Best options for bump AC?

[averagef250]

I'm a bit limited on what AC compressors I can run on a Cummins engine and keep the engine bay clean, but If I can use one of the Ford Sanden compressors and a late model condensor I have what are my options for the AC stuff inside the firewall?

Does the factory AC work well? Who else makes AC kits for our trucks and are there pro's/cons to them.

I really want simple, clean looking and very functional.

Thanks!

[flyboy2610]

There are several companies that make AC units for our trucks:
http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/
http://www.vintageair.com/
http://www.classicautoair.com/Ford_Pick ... rd_AC.html
Or you could check out salvage yards and see what inside units you can find there.
Adapter plates to use Sanden compressors on a York mount are widley available. Check out the vendors listed above.

[fireguywtc]

Dustin, is this question in response to your recent heat wave or something you have always wanted to do? Just curious.

I am also looking for the same answer so I want to see what responses come about. I would like to ask a favor from those who have an AC unit, new or old. Could you please measure the air temp. with a themometer coming out of the vents. I have always wanted to know this and I am pretty sure I am going to put an AC unit in my project, cuz the Texas heat kills me.

Those aftermarket kits are quite expensive, but probably easier for a 67.

[Joe Kriston]

We Zonies got you Texans beat as far as miserable summer heat goes---and we don't even need a heat wave...

I'm replacing my aftermarket underdash unit with a Ford dealer one from the era because it looks better and hopefully, if I get a quieter, higher output fan motor, it will cool better...My current one, although it blew out cold air, didn't seem to circulate the air very well and was rather noisy...Also, my weatherstipping, rubber floor mat, etc. is reaching the end of the line...I had hot air coming in from more places than the little a/c fan could keep up with...So while I'm redoing the interior, I'm trying to add extra insulation where I can to keep the cool air in...

One other thing...Neither one of my under dash units have the 'Max', or recirculating feature...It looks like it draws air from inside the cab, kinda like a house a/c unit...Which would seem to be the most efficient way to cool the cab---as the air gets cooler, the unit is drawing in cooler air, thus the longer it's on the cooler the air will be...Anybody know if I'm right on this, or am I blowing smoke up my arse?...On a house a/c unit, the air comes out of the ducts 18-20 degrees cooler than the room temp when the a/c unit is working properly...

[fordman]

i have factory air in my 68. i havent driven my truck for years. since 2000. the ac developed a leak in the system a few years before that. maybe around 1987. when it did work. it worked good. but the heat from the engine has always been high in my truck. it could be that i dont have the metal outer steering column bracket covering my steering column hole inside of my truck. but it definetly did cool the truck. without it the engine would kill you with heat on a hot day.

[averagef250]

I've never owned a driver with AC. Never really cared for the added complexity of all of it and windows rolled down is fine for me. I'm coming to realize that my truck often has one or two more people in it with me who would probably appreciate the AC and it certainly wouldn't kill me.

This heat wave has been rediculous also. The news was saying a couple days ago that Phoenix was 109, Portland was 107 and we had a good bit higher humidity. That day it was actually 110 in my backyard and 104 inside my shop. A good friend was over that evening helping me compact some rock and set up forms to make ready for pouring concrete the next morning and I realized I needed more than the 42 bags of crete I had for the pour the next morning and had to run to Home depot to get another pallet. I think the deciding factor for the AC was seeing the look of reluctance on his face when we decided his new GMC 2500HD with AC probably wouldn't do very hot with a 3400 pound pallet of concrete in the bed and it was best to take my old Ford. When it's this hot the windows down are almost worse than being up and I'll admit AC is pretty slick.

I just want to do AC right if I'm going to do it.

[rlgrantjr]

Is it worth trying to re-build a factory system that has not been run for ages and convert it from r12 to 134a? I have no idea what was wrong with it when it quit but all the parts are still there.

[mrsnicks]

Factory systems are fine, but you're probably wanna convert to 134a. Hard to find r12 now and expensive as hell + you usually have to have someone else do it. You can buy a retrofit kit for the 134a at your local parts store and do it yourself. My truck didn't have AC when I bought it and I'm using one of the mustang floor blowers. Works great. You can see pics of the unit in my photo gallery.

Patrick

[papabug71]

My truck had dealer air in it when we got it. It looked great inside the cab & would freeze you out. But, it looked like hockey under the hood so we yanked it.

Note to self: Disregard how it looks & enjoy the cold air...