Hot Rods Going the extra mile for a period correct build

99% of my builds are Traditionally inspired, but not period correct. This next build I have been gathering parts for is slated to be a period correct piece. I have always wanted to do one, but it needs to be the right build. I have had a mental picture ,of my next build, rolling around in my head for 10 years. I started the collection phase a few years ago.

There are certain concessions that are unavoidable, but create a ton more work. A couple of examples would be:

• Air conditioning. In Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas etc. it gets smoking hot in the summer and I am at an age where this isn't really optional. So, now the deal is how to best add this without screaming 2020? I really don't want to have to clutter up the hopped up, multi-carbed 390 Caddy with a 1960's Frigidaire Compressor that's 18" long. I would have to build some sort of bracket to mount the compressor out of sight.
• Transmission-The Caddy bell housing situation is limited. I scored a newer scatter proof bell housing for a 5 speed transmission. This may be buried enough under the car that it won't be an issue.

This may be more challenging than I imagined. I may have to forego some of my wants to make it right.

I really admire the guys that go the extra mile to make it period correct. Cloth covered wiring, generators, voltage regulators, period master cylinders, period speed parts etc. These are the things that drew me into the HAMB 20+ years ago. So, to you guys that go the extra mile, hats off to ya. You're my heroes.

 

Personally trying to hide stuff that isn't period correct to try and make it seem like a car is doesn't make any sense to me. Who are you trying to impress? You know it's there, you know it's not correct so are you trying to fool others into thinking that you haven't used these items? It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself that the car will still be period correct when it won't.

 

I'm not trying to fool anyone. I just don't want the clutter. If I were going to do that I wouldn't be wasting time searching for old crusty parts, I would just hide my disc brakes inside a cover that looks like drums. If you spend a bunch of time on detailing an engine bay, then throw a big ugly compressor up there, it ruins the whole picture.

 

I tried to do it with my roadster. I am running an alternator inside my traditional generator with a cut out that is wired but is fake. I also have a Pertonix module in my original dist. Other than the battery everything else is period 50's.

 

Nice job. Well done.

 

I approach it a bit differently...I try to put myself into the period, and figure out how to deal with what they had to deal with back then, without using modern stuff

If you didn't have ac back then, you figured out a way to avoid driving the car when it's really hot out...or you sweated, and had fun anyways. No need for overdrive, let motor sing down the road. Turns out there is a whole bunch of other stuff you can do without, if you put your mind to it.

yeah, I do realize that I'm an idiot....

 

Thanks!

 

My 17 Y/O nephew just charged the AC in the Okie Apache. He has air now. I still have never had a hot rod with heat or ac. Been driving old straight axle junk for 40+ years.....dang kids.

 

I put AC in my 59 truck three years ago. It still seems strange to have it in there. I had the truck 40 years, without ac.

I might remove it.

 

The average July temperature where you live is 74 Degrees F. Did you read where the OP stated "... it gets smoking hot in the summer and I am at an age where this isn't really optional."?

To the OP, I have heart problems and live in southwest AZ. Both my "old" vehicles have rotary Sanden compressors mounted in the "up top" position (Keep the hood closed or "flip-off" the purists). Depending on the space available under the hood, mount the Sanden down low under the heads.

http://www.vintageair.com/accessories/?subcat1=Compressors&subcat2=Sanden SD 508 Compressor

Also while at the Vintage Air website, look at their under dash and behind dash options.

 

Just my opinion but depending where you are in the aging cycle these things mean more to us than before. I'm 66 years old and love the old 40's/50s hot rods. I don't think they look right with an AC unit hanging under a dash or the compressor in the engine compartment either. That being said if it was important enough to me I would do everything else I wanted on the car the way I wanted and put a full hood on it and AC vents down under the dash where you can't see them. The car is still going to look like a hot rod to most folks unless you pop the hood and you'll have AC. Also in my opinion custom cars lend themselves to things like AC and power windows way better than a hot rod does.

 

You could look into how ac systems are set up on electric cars, may be able to remotely mount some of the components, but may need to use multiple batteries and a really large alternator


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I am currently building a custom for my long road trips. It's definitely not period correct. But it will have AC. That is a fact.

This truck will be a short hauler, so I may ditch the AC idea. I just hate limiting the amount of drive time due to weather. On average I could drive it Mar/April through the end of December, but by the end of July through August, it gets parked except for late evenings.

Don't get me wrong, this thread isn't "ways around being period correct". It's more along the lines of "the things we do to make sure our hot rods look period correct."

 

I say do AC if you really want to drive the vehicle. You'll think about this every time the temp goes over 80 degrees! You'll go to get into that thing and end up finding excuses to take something with AC in it!

 

It seems that you drifting to traditionally inspired with this build to like your other builds.
Its difficult to hide the clutter needed in the cooler area anyway.
Why not use the ac and show it with pride?
Would give you some extra showpoints in that era anyway.
Mopars ac compressor in the 50:s and 60:s was not bigger than a alternator.
Combine that with a era correct aftermaket ac outlet under the dash and you are home.

 

My point is "going the extra mile for period correct build" is not hiding a bunch of modern shit to make the car more comfortable but look period. You either build a period correct car or you don't.

 

You could aways put one of those little cheesey assed JC Whitney dash fans in and have it blow humid hot air on you while you cruise! LOL!

 

It's a lot easier to keep cars like roadsters period correct because there is no temptation for modern conveniences. My roadster is a prime example. The car is 100% period correct, but it has a limited driving season.

 

I am not trying to be an asshole so I apologize if that is how I am coming across. I have ZERO problem with building a car that isn't period correct, I have ZERO problem with hiding stuff that looks out of place but I think it is disingenuous to say my next build will be period correct but here are all the things I have to hide that aren't period correct.

 

Hang one of those old under dash air conditioners that you bang you knees on and stick a York compressor on the engine. That would be period correct back to the early 50's in Texas and Oklahoma. Ugly but a guy can't give you crap about having a modern compressor and those units will still freeze you out of the car when they work right.

Actually I'd do the hidden Vintage Air heat/air unit but not have outlets that stuck out like a sore thumb. A creative mind can come up with low mount compressor brackets and there are some real small compressors out there. Paint the bugger black or engine color and it won't show up so much.

My wife of 51 years is from Central Texas and she earned her ride in a hot old car (truck) without ac Creds in spades on the way from McGregor Tx to Tulsa for the 73 Street rod nationals in the 48. That was our first rod trot as actual registered participants. That was onl;y 400 and something miles but I'm not about to ask her to make a 5000 mile road trip without AC even though we have done it in the past when we head to Austin for Roundup when the truck is done.

 

Roothawg True. I never thought once about AC or power windows or even wind up windows in my roadster. Hell it barely has a top!

 

No offense taken. My goal, was mainly just airing some of the hurdles I have with the period correctness I am trying to create. It's harder than it looks. I basically build this thing in my head every night, while staring at the ceiling. These things pop into my head and my wife doesn't appreciate the gravity of the matter at midnight.

 

When the day comes that I have to try and hide components that make my cars more comfortable and enjoyable to drive it will be time to look for a new hobby.

 

Says the guy with a 60's car with factory AC.....

 

I feel the period correct mindset is similar to the mindset you have to have when starting a concours stock restoration in making sure the small details are considered as they make or break it in a show. I am one of those with that mindset as I always put myself in a window and work from there. I also enjoy being able to figure out ways to hide modern components into old era correct things. Its kinda like building a kustom and then having people trying to figure out how you grafted the head lights in or did this mod, etc. Plus this way of thinking was kind of ingrained from growing up in the shop with my grandfather who is very big on nailing the little details. That and being a kid in the middle of the pastel 90s and billet everything early 2000's it was bad to see many older rods that were traditional become a mis mash of old and new.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/thermador-swamp-cooler.1046967/

 

heh...that thing on the Edsel didn't work worth a crap. We drove it in August from tucson to LA to Vegas to Death Valley...damn, that was a hot trip!

but I survived

 

Swamp coolers just make you more miserable here.

 

I use old parts, good used, restorable, NORS in all my builds just because I'm cheap (and my disdain for new junk). The '28 is going to have cloth covered wiring (wasn't cheaper, I know). I tend to do what I think looks right for the build, I wouldn't really call it period correct......just more like what I want.

I've been toying with making my own cooler for awhile, it's just not happened yet. I don't think I would ever go with a real a/c set-up, something I can remove when not in use.

Something like this, but better looking (read older looking), might not help in humid areas:



They also make a portable unit that runs off of 12v. Like the house version it needs to have a exhaust line to outside (either a window or make a exit port under the car). I really only need it a few weeks to a month out of the year (most years), so it sounds like a better plan then to have a regular permanent unit installed.

 

Roothawg before you comment on other HAMBers cars you ought to know what your talking about and learn the difference between Vintage Air and factory air. My 60 Pontiac has Vintage Air not factory air as you incorrectly stated. Besides what business is it of yours regarding the type of A/C I chose to install on one of my cars?
Nothing on the Pontiac build has anything hidden. I don't give a shit about a "Period Correct" build or for what others may think as in most cases they don't even know what they are looking at. At car shows unless I have one of my cars for sale, I don't even open the hood.
I build my cars for safety, comfort, reliability and for myself and nobody else.