I have a 63 C10 step side... No A/C (YET). I have the system to install, but i have no idea how to begin. The A/C came out of a 70 Malibu with a 327 and is complete (all the way down to the controls for the dash panel. I intend to install it in a 63 C10 pickup with a 350 from a 84 Suburban. Is there anything i need to know/do before I begin? I really do not want to destroy my truck in an attempt to be cool. Can anyone please throw some advice my way? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds like R-12 system. R U going to change over to R-134? They sell other refrigerants such as ENVIRO-SAFE, which will work with either of those systems.
I like "Freeze-12". its the same price (too much) per can as 134 and runs in R-12 systems without changing parts. You have to buy the separate Freeze-12 oil charge can like 134. There are adapters and a Freeze 12 sticker for the fender to tell others what's in the system. I have had trucks with all kinds of brackets under the hood. Each is made according to the space the compressor fits in under the hood. Having an older truck with a level hood, I'm sure you have more room than under the tapered hood of the Suburban. I'd use the mounting bracket from an '84 truck you find at a bone yard to start. If you donlt like where the compressor sits, you will have to take a few pics under your hood and go looking for the bracket that puts the compressor in the area you want it to fit (i.e. higher or lower; closer to the engine or further. It's up to you).\ I have a '64 C-20 and I love the fact that the whole heater unit is in front of the firewall. I have a pinto condenser & evaporator waiting to be installed. I'm not sure what compressor I'm going to use. I may s**** what I have and go with a complete system I find at Pick-Your-Part. Then I don't have to worry about matching pressures/volumes etc. I would choose an under the dash squirrel cage/evaporator unit from an economy car. They are pretty small and will fit into the dash cavity. The other way to go is find an vintage 60's aftermarket unit like "Mark-IV" from a bone yard pickup. I think the Malibu has an under the hood cartridge yeah? If you modify the under hood heater box, it would work well, but you'll have to be inventive with routing the fresh air vs. having a return air duct. You could take off the top panel of the heater box and sit the new evap on top of that and fabricate new sheet metal to include a return air duct from the firewall. Again, there are all kinds of plastic ducts from cars at bone yards. I see all kinds of 5"+ tubing, elbows and connectors on new car intake systems. You would also want to put a damper door shutting off the fresh air so your not ****ing in 110 degree air on a summer day. I just went out and looked under my hood. I have a Inline 6 with a bottom fan heater box. It looks like I would have to change this if I stuffed a V8 in there. I vote for a completely separate under the dash system so your vintage heater box stays intact and original. Now that I have sent you 2 directions and tied them in knots, come full circle and left you helpless... I'm gone! Good luck! lol p.s. hehe, hey post pics of ideas... draw and scan to a postable pic for us to see, I'm sure we can mess you up further
Ok, how do i post pics and i will snap a few and get em on here for some long-distance brain bashing!! Thanks, HopFrog.
uh, I'd look for an old underdash add on AC unit to put in the truck, rather than trying to install a factory AC unit for a different kind of car. You're gonna have to do a lot of hacking to get a Chevelle unit in there, it'll look like ****.
it's easy.. after you click "POST REPLY" you will see the reply dialog box. well... hang on, i have to go outside and see why the police helicopter is circling...... eeh, 2 blocks away. it's 2 in the morning. thought id see someone running down the street or something lol okay so just scroll down further and click on "manage attachments" the rest is child's play
Please try to find some other kind of a/c box. You'll have to cut a hole for the evaporator the size of my head to mount the thing.
Has anyone ever used one of these? It is an under dash unit that uses your own compressor and dryer... Looks like it would come factory in an older ride. Not a bad price either. http://gemstreetrods.com/Air Conditioning.htm
I have one exactly like that in one of my old trucks, a 59 chevy. It's kind of new looking for being "original" for a 63 truck, it's more of a 70s design, but it should do just what you need. I got mine for free from a guy who took it out of his late 30s ford pickup streetrod.....shop around
If you plan on driving it a lot then you might want to check out a Vintage air unit. You can get a Heat/Cool/Defrost unit that would bolt in a lot easier than the Chevelle unit. The heater and defrost would work a lot better than the stock heater.
Tacson, That is awesome! It doesn't look factory, but it serves a purpose. I am not doing car shows and stuff... This is my daily driver. I would rather BE COOL, than LOOK COOL!! I will shop around and see what i can find. Thanks for all of the advice.
I don't recall there being such a thing as factory air in pickup trucks in 1963. Radios weren't very common. AC was only available in some cars. Sears and Montgomery Wards sold a lot of universal under dash units. I put one in a customers 68 Toyota and he could only go 55 mph with it on. Here's a link to what Vintage Air sells for it. http://www.vintageair.com/catalog10/2010 VintageAir Catalog web hi-res (Page 54).pdf
The beauty of puting AC in your truck is you only have to cool the cab, so the smallest system should still do a good job. I have used Vintage Air in a couple installs and have been satisfied with their hardware and the help line too. You will need a new reciever drier as the desicant in whatever one you got is likely saturated (unless it was purged and sealed, seems unlikely). A GenII Compac or Mini should do whatever you need done in the cab, if you insulate the cab. Check the Alliance Vendor list, there are (or were last I looked) several shops that handle all that stuff, and it's a good thing to support those that support the HAMB. Not only will the insulation help keep the heat out, it will make the ride more enjoyable (quieter) on the longer runs.
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