OK, anybody installed an A/C system in a '55/'56 Merc? After sweating it out all summer I gotta do something; the old 4/70 system just won't cut it. So my question is, what kit did you use and how did it go? Anybody with a Ford from the same years please chime in; the cars are very similar under the hood and dash. My car had factory air; the old Novi Air system with the evaporator under the package tray and the 2 clear ducts in the rear window. The owner previous to the guy I bought the car from took it out and chunked it. The only thing left of it is the crank pulley. I'm looking to install one of the A/C-heat-defrost systems under the dash. Opinions on brands welcomed.
I am about to fit a Cl***ic Auto Air direct fit system to my 55. Their kit is very comprehensive and they offer direct technical support. The system even uses the original dash control and incorporates a heater. I have a friend who already has a system fitted to his car and though it was fitted professionally it went very smoothly. Another friend fitted an underdash MarkIv style system that he is very pleased with. This is probably a much easier fit, but does not included demisting.
I am soon going to work on a vintage air unit it my 56 ford. After much research on the hamb, fordbarn, y-blocksforever, and 1954ford.com, the overwhelming response was for vintage air systems for support and product in general. So I am going that route. Also vintage air sells mockup units which are plastic shells in the exact dimensions of the real evap unit, so that you can easily test fit, measure, etc without holding the heavy unit up. You can get them at amazon but the best deal I found was the buy one from http://www.vintageautoairconditioning.com/ I talked to him on the phone, he sells the mockup unit and send you all the brackets to mount it so you can actually install the brackets where they need to be and just remove the mockup unit. Then you send it back to him, he gives a full refund for it. If you order them real unit from him he will remove the brackets from the box and send it to you, then its just a bolt in. I have the mockup unit at my house now, haven played with it much yet though. He said no time limit to keep it as far as getting a refund upon returning it. I am going with the GEN IV Magnum. He told me the owner of vintage air just installed the same unit it his sons 56 ford car and it went very well. http://www.vintageautoairconditioning.com/genivmagnum What I like about this unit is it was designed to fit a stepped firewall like my car has http://www.vintageair.com/2013catalog/2013 VintageAir Catalog Webpgs 42.pdf
Dobie, I have in my 54,55 vicky's a super cooler from Vintage air. It is there model for a large sedan/wagon. Install was easy and works great. The one in my 54 was installed over 15yrs ago the 55 over 10. Both keep the interior cold. I have the same unit in my 58 Chevy,59 Dodge. 59 Dodge also has a trunk unit due to the large cabin, trunk unit was over kill but it worked great when we went to Vegas and it was 118 going thru Baker. I did install in my 54 coupe (still in the works) a Gen IV. I installed the same unit in my father-in-laws 56 crown Vicky. These unit have a step design that works well with the firewall of the 55-56 Ford/Merc.
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