Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum

I have a 55 Thunderbird. I installed a Vintage Air AC kit. The temp gauge goes very high after driving with AC on when temps outside are 85+. I occasionally get vapor lock. The car does not boil over. I've measured temp of top rad tank and it seems to hover at 200 (-/+ 10)

I had my original radiator re-cored (3 row), I purchased an aluminum 2 row it may have made a small improvement

I upgraded the fan (electric puller in front of rad, holds a piece of paper against the grill when on), upgraded water pump, tried 4 thermostats, check head gaskets, removed freeze plugs to inspect and clean block water passage ways.

Is there anything I can do to the AC system to produce less heat under the hood?

Confirm that the hoses for the radiator are the way they are supposed to be.

What kind of fan shroud are you using?

Adding to the above suggestion and question, are there "springs" inside the radiator hoses to keep them from collapsing and partially blocking coolant flow?

You might also consider adding an additional, temporary temperature gauge to verify that the original dash gauge is accurate.

Vapor lock can often be cured by insulating the fuel lines (and fuel pump, if necessary) under the hood.

Radiator hoses are Ford repros. Lower hose has a spring in it. I am using a 16" electric fan with a full shroud. Fan comes on with AC and/or sensor in radiator

I insulated all the fuel lines in the engine bay and at the tank were one of the lines crosses the exhaust.

A normal A/C system will only increase the operating temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. 98% of the time, when we had our shop, overheating had nothing to do with adding an A/C system. What has Vintage Air's tech support suggested? You would be surprised at the different CFM in electric fans. Get a Spal or go back to a direct drive fan. That is, if the cooling system is up to par.