I am curious about my 65 F100 Custom Cab A/C. I assumed it came from the factory but I have seen several people list "dealer air" as a feature on their trucks. Was "factory air" an option in 1965 or was it installed at the dealership?
Thanks again

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-May-02 AT 02:58 PM (EST)]Can you post a pic? I have posted a pic of my '66 with aftermarket (not dealer) air. I have obtained the dealer air box, and will install it eventually. I will have this one for sale when I do, this summer.
Now, I bought the compressor mount brackets, pulleys and idler pulley from a 70's FE engine. I stripped a '74 LTD and used the condensor from it. (it's BIG, too big, I think.) I had the hoses made up new.
Put it in 15 years ago and works great.
Now, I want to make it correct, so I have stripped a truck for the correct condensor, and bought the correct air handler.

 

John,
Sorry I can't post a pic but my A/C unit is very similar to your except on the bottom is has CLIMATIC AIR on the bottom left and CLASSIC on the right side. I purchased the truck from the original owner last week and I didn't ask him if he had the dealer install the A/C or if it came from the factory.
Thanks for the info.

 

James, There was Not a factory option for ac. I am not sure which yeare was first from the factory. I am going to guess 73. Ford lagged behind in this area.
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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

...and every system I have seen is different from every other. Mine has the evaporator for the floor shift truck, with the housing in the passenger footwell and the ducts centred under the dash. It came out of a '68, but with a change of ***** will look just right.
Eric

 

Lets talk A/C! As far as my sources go, the correct "dealer" A/C evaporator unit was the Rotunda model. The one used in the Mustangs with the Ford crest was not the original issue, though I'm sure allot of them got added over the years. Ford had part numbers for factory kits underhood and engine kits for adding A/C units. According to the Master parts book, a Dealer A/C kits were available for the 240-6, but not the 300-6. I don't know why this was catalogged this way. The big trucks had factory optional,roof top A/C units, as did the Econolines. There were numerous types of aftermarket and other Ford car evaporators that have found their way into our trucks over the years, as long as it looks "vintage" and works, it is ok with me!

 

I agree with 66ranger. The Rotunda unit is the correct dealer option air in '65 - '66. There were other sources for A/C back then. Sears sold aftermarket A/C. I'm sure there were many others.

Mike

 

The Rotunda unit is the only one I've seen in the Ford literature, so I looked for one, but couldn't find a 4-speed type with the Rotunda badge (or any other badge for that matter). Has anyone seen a Rotunda evaporator for 4 speed trucks?
Mine is, as I said, a '68 model year setup, and bears several C7 p/ns, but no other identification. Should it have?
Eric

 

rotunda would be the only correct unit. rotunda is fords accessory parts division and many dealer installed accesories came in rotunda packaging like seat belts and replacement shocks. also all tools that ford sold were rotunda. all of the dealerships had rotunda alignment racks and rotunda scopes back in the good old days. one of my true treasures is an impact wrench appropriated by a retiring employee in 1968 at dearborn. i met the guy and he had used it for years until it gave out. cast into the butt is rotunda div of ford motor company dearborn michigan and engraved into the side is assembly line number one dearborn mi. i got lucky because the impact is really an ingersol rand so i bought a new one and switched the guts and have been using my "old" impact ever since! i have a question of my own now that i have rambled so long, what would one of these rotunda 65/6 units be worth? i have the unit and mounting brackets to the floor and dash and it is quite serviceable but needs to be detailed. i do not have the engine compartment parts except for the hoses off of the unit. i do have all of the engine brackets from a 68 360 and most of them have C6 part numbers so i guess they would work. what is the unit worth and without the bracketry? thanks, hawkrod

 

Hawk, I sold one that I had for many years. It was the evaporator unit only without the dash bracket. I believe I sold it for either $225 or $250. I felt that that was a fair price. Maybe I could have gotten more. The '65 - '66's are becoming more popular all the time. I believe that the Rotunda A/C unit is probably the rarest and most desirable original accessory there is and will bring a ridiculas price in the near future.

Mike

 

It would be interesting to take a Rotunda evaporator and another from a Mustang or Falcon and see if the front panels with the vents and emblems can interchange. I'm willing to bet someone could take the front from a Rotunda and put it on a different Ford evaporator without too much trouble. This would be a good riddle for someone with access to an older junkyard to find out. I have gone back and forth on installing a Rotunda unit/system in my '66, or going with a Vintage Air type. All the compressor mounting brackets and pulleys are standard Ford items, the Vintage air (not the "Cut the Dash") kit may deserve some more thought as it would allow more legroom and might be alot more efficiant...Thoughts and comments anyone?

 

the rotunda truck unit is very different from the mustang or car hang on unit. the front is made to look similar in size and shape but the design is so different that i don't think you could swap the fronts (i have a mustang unit sitting under the truck unit right now). hawkrod

 

I don't think the front comes off at all. Tha only reason I sold mine was I wanted a modern more efficient unit and the Rotunda is just so big.

Mike

 

the front does come off but it is not a faceplate, it is a big chunk including most of the top plastic. i just took pictures of mine and spent some time looking it over. look for it on e-bay tuesday or wednesday. hawkrod