Has anyone put the mini AC and heater unit in a '40 Ford? I would like to keep my cowl vent operational and it looks pretty tight. I also have a 5 inch recessed firewall that complicates things. Pics would be nice if anyone has done it. I have a mockup unit on the way but any hints would be helpful. Thanks, Steve
I haven't done what you are contemplating, but one thing I learned from doing my '48 Plym with a Vintage air set up is this. My cowl vent and handle interfered with where the unit needed to be mounted so I simply redesigned every bit of it to move the handle and keep the vent functional. Lots of work, but you know what? Almost completely worthless! The Vintage air unit takes up so much room under that dash that the incoming air through the cowl vent has absolutely no place to go. The air unit acts like a dam under the dash so you can't even tell the cowl vent is open. Like I said, I haven't combined the exact parts you are thinking about, but I am pretty intimate with '40 '46 pickups and I see the same problems in your future. Don't worry too much about cowl vent function.
You might consider a motor driven cowl vent with ducting to move the air around the unit. I am faced with the same problem down the line. I have also considered putting the A/C unit under the seat.
I installed a Vintage Air Gen II with a big block fire wall from Direct Sheet metal. It was a tight fit but I made it work. I relocated the vent handle towards the driver side to clear the unit. I do not have any pics for you sorry.
Ever think about installing it under the seat? I wanted to keep the cowl vent in my '32 pickup so the only solution was to think outside the box,,heat/air unit fit under the seat just fine. HRP
I have the Vintage Air Mini in my 32 Ford 3W coupe. Tight fit in a 3W if you try to keep the factory metal glove box. In my opinion, you do not need the cowl vent to be functional when you have the Vintage Air. The unit blocks ... the air flow ... so you went to a lot of trouble and some expense trying to keep the cowl vent. The Vintage Air Mini II will freeze you out of my coupe and the heater is also very efficent. If I nee a little fresh air I just roll down a door window or lower my rear window a little. Maybe not much HELP on a 40 Ford ... but the Vintage Air will keep your 40 cool in the summer and warm in the winter
I moved mine all the way to the p*** side on my F1 to keep access to the vent and handle. The flexible ducts do block some of the air from the vent as they're routed under it but it's still worth it. I would up routing my hoses out the kick panel, through the fender, then back through the inner fender to the engine compartment. Not for looks, just for ease of routing. The glove box is only a few inches deep now, just enough to carry paperwork.
Have installed 6 mini gen two units in 40 coupes--work well and the cowl vent is functional-unit is far as it can go to the p*** side--no cowl vent interference-still have the glove box too but it is onlt 3" deep--getting ready to do another soon.
I put a GenII Mini in our 41 pick up. Lost the use of the glove box. Cowl vent works without modification, Put the controls and center vent into *****in lower dash extension.
Those of you who have put the mini in without modifying the cowl vent mechanism, you must have kept it below the brace that goes forward to the firewall, correct? Mine doesn't fit otherwise and I want to place the unit higher than that. I took out the cowl vent stuff and will probably use a motor drive actuator. I can see the vent will be blocked a bit by the whole mess but it just has to be there.
What I learned about that is that down in Texas if your A/C stops for ANY reason you will be Very Miserable without that cowl vent working. I am considering putting a vent in the side of the cowl since I dont have a cowl top vent now
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