I promise I'm not a wuss but I have a car that I would love to fit an A/C system to. Is it possible to buy something that is a complete unit only requiring me to hook it up to a compressor?
I've wondered the same thing. I live in Texas and have a black truck. AC would be pretty nice come July and August
Not quite. You must also have a condenser to exchange the heat outside the car. The closest you might get would be one of those A/C units you see on the roof of an RV. They are bigger than they appear. Hot Rod TV had one recently that they installed in a '60s station wagon. It had a fully self contained AC in the rear, powered by the electrical system, with exhaust dumped out a tube through the floor and cold air sent forward through a long duct. It wasn't a particularly space efficient design, but it has potential.
I dont know of a kit that doesnt use a remote condensor which needs to have outside airflow, but vintage air has some mini kits that are smaller and have the new streamline 3 knob control i think the dryer is also seperate
Sounds grim. I would be happy with just a single duct into the cabin and that is all I had planned because I have about 3 ducts for fresh air coming in so I figured why not attach it to a compressor, condensor, evaporator, receiver/dryer, and a fan!
An A/C system is not that difficult to put in. Just takes some time and you'll need to pull the dash. If you're putting this in the Cadillac, get a big unit. The riders in the back seat will thank you for it. By a kit from Vintage Air or Old Air, etc. Vintage Air might even have the brackets for the compressor for your engine (for a Sanden).
BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!! of the company in South Carolina!!!! Poor customer service, employees that don't know what they are doing, and a product that is questionable! And that is from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!!!! Later
I am currently looking for the old 57/68 dealer under the dash, they were very in your face and I have seen these used with newer pumps and work very well.
you mean like this http://www.funny-potato.com/images/cars/air-conditioning/air-conditioning.jpg sorry, I could not resist ...
I don't know of anything that is quite that simple but the Mark IV style of under dash are probably the easiest to put in although they do take up a bit a of room under the dash. Vintage Air shows new copy of the old ones that we ran in the 60's and earlier. http://www.vintageair.com/08/catalog08/08 VA cat pg 23 f.pdf Page 23 if I missed. On any of them you are going to have the compresser mounted on the engine, the condenser mounted up in front of the radiator and the unit with evaporator somewhere in the vehicle. I've seen a lot of coupes with the evaporator unit stashed in the trunk and the air blowing either through the package tray or through vents on the panel behind the seats. A way to do that might be to get the back unit out of a Suburban and fit it it in the trunk with ducts to the interior. You would still have to have the rest of the setup and controls though.
When I lived in Central California, a guy in a 30 A coupe followed me and my 32 home. Interesting car, Miller head, full pressure lubrication, pair of Stromberg 81's up top, 46 Ford rear axle in the back for the bigger brakes and added strength. Thing was a runner. One of the most interesting details was an A/C system removed from a Ford Windstar at the junkyard. Most of it was in the trunk under the sail panel. Part of it, outlet ducts etc. were under the interior package shelf. Controls were in a panel facing forward at the front end of the package shelf. He admitted they were clumsy to operate, but not too bad. Kept the coupe really cool. Lots of cubic feet in a Windstar and not much in an A. Nothin' quite like getting p***ed by an A coupe running 70 plus . . . with the windows rolled up....
I put AC in my coupe and Love it, And the heat is not bad when its cold. When i go to shows at 6am and see guys with no windows red faces a snot running out i smile and wave in 70 heat. And on the way how they sweet like a pig and i cam nice and happy with ac hitting me. Do what you will and look down on ac cars, but i am comfortably. Now remember it get to 118 here some days and 100s all the time
hey squigy where are you in south florida? i am in hollywood. just got done installing a vintage air setup in my 59 ford . wasn't too bad an old mk iv style under is a pretty easy hookup if your interested let me know
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