Ideas for driver cooling modification?

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Matt Burkard
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Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by Matt Burkard »

It's no secret that during the summer it can get VERY HOT in these cars, due to the lack of AC. I am thinking of installing some sort of fan or blower or something to help keep me cool during the long days. I would like for it to be removable so it doesn't ruin the classic look of the car when it isn't in use.(also so it can't be stolen) Has anyone done something like this? Or has anyone come up with any better solutions?
'69 1600 with a U20 engine and 5-speed, planning to stroke 16 motor and keep trans.
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DnCrs13
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by DnCrs13 »

You could get a power converter for the cigarette lighter socket and run a cheap clip on fan from Walmart or similar store. Not the most beautiful option, but it would keep you cooler.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/23422685?wmls ... 51&veh=sem
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krismon
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by krismon »

Yes! when my roadster was a daily, I had a home made baby swamp cooler in the car for the summers. It was basically a small styrofoam cooler with 4 20oz water bottles of salt water. 2 holes in the cooler, I had one on the side to blow air through, and one on top for the cool air to come out. I'd put the bottles in the freezer when I got to work. Because I made it out of styro, it lasted a month or so, having frozen blocks of ice go in and out wore it out.

I might actually just buy this one now though. http://www.kooleraire.com/

Image

With modern coolers, they keep ice for days, just pop the lid back on when the car is parked, should stay cold for a while.


Now that I think of it, I probably should have kept my heater setup and made a little door to replace the heater core with an ice pack, have a cooler full of ice packs on the package shelf.. so that I can pull over every 15 minutes to swap it out. :wink:

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Alvin
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by Alvin »

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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by spl310 »

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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by Gregs672000 »

My best answer has always been a water spray bottle... Cost? About a buck. Highly effective, simply reapply as needed!
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by theunz »

+1 on Gregs solution, buuutt..... You could get a small radiator with a mounted fan and circulate cold water from a ice chest through it. A pump from a RV will supply plenty of water. A bulge pump from a boat might be cheaper.
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by greydog »

I have a mister setup. It's a liter bottle with a pump that pressurizes the water. A hose leads to a mist nozzle with a clip on it. There is a small barrel valve in the hose about 3" from the mister.
The way it works is you fill the bottle with water or ice or a combination of both. Pump the hand pump and clip the nozzle to your collar. Then open the barrel valve slightly and a fine mist of water sprays about 6-8". Keeps your face nice and cool 9or wherever your spray the mist....Michelle would spray the mist down her shirt for added cooling.
Also, a bandana can be great if you soak it in water, squeeze until is stops dripping heavily and then tie it around your neck. Nice and cool and can be soaked again when it dries out.
Finally, motocycles wear dew rags. They're useful for the same bandana trick but tied to your head cools you almost instantly.
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by svwilbur »

If the top is down the air conditioning ideas probably wont help very much.
A hat is a good idea ( maybe with a hat keeper if you have issues with it blowing off)
For real hot motorcycle runs I have used one of those things that you soak in cold water and wear.
http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/CoolAndHeat.html about $40
and http://www.amazon.com/JellyBeadz-Therap ... B004XX4XA8 $6-8

Either a vest or a piece that goes around your neck. Both help more than you might think. But I am not sure if they might get your seat wet. On a motorcycle it is not an issue as any water evaporates before it hits the seat.

There is this think for $450 or so sounds pretty "cool" http://www.veskimo.com/personal-cooling ... quart.html
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Last edited by svwilbur on Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by dbrick »

I was thinking about the concept of a seat heater in reverse. Run the liquid lines with propylene glycol under the seat upholstery or in a seperate cover and then to either a Peltier Module based cooler or an ice box. Your back and butt are where you feel the heat. IMHO, cooling the air in a convertible is like raking water or herding cats...Not efficient.
Google Liquid Cooled car seat. A bunch pops up

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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by spyder »

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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by FergO2k »

Yep, I have used a small unit called a Misty Mate, short bursts help keep the noggin cool. One 16oz bottle lasts all day.
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by redroadster »

put an small ice cube in your mouth ,to the roof of your mouth 4 minutes later when it melts do it again

always worked for me in 110 heat index dressed in polyester shirt and pants and bent over a hot car engine .
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by notoptoy »

I beg to differ on the usefulness of A/C in a convertible with the top down. I use the A/C in my Impala all the time with the top down, it creates nice cool thermals to take the edge off the heat!
Sitting at a stop light in the full sun it's downright heavenly.
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Re: Ideas for driver cooling modification?

Post by redroadster »

if your talking of cooling the seat ,Lexus made a electric seat cooler on the 2000 ^ LS it does cool the seat leather down
and heat up when reversing the current
Datsun dealer tech 76 to 87
Mitsubishi tech 9 yrs
Volvo, Kia, Toyota too
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