Hey all,

Just finished my door rebuild project... whew. I will post some photos. basically replaced everything inside the skin except the glass. anti rattle kit from LMC, power window regulators from A1, new handles and mechanisms... vent seals.. even got the door panels from LMC. need to paint the power window swtiches to match the white though.. ANYWAY....

Now I'm ready for the AC. So the truck had an old aftermarket unit installed with the hanging unit under the dash. I ripped it all out months ago because it wasn't working and I needed to rebuild the engine anyway..

I don't like the under dash unit it had because it's HUGE. considering the Classic Auto Air kit. Looks pretty sweet. 1300 is a lot to spend. Just looking for some feedback from anyone who has installed their kit.

I could probably get mine back in and working, but I really want to go "new" and do it right.

any thoughts?

Anyone in the market for what I pulled out?


Matt

 

you got pictures of what you had?

 

Hey Mark, I'll take photos tomorrow and post them. Here are a couple. You can see the compressor and under the dash unit.

 

I haven't installed one myself, but I had a friend with a mid 60's Galaxie that had their unit. I can't say that it will be much smaller than your other unit but his was the coldest air i've ever felt in a car before, it was impressive even over a new vehicle.

 

I am in the process of putting the Classic Auto Air "Perfect Fit" system in my truck. I had put their factory under dash systems in my '64 Falcon and "66 Mustang and was very happy with their products. Less so with this kit. Under the hood went reasonably well. It's good that your FE already has A/C hanging on it. I would keep everything you have until after you have installed its replacement. You never know what you might need. No sense in giving something away and having to buy a new one. Is your old system R-12 or R-134a? The CAA kit will be 134a. If that's what you already have, maybe you don't need to buy a whole kit - just replace what's sick. From your picture, it doesn't look like you have power steering. If you plan to add it, get the P/S pump plumbed into the system at the same time. Crank pulleys for alternator, A/C, and P/S are a bit scarce. I found mine through an FTE member. Inside, erecting the evaporator and getting the heater core tubes to aim correctly out the firewall holes while getting the evap mounting studs through the firewall and the A/C hoses correctly routed through the round hole at the cowl was challenging. In my case I had to remove the blower fan from the assembly (because of various interferences) to get everything in, then try to reassemble it. The dash brace caused interference and had to be removed, even though CAA's directions thought otherwise. Kiss good-bye to your glove compartment. CAA does provide you with a small plastic box to install in its place which will just about hold the owner's manual and that's all. One thing you might look into, CAA provides several "custom" sets of controls (at extra cost, of course) if you don't want to settle for three pull cables that look like a poor man's version of the factory deluxe heater system. I am modifying what they sent me. Haven't fired up the system to see how it works. Have only test fit it so far as my truck is undergoing major resto mod. If you want to pm me with your e-mail address I can send you pictures of what I did. Good luck.

 

Thanks SS! Very helpful info. I'll pm you for sure. I've been back and forth in my mind about what to do. Thinking of maybe keeping all the under hood parts and just getting a new under the dash unit.. but then I kind of like the notion of new parts under the hood to!. hell, I don't know. I don't plan on showing the truck although it will be pretty damn tight when I'm done. Only thing not original are the headers. well, I did put power windows. lol. guess that's not original. anyway.. thanks. will email ya.