I added heater core shut-off valve. See here:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4635
Just finished a couple week trip running around Colorado including all the passes between California and Colorado. I found the following with this mod.
- A/C is now always cold. Long hot ascents use to render the A/C useless. Not the case anymore.
- My wife now says the passenger leg area does not get near as hot as it use to. That benefit surprised me, but I guess the radiant heat from the heater core sitting in the dash above the passengers leg was significant.
- When on vent setting and slow 4-wheeling, the vent air will still get quite a bit warmer than ambient air temp.
- The air in the vents will still heat up after shutting the van off for a while, but the recovery time to reasonable temperature after starting the van is quicker.
So, in the end it is not the perfect solution, but certainly does help quite a bit. I'm glad I did it.
Phil