A question for those with A/C in their trucks, did you use hoses only or a hardline kit? I know hardlines would look better, but hoses are easier I'm going to do an engine swap this weekend and try to get most of the A/C installed, so I guess I'll be busy.

 

Hardlines are cool, but in my years of building trucks, I find that the fewer connection points you have with the A/C lines, the less chance you have for leaks.

 

I agree that the least amout of connection is best... I talked to a friend that's an old AC guy... He said that the more connection you have you have increased the chances of leaks... but he also said that with the best quality equipment you shouldn't have any problem with your lines as long as your connections are the best as possible... I'm planning on going thru the inner fender and running a short rubber line from the compressor to the bulkhead and running hard lines in the fenderwell to the cab and using another bulkhead to pass thru cab... and ending with a short rubber from bulkhead and to the Evaporator... I just haven't decided where to place my dryer and safety switch... I'm planning on using Vintage Air products in mine.

 

I used the hoses that came with the vintage air system and took some colored ties and ran them side by side. Plus if you ever need to take the motor out you can lay the compressor over to the side .

 

If using the Vintage Air unit, the safety switch will be mounted on one of the hardlines coming out of the evap unit inside. You can see the trinary switch on the hardline to the left in the pic below.

 

OK, so I had to make a trip to the parts house this AM, picked up all of my hoses and fittings. I hope to get everything installed this weekend so that I can lay out the hoses and mark them to be crimped Mon.
Hopefully I can remember to take plenty of pics of the install I usually get busy and forget, then about the time I get through I think "now why didn't I take pics and document all of this?"
Here's the entire system laid out and ready to begin.

 

Hey Jeff,

Please do post pics. I'd like to see the install. Thanks

 

Looks about like the one I installed in my truck. Loosing a little glove box space is a small price for the added comfort. That should make the trip to pigeon forge nice and cool in June. See you there.
brian...

 

Jeff, what kind of compressor is that? It looks like the GM "pancake" compressor. Vintage usually offers the sandon 508, which they say works better, but my brackets are made for the round pancake.

 

whats the kit cost from vintage air?

 

The compressor is a GM r4, it's what is stock on the Mercedes engine in my truck. Would love to use a Sanden, just can't figure out how to mount it.

I am only using the evap kit from Vintage, all other parts have been gathered locally, so, I'm not sure what a complete kit costs.
Edit: Looks like a complete kit for a 53-56 F100 is $1150 per Vintage price sheet.

 

a/c is in the future plan, but I need to see some installs with a flip front end. There won't be any hoses running all over the compartment for me !

I'm thinking hard lines that drop down the firewall, run tucked close to the frame rail then come up under the a/c compressor. etc... but boy would I like to see some pictures of someone who's done it either way in a flip front

john

 

On my wish / to do list.
I can't wait to read about your results.
Congrats & Happy Memorial Wknd!

 

A Gen II great looking kit... Hope you have her working buy the on schedual... and looking forward to the writeup/pics of your install...

 

GM R4 compressor is what I was talking about. That's what the serpentine belt system on my truck was made for. Vintage air said they have a mounting bracket to mate a sanden to my system, but there's no picture in the catalog so I don't know if it would work better than the R4.