the heater core inside the HVAC ventilation box to a unit that is about 50% smaller in surface area than the original unit , reducing the capacity of the heater. -- the cabin is sooooo small you dont need a bigh heat exchange device in the cabin to defrost your windows and keep you warm in winter or cold night flights.

7. re-constructed the Daytona cabin fresh air inlet so that actual fresh (filtered) air is used in the cabin instead of the air inlet that was tied into engine intake air and had a questionable sealing issues.

8. heater fan blower motor hooked to ISISPOWER so we can have a soft start, infinitely variable voltage curve to the motor so we can have exactly the air speed we want from the vents.

9. fresh air vs recirculated air flap attached to a vacuum actuator for open or closed operation.

10. Foot opening on passenger side of case opened up to allow greater floor foot air.

11. blend door ( face - floor ) put onto a servo motor so the blend can be adjusted to any particular degree.

12. HVAC box insulated to reduce radiant engine heat introduced to the system.

13. condensate drain enlarged for better AC condensation flow

14. defrost tube enlarged and angled to better feed under dash vent, defrost door actuation changed to a vacuum actuator.

15. drivers side foot heat vent redesigned to allow better flow

I will post pictures as I can get them sorted -

since we are using the ISISPOWER system I will also be installing a touch screen I can eliminate a TON of switches and knobs on the dash, - the upper console piece with a dozen switches can be cycled down to 2.

I put the blend door on a rotation knob, heater flow on a rotation knob , put the ignition and a start-engine button on the upper console piece.

Car start procedure; unlock car with remote , this enables ISIS , - get in - sit down, close door. Turn system key to run. - this activates screen , enter security code into screen / = trans in neutral, and then hold down start engine button for over 1 second - pumps turn on, engine cranks woof ! you are up !

-- to stop car , hold down Start-Engine button for 1 second. if you just want ACC hold down Start engine button for .25 - .50 second.

More news as it happens - !!!

Steve