Hot Rods Going the extra mile for a period correct build

Interesting that the negative comments are coming from folks living in states that border Canada...

Some of us are older and have out lived our odds. My cardiologist plucked me out of a swirling toilet by my ears. Air conditioning allows me to drive my fun cars for more months. A few years ago, we went to the L.A. Roadster Show - the temperature sign in El Centro, CA read 118 Degrees F.

 

I'm similar. I'm 44, but we never had ac when I was a kid, and I still usually hate it. Only on in the house when it's unbearable. My shoebox had ac added by the previous owner, but I've never had it on, even though it's been mid 90s the last few weeks here. It seems like cheating or something, I dunno...

But my car is certainly not period. I can definitely dig someone who did all the work to do a period build though, very cool. (pun intended)

 

I`m trying to build a pre 40`s custom. As all parts will be pre 40 except the driveline which will be early 50`s. It will have heat and air(more for the p***engers) cause it will be driven cross country. Not trailered cross country like most daily driven cars on the HAMB. There is a difference. It was 88 today but felt like 101.

 

I don't have air on my '34. I just open the cowl vent and roll down the windows. Gets a little stuffy on around town trips but it's not bad on the highway. When the heat index hits triple digits it does get a mite toasty, but I'm driving a hot rod because I want to. Whatever you do on that '36, don't lose the cowl vent.

 

...or us kids! Right, Russ?

(btw Russ and I both live within ten miles of the Mexico border)

 

Moving to Minnesota just requires a steady supply of OFF!

 

Traditional is fine. But my Grandpa and my Dad drove cars with no A/C. But if they would have had it available they damn sure would have used it. I made many a trip from Calif to Ks with a window unit in a 49 Packard with my folks I would sleep in the rear window. Water bag hanging on the swan hood ornament and I was fine. But as much as I yearn for the good ole days, alas I'm older . I will put A/C in my old car because those people coming at you on the road don't give a hoot if your traditional or not. I love the traditional look of a car, but I don't like p***ing out from the heat no matter how traditional it is.

 

So what I'm saying is build an old school traditional car, or don't. Thats why we have newer cars for your ***** moments. LOL.

 

So touching Lippy.....

 

A few years ago my job had me working outside in the heat. I didn't feel that I needed AC on in the car. I then spent more time in an office and the contrast from the office to the car was enough to make me put the car AC on. We live in a climate controlled world. If the OP has decided that driving the car with AC will enhance his driving experience then it is the way to go.

For some climates I would cl*** it as a safety feature. Go drive in traffic with little airflow on a hot humid day and see how long your concentration span is. Or go to a car show, walk around in the sun for two hours and get in your oven of a car to drive home. You will look for any break in the traffic to get moving and some airflow instead of patently waiting for a safe time to pull out.

Forty years ago traffic was not as heavy that it takes an hour and a half to drive across town stopping at 27 sets of traffic lights with an 18 wheeler idling beside you pumping out enough heat to toast a marshmallow. Therefore they were in the car for less time or at least had a breeze through the window.

Steve from down under

 

Where I live, it does not really get hot enough to warrant air conditioning but that didn't stop me from mounting an a/c evaporator under the dash. I finally went period correct when I realized how hard it would be to wire while lying under the dash. So no air in this one,

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I got a friend who bought a 55 Ford 2-dr from Canada. It had factory Air conditioning. First year for Ford. When looking for a radiator, he called a Ford place, the owner got on the phone and wanted to buy the car. He declined.

 

I know all about the weather where Roothawg lives and just think he is getting old and soft... Although, when I drove home from the street rod nationals a couple weeks ago after sweating my **** off all day, that hot drive home didn’t help. Maybe I am getting old and soft too...

 

I’m unapologetically a huge *****. The difference is that I hate being cold. My car’s heater works ok, but not good enough for me. I put the biggest stupidest aftermarket heater right out in the open aiming right at my nads to keep them nice and toasty at the slightest hint of cold weather. If I ever get enough $$ to buy a Henry steel ‘32 Roadster I’ll put one in there too. Even bigger.

If anyone would say anything to me, I would just quote my new favorite hamb post (from the finally got rid of disc brakes discussion), “So if they offend you **** it”.

Ahhhh, rolls off the tongue like poetry. I like it.

I’m going to try that at work; (I work on movie sets) they often say: “hold the chatter, we’re shooting sound!”. I’ll reply: “If my talking during a take offends you **** it.” No comma or pause, right into the crescendo.

That could work at home too; “You said you would be home two hours ago, you do this all of the time...” . I’ll interrupt with: “Really? If my tardiness offends you-“. (on second thought, better not. I’ll just save that beauty for the interwebs)

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Judging by most of your posts,I think that's a Good idea.

 

I know a guy that has a blue 29 Ford truck that has ac in it and ya cant see it. I believe it came out of a cesna air plane. Maybe look outside of the box. I could get ya his number if needed.

Tony

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Hello,

This is a loaded question as there is not “Period Correct,” without stating what period and style of hot rods or sedans. There are so many time periods and the line that separates them is not set in gold. Like the horoscope designations, there is a leeway on either side of the stated character time period. So, on hot rods and customs, period correct is too wide a range to designate what your build will be. Even saying, I am building a hot rod from the 60’s is too wide a band. What may have been something a lot of people did in 1960 may not be what a lot of people did in 1964, etc.

Then, there is a different style between roadsters/coupes/trucks versus the same time period sedans. So, it goes back to what is traditional and what specific time period. Sure, the words “period correct” sounds great when describing Flathead motor, but what era, what year and what is the difference between the time periods. No one has a specific chart that signifies what each era, let alone each year of build or hot rod is traditional or period correct.

HAMB has set up rules for their website and contributions. For the website, there is a period correct for the listed rules provided. That is not to say that the rules apply to all, outside of the HAMB website or its followers. (Just don't post things after the designated rules)

We see a name brand builder saying I did this to the motor to be period correct. Ok, so what period???? From 1932 to 2020? There is too much emphasis to be correct in any build, but there are millions of ways to build something someone likes, but someone else thinks a lot is missing. Back in the day or period correct designates something from any era will be on the motor or hot rod. But, not all parts are period correct, only in the mind of the hot rod builder and possibly his followers.

Jnaki

If anyone is building a hot rod of any kind, we should all put aside the “correctness” of the build. For being period correct in one year, may not be correct in another. Sample: It was period correct to follow the rules for 2 piece ****tershields on motors that bolted together, covered the bellhousing, in the 50s up to 1960. But, did not apply within a couple of months later in 1960 when the full 360 ****tershields were approved. The early gas coupes had to have mufflers and exhaust systems, since they street legal cl***es.

But, as the years rolled into the 1965 era, something changed and individual header pipes were allowed for a street legal racing cl***. Then in a short while, those cl***es disappeared. So what was period correct…all street legal gas coupes and sedans were running individual headers from the beginning , just because the later versions were allowed to use them?

One choice does not designate what the individual eras, as narrow as they are, are for all followers in the years that came later. To paraphrase to very popular slogan…”Just do it” “Just build it” would be better for any hot rod or custom car builders. A/C or not.

Builds are all different. Some we all like and others are not to be seen driving around, but they were built to the owners specs. So, they just did it and built what they could with what skills they had.

 

But you do have a bad *** custom 36 pickup!

 

That’s what I am afraid of.

 

This is the truck with ac. I believe it is installed under the cab.

Tony

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That’s the litmus test. Same motor, same frame.

 

That’s interesting.

 

A good friend built this. He mounted the unit in the trunk and sent the air up the console. It worked great.

 

It’s not the unit necessarily, it’s the compressor. Mark I have been researching vintage compressors for the last day or two. Still not sure.

 

GM used the A5 compressor through 1961, I believe. The add on units often used a Techumsah, the early finned one. They look pretty good. Getting one to work right today, not leak, etc. will be fun. I had a couple 1958 vintage compressors, but let them go several years ago.

The old AC systems are fun to play with, pretty frustrating, too. They never did work very well. Sure, they'll freeze you out, but that isn't really comfort.

 

Yes you are an idiot! Lol. Just kidding Jim, couldn't resist!

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You might look at stuff from ACTEC max but you better buy a big alternator.