I have a '69 f250 CS Ranger and want to get the factory AC going.
Before i have it gone through, i was just wondering how cold these original systems were capable of getting?
All of the components are in place and the compressor engages when it is turned on, so hopefully it wont cost me my left lung to get it going. Anyone have experience getting their systems going?

 

Are all the A/C hoses connected? Are they split, rotted, cut or whatever?

If the hoses are not connected, or in poor condition, the A/C is prolly no good...and some specific parts can be difficult to find, some are impossible to find.

Once outside air (the more humid, the worse the problem) gets into the compressor, condenser, dryer tank, expansion valve, the entire system has to be evacuated within weeks.

Otherwise, rust sets in rendering these parts no good.

My (formerly purchased new) 1968 F250 Ranger & 1971 F100 XLT: When the A/C was turned on, the cab got very cold in a matter of minutes.

There were two different types of A/C, Factory installed integral air and dealer installed air.

If the heater and A/C controls are in the same control panel: Factory Installed Integral A/C. If the A/C controls are separate from the heater: Dealer installed A/C.

 

My unit is a factory installed unit with all of the hose still in place and appear to be in very good shape.

 

Not to hijack this but is this a dealer install or an aftermarket setup. it works but won't hold a charge for more than a week or so.
Thanks,
Mike

 

Your unit is a dealer installed unit. The factory units had the controls incorporated in the heater/def controls in the dash under the radio. If you look at my truck photos under my user name i have a picture of a factory installed unit.

 

A good working R12 unit in these trucks will get very cold.

 

Not genuine Ford dealer or factory installed A/C - it's an aftermarket unit. The dead bang giveaway is that Cust-O-Matic name on the bezel.

 

i acquired mine off ebay and put new hoses on it, but the compressor was shot and gunked everything up. so i flushed it out, got the last expansion valve nos thanks to bill. and during the summer i had measured freezing temps coming from the vents. but ultimately i had problems with that new compressor making horrific noise, (still works though)
and ended up getting a oring leak so now the a/c is a sitting duck. probly someday going to switch out for a new vintage air or classic air setup whatever they are called. i may be looking to sell all the parts soon to hopefully soften the blow of the cost of the new setup.

 

The noise you hear is prolly coming from the A/C clutch's replaceable bearing, not from the compressor itself.

C9AZ-2990-A (replaced B9ME-2990-A) .. A/C Clutch Bearing (Motorcraft YP-20).

Fits: 1969/79 F100/350, Econoline & 1978/79 Bronco w/Factory Installed Integral A/C / Myriad 1959/79 Passenger Cars w/dealer installed or factory A/C.

The York compressor is the same as: 1968/79 F100/350 & 1978/79 Bronco. Same as myriad 1963/79 Passenger Cars: C3AZ-19703-F.

 

And that compressor or direct compatable compressor was used in most of the Ford line from 1958 as I remember. And it was used by several of the aftermarket add on air kits of that era. Some had different mounting to the dill valves but they could usually be made to work. You may find that compressor under the hood of anything that of that era. Amazing what scarcity and inflation has done to the price of that compressor. I can remember buying them rebuilt for $50.00 where the going price seems to be around $250.00 now.

 

I can remember buying NOS compressors from a local salvage yard for 20 BUCKS each.

The yard dismantled 1000's of 1962/64 Galaxie Select-Aire kits (all were hang-on back then) they acquired directly from a FoMoCo parts depot here in LA LA Land.

There may still be some there today. I was there recently scrounging for NOS goodies, but haven't looked for compressors there since Nixon was prez.

 

To answer your question, those old units would get VERY COLD - only problem is - they were either VERY COLD or OFF - not much in between.
I had a working factory unit in my truck and took it out for that reason.
Also have a friend who has a 72 he bought new - with factory a/c - he took his out for the same reason and replaced it with an aftermarket unit.

 

Back in the 1980's I worked for a guy that had a 1986 7.3l diesel F250. We used it as a service truck. He had gotten an aftermarket kit for a compressed air system, and the compressor was one of those A/C compressors. It worked really well.

 

definately not worth fixing, you should just give it to me, all ur questions will be answered and all problems solved, its as easy as that. hahah