SH!FT
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #106
Refrigerant line install:
NOTE!!
This is how I decided to route the plumbing. My hose routes are longer than necessary because I wanted the ability to crimp the hose assemblies before installing in the car.
NOTE 2!!
FI provides great schematics and enough hose to mount stuff wherever. You are required to fill in some blanks during the install to best suit your build. FI can provide different hose fittings if needed, but that needs to be nailed down before the kit ships.
I wish I did the following before having my kit shipped to the house:
High side install:
The drier arrives vacuumed sealed. Shouldn't break the seal until it's ready to be installed and charged. My kit came with 2 straight barbs and 3 90 degree barbs. I think I would have been better off with all 90 barb fittings for my build.
I was supposed to cut the line at the base of the rubber hose, but decided to make the cut on the OEM fitting. This allowed more room for installing the 90 barb while using the provided hose clamp spacing tool.
A light squeeze with pliers popped the remaining OEM barb tip out of the hose. It's obviously not ideal to cut on fitting because it makes chips, but Q-tips soaked in pag oil worked well for cleaning chips out of the hose ID.
My first time brazing aluminum, but it went smoothly. FI sells the brazing rods and provides great tutorial videos. My kit came with an extra barb that was used to practice with first.
Low side install:
I'm happy with the outcome, but I'm definitely losing some cooling capability here. The goal is to make the suction line as short as possible then encase in foam.
I probably could have mounted the suction tee as shown below if I had gutted everything between the radiator and serpentine again. This would have shortened the hose length by half and been easier to install foam.
I chose to install the tee fitting at the top of the OEM suction hose. Heat, pag oil, and grippy gloves were a must to seat that tee into the OEM hose. I used 34" of hose to reach the coil port of the chiller. The YF suction hose is huge and thin walled making it not possible for sharp bends. I was only able to install a heat sheath on the hose. I plan to install more foam next time I have the fan shroud and heater hoses out of the way.
Got the refrigerant lines buttoned up asap and pulled vacuum.
NOTE!!
This is how I decided to route the plumbing. My hose routes are longer than necessary because I wanted the ability to crimp the hose assemblies before installing in the car.
NOTE 2!!
FI provides great schematics and enough hose to mount stuff wherever. You are required to fill in some blanks during the install to best suit your build. FI can provide different hose fittings if needed, but that needs to be nailed down before the kit ships.
I wish I did the following before having my kit shipped to the house:
- Read/watch all install instructions.
- Schedule a video call with Kirk to walk through my install game plan. During the call be at the car; hood open; on jacks; bumper and undercover removed.
High side install:
The drier arrives vacuumed sealed. Shouldn't break the seal until it's ready to be installed and charged. My kit came with 2 straight barbs and 3 90 degree barbs. I think I would have been better off with all 90 barb fittings for my build.
I was supposed to cut the line at the base of the rubber hose, but decided to make the cut on the OEM fitting. This allowed more room for installing the 90 barb while using the provided hose clamp spacing tool.
A light squeeze with pliers popped the remaining OEM barb tip out of the hose. It's obviously not ideal to cut on fitting because it makes chips, but Q-tips soaked in pag oil worked well for cleaning chips out of the hose ID.
My first time brazing aluminum, but it went smoothly. FI sells the brazing rods and provides great tutorial videos. My kit came with an extra barb that was used to practice with first.
Low side install:
I'm happy with the outcome, but I'm definitely losing some cooling capability here. The goal is to make the suction line as short as possible then encase in foam.
I probably could have mounted the suction tee as shown below if I had gutted everything between the radiator and serpentine again. This would have shortened the hose length by half and been easier to install foam.
I chose to install the tee fitting at the top of the OEM suction hose. Heat, pag oil, and grippy gloves were a must to seat that tee into the OEM hose. I used 34" of hose to reach the coil port of the chiller. The YF suction hose is huge and thin walled making it not possible for sharp bends. I was only able to install a heat sheath on the hose. I plan to install more foam next time I have the fan shroud and heater hoses out of the way.
Got the refrigerant lines buttoned up asap and pulled vacuum.
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