i know the idea of a/c in a hot rod is not traditional but with the temps near 110 around here during the summer months and last week at 116 the idea of a/c is very appealing especially if i want my wife to ride along. i know it will look ridiculous on a hoodless/fenderless hot rod so i was kicking the idea around of mounting the pump under my bed and running it off an electric motor. has anyone tried this? what electric motor did you use if you did? and if you have done it please post some pictures. thanks shockley
I recall a post on here a while back, but you'd need at least a 5 HP electric motor to run it, and also the oomph from an alternator to power it. It's just not efficient. That's why they've always mounted compressors off the engine.
I haven't seen this done but with the temperatures you are experiencing I don't think I would worry about the visual aspects of a compressor. HRP
I think you can get Prius style electric A/C's on the aftermatket. But would an old evap unit work? Probably both cost the same.
I think that there are some brackets that allow you to hang a small compressor down low where it isn't so obvious at first look. we have our 44th anniversary the middle of next month and my wife has enough long distance hot weather road trips in the 48 to have earned her creds including a trip to Texas in the summer of 1981 when they set a record for the number of continuous days over 100 and the tar on the streets of Abilene were melting when we drove through at 10 in the morning. This time this old fart and his long suffering bride will have AC in the road rigs.
Call Vintage Air and do what they tell you. It may cost a few bucks but it will be right and will fit.
Just run it off the motor - who cares what it looks like or people say and think? Otherwise it will just be a "traditional" looking garage sitter when its 118 in the shade.....My 37 has AC and when I roll up the windows and fire up the 302 I don't give a sh*t what anyone else says or thinks. My 2c
i tried to do a search but didnt have any luck. 5hp is a pretty big motor.i saw somewhere a mount to mount the compressor down low. not completely hidden but better then up on top of the engine.
wow i was posting a reply and when i looked back i had all these replies. thank you for all the input.
i have a sbc in my coupe with a low a/c mount on the p***.side.its chrome and most people hardly ever see it& it has a sanden compressor.Vintage air sells the bracket& you could paint the bracket&compressor the same color as your motor for more hidding!
X2..Every time I park my axled car with power steering I just giggle, and everytime I turn the air on [or the heat] I just think this sure beats young and tough...
Alan Grove Brackets, Southern Air super frost A/C unit... Make sure your radiator is adequate as well.
If A/C helps your wife go along, then it is a good idea. I have A/C in my 49 Ford COE. Used a $50 swap meet Ford 60's underdash evap unit, a $5 swap meet condenser, a new Sanden compressor, and custom hoses to hook it all up. Hoses cost the most of anything. It sure feels nice when cruising across the desert to Bonneville or other long trip on a hot summer day. I have never had anyone tell me the COE should not have A/C, most are impressed it has it and functional. The old underdash evap unit looks right appearance to match the rest of the truck good enough.
i remember going with my dad to pick up the wagon he had the mechanic install a brand new mark IV underdash a/c. this was around 1967 . when i got my wagon it had the same style underdash unit so hopefully it is traditional
The electric cars use an electric driven A/C compressor. It runs off the HV battery. If you tried to run one of those compressors off an normal ICE (internal combustion engine) it would die from the load of the compressor, they pull over 1.5kw. If you put in an HV battery, then you would have to have a separate charging system, and home charging system to keep the battery alive.
Yeah, I did some more digging into it last night. Everything out there turned out to be Made In China import yourself #1 Happy Happy Lucky compresonator for car or fringe diy hacks involving $500 inverters and window ac units. Whatever it was that I saw a while back that got me thinking on these must have shriveled from the market (fraud). So, I'm in the vintage air camp. You're trying to enjoy and drive your hot rod, not a museum piece. 116° is just insane.
A surveyor that worked at the Nevada test site built a ch***is mount motorhome to bus guys to and from work in comfort , he had the factory cab air and ran a compressor off the rear axle to pump refrigerant to his camper. Worked great while on the road.
I'll agree with mounting the compressor low on the engine, but another factor is to use hard steel lines back to the firewall. They are a lot smaller and MUCH easier to hide. My '85 C-10 pickup has mostly steel lines on the factory A/C and it's amazing how little room they take compared to the rubber lines on my '53 Chevy. Live and learn/next time.
Why hide anything? Your the only one you have to please. I'd rather be be comfortable then sweat my *** off.
Vintage air makes the best aftermarket air conditioners. Call them and tell them what car and engine you have and they will tell you what you need. They will then recommend a dealer that you can get it from.
What motor? Use an old a/c compressor/brackets that look like you pulled out of an old 60's early a/c vehicle with an under dash unit
There was a discussion awhile back similar to this - it really gets started around post number 5, I like the cable or shaft driven thought in the post. you can see it here v http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...light=idler+pulley+for+cable+driven&showall=1
That is AWESOME!! I particularly like how the generator is about to fall off the trunk and take the power cord from the AC unit with it.
Put on the AC and the hell with how it looks. With today's small compressors you may be able to make it incon****uous but put it in there any way you can. I live in Canada and never had an air conditioned car until about 5 years ago. Now I can't imagine living without it. I guess it's easy to get spoiled. If I lived where it was as hot as you get, I wouldn't consider a car without it in the hot weather.
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