Just scrounged up this old Allstate a/c unit while on a work trip to Vegas. I'm guessing mid 60's... Any thoughts? Any comments on getting it up and running? Seems complete....and dirty. Mailed it off to my home address....so I'm $80 into it so far.
See if the blower works. Do a vacuum test on the evap core and see if it holds a vacuum. If it does, flush the core, clean up the unit and chill out!
I use a similar old 60s underdash evaporator unit. Works great on R134a, even though the official thermal expansion valve is designed for R12. Used on 2 vehicles, tgey are the Mk IV type. As suggested, just ensure the fan motor works, and the evap holds vacuum. They are so straightforward simple there isn't much to go wrong with them. It's most likely set up for flare fittings. That's not bad, just more susceptible to leaks than modern O-ring type.
Those units look just like the mustang ones from the back, believe they were sold by Sears. You can update the expansion valve to O ring style. I’ve heard these older units work great with newer sandon & condenser. The older evaporators are often copper which is more efficient. You can even buy replacement copper ends if they have been broken. https://coldhose.com/products/10-male-oring-evaporator-repair-fitting?variant=35532374737056
When I worked for Sears, they installed AC units. Simple kits to better looking deluxe kits. Even in 1976 dollars, I could not see a profit selling them for $299. I recall a pile of AC parts in a back room, you could have built a couple of systems just from what was laying around.
Very cool. There were a lot of dealers in the day that installed AC on new cars, that looks like a piece they used. The older Mustang units for in almost anything.
I put one of those in a 53 Olds,found it in a junkyard in a 62 Olds that sat so long it sunk to the frame. Still had freon and had it in the 53 by the next weekend and working and worked great.
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