Technical Underdash Heat and A/C

I could use some pointers and suggestions on a underdash Heat and A/C unit. I'm considering one for a 64 El Camino. Gimme some feedback and experience.

I have found several on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/312318231451

 

Try Vintage Air. They will have everything you need.

 

yep, use Vintage Air

 

I also have a 64 El Camino with the stock heater assembly that works good so I found a under dash Mark 4 unit at the junkyard and made it work with my car. It'll freeze you out. I also bought another one at the Paso Robles swap meet for about 30 bucks I think

 

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1...-airs-surefit-gen-iv-climate-control-system1/

https://www.opgi.com/cooling-heatin...5-chevelleel-camino-w-factory-ac-5064fac.html

https://www.vintageair.com/instruct...er Cars/1964-65 Chevrolet Chevelle (Inet).pdf

 

I agree if you have factory heater and is good condition, put the old 60s style underdash air cond like Brian showed. I have put those in two vehicles and with R134A. Work just fine. Otherwise cant go wrong with Vintage Air.

 

Thanks for the input. I had forgotten about those old Mark IV units. I've been looking at the vintage air.

 

Was it a lot of work to refurbish that Mark IV unit? I know where there's a couple of those stored inside. Then you just purchase the compressor and other components and assemble.

 

Assuming the Mk IV is good condition, they only need cleanup and new hoses made. Plus electrical hookup of course. They use flare fittings. The thermal expansion valve (TXV) is calibrated for R12, but work fine on R134a. Use a good new style parallel flow condenser for best results. Charge by pressures, if in doubt a little undercharged is better. Don't forget to use R134a compatible oil. POE (ester oil) is generally the choice.

 

stay away from Old Air Products in Fort Worth

 

I have that same unit in my 1950 Buick 4 door. Does a good job here in TX.

Ben

 

In 1966 I bought a new 66 Chevy Impala SS but it came without air. I had the dealer install a Mark 4 under dash unit and it worked great. Had one of the compressors that looked like a lawn mower engine. With today's more efficient compressors and condensers they should really work good.

 

Look at this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/254628845153?
Complete with wire harness. I have one for my 62 Rambler Classic. Plug and play wire harness. Company has different styles.

 

I have an Old Air Products Hurricane in my 56 Ford and it works perfect. Low fan will freeze you out. Electronics can blend the doors inside the unit for the AC vents and defroster for both hot and cold. I can remove the radio if needed something you can’t do with a VA electronic controlled unit.

 

Why do you say that? If you are going to badmouth a company, it's only appropriate that you at the very minimum give at least one reason. And by the way, their systems are one of the only ones on the market that utilize a draw through fan arrangement, which is not only a lot quieter, but air distribution over the coil surface is more evenly distributed over the entire surface. I installed one in my '49 Ford Coupe (The Judge) and it has been working great even in 100 degree Texas heat.

 

The only thing I did to the unit itself was tested on the bench and made sure that the fan worked and I took the switches apart and clean them up and lubed them with Dielectric grease and replace the expansion valve. All the other stuff was from eBay I think or left over from past projects. Get the biggest condenser you can fit up front.

 

VA also offers a retro Mark IV for under the dash. I believe they also offer a retro 4 hole the 64 Mustang offered without the the Ford crest.
If you google under dash air there are hundreds of just the evaporator units you can buy and paint or possibly fit into upholstered under dash aluminum facia plates you can make. There are a lot of options.

 

I put an Old Air unit in my grandson's '59 Elky.

 

I am liking all the suggestions. The Ebay "Coldmaster" kit looks very nice and I'm kind of interested in the old Mark IV. I like that old look and Vintage has one like that, also.

wheeltramp brian, do you have an underhood picture and what compressor did you use?

 

Here's a picture it's ugly I know but everything works great. It's a sand in 508 type compressor. I've got the part number for the one you can get from the Advanced Auto Parts. It's a t58551.

 

Thanks Brian. That gives me some good ideas.

 

I have been planning on thr Vintage Air Mark IV under dash. It looks like they have an option for defrost, which is a necessity around here.

 

I thought about an underdash unit, but it was just as easy and the same amount of work to put the firewall mount behind dash unit in my car. My unit doesn't hang down any lower than a normal heater box, you can't see the hoses, only thing you notice is a vent on each side under the dash and one in the center with the control knobs on it.

 

I scored this new in the box Chrysler "AirTemp" about 2 miles from my house. I'm guessing 1970s, and it has a copper evaporator. Now, where to shop for compressor and other components and maybe save a few bucks. This one is just the right size to fit with my floor shift console.

 

I wanted the look of the under-dash unit, but I needed defrost as well so I took a different route.
I installed a Vintage Air Gen II mini heat/cool/defrost in my 41 PU. I tucked the unit up high on the firewall so as not to be too noticeable and used a Merc under dash AC grille that I bought on here to direct the air. You can see the unit on the firewall here and the short box I built to mount the ac grille to the dash. You can also see the hoses connected to the grille from the evap. My glove box isn't very deep, but functional.

To the bottom of the steel box, I formed and welded a switch panel to house all of the HVAC controls to keep the dash tidy. I had the box powder coated in a black wrinkle finish for a factory style appearance. A bit of pick guard ties it to the center dash emblem and my door speakers.

Under the hood I used a small Sanden compressor with top mount, vertical fittings so I could tuck it back against the head and intake. I made the mounts to secure it and the alt to the hemi, both adjust on slotted holes under the units rather than have braces over the top. Your Elky will be a lot easier to fit up. The receiver drier is on the inner fender in this photo, as there is limited room in here.

The tech service at Vintage Air is fantastic and the whole system was not overly difficult to design and install. This pic is a bit old and doesn't have all the hoses or binary switch and clutch wired yet. The VA kit came with everything needed and decent instructions. Does it work? I don't have a clue yet. Looks cool

 

Have an elco also and made up my own a/c. I couldn't find the old Mark IV unit (which is the best IMO) and went with an underdash small evaporator unit, used a Sanden compressor, bought a bracket for it from Grove, and then got the rest from a truck a/c supplier/installer. It all came down to money for me-have about 400 or so in mine vs. the cost of the vintage air-which sure isn't in that range. It does the job.

 

That's some nice work Billy.
hepme, did you buy parts off ebay or a local supplier.
I found everything on ebay, but I still need some specs for the compressor, condenser and drier to match my newly acquired evaporator.

I have a local A/C shop that has worked on my daily drivers and I will probably have him do the charging. I'll check what he has for pricing on components.

Does anybody have a list of junkyard parts or other supplier to get the rest of the system from?

 

Get the parts you need from Vintage Air. They have compressors, compressor mounting brackets for various engines, dryers and evaporators. Look at their online catalog. They sell a similar evaporator to the one you just bought.

 

I was thinking about calling them. I'll do it next week.