Keep or Ditch It?
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: White Mills, PA
Keep or Ditch It?
Should i keep the A/C in my 82 F100? Im sure most of you already know that i plan on doing a 460/C6 swap. But im not sure if i should keep the A/C so its got the "original air conditioned truck" effect, or ditch it so its one less thing i have to worry about.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Don't know where White Mills is, but I used to live in Kennett Sq and it gets hot and muggy there. A/C would be a real blessing in those conditions, and it'll make a huge difference when driving in the rain to defrost the windscreen.
Having said that, my A/C doesn't work, but I'm not ditching it and will fix it later. However, if you do ditch yours then save the weird mounting brackets and the eclectic mix of bolts that hold the compressor on. And, if you haven't taken it off yet, take at least a dozen pictures from different angles and bag & tag all the bolts 'cause it isn't easy to figure out which goes where. Trust me, I did it yesterday on my '82. Can you believe there are metric bolts holding the front of the compressor on and SAE/inch bolts holding the rear on? And that just the start of the fun!
Having said that, my A/C doesn't work, but I'm not ditching it and will fix it later. However, if you do ditch yours then save the weird mounting brackets and the eclectic mix of bolts that hold the compressor on. And, if you haven't taken it off yet, take at least a dozen pictures from different angles and bag & tag all the bolts 'cause it isn't easy to figure out which goes where. Trust me, I did it yesterday on my '82. Can you believe there are metric bolts holding the front of the compressor on and SAE/inch bolts holding the rear on? And that just the start of the fun!
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: White Mills, PA
I believe it haha they dont look like theyd be too fun to take apart and/or install. But im in northeast PA, about a half hour from narrowsburg, ny. We get some brutal days through the summer too. I was never really a fan of A/C, even in my dodge 1500 daily driver i never used it throughout the summer bc it needs to be recharged. Plus i have sliding rear windows in both the ford and the dodge so it gets a good breeze going.
I was just thinking for resale or value on the ford. Would it really make a difference? It seems kinda like people will kill for that original air conditioned vehicle...
I was just thinking for resale or value on the ford. Would it really make a difference? It seems kinda like people will kill for that original air conditioned vehicle...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Wausau, WI
In central WI we get a few muggy days, but not too bad. When I restored my '86, I pulled it all out, but did what Gary said. Everything is on the shelf in the shop. It's getting too hard to locate and expensive to throw out. The rear sliders really do help a bunch.
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From: Northeast, OK
My thought would be to look at the target audience and think what they'd like. From what I've heard, the Flaresides are more sought after by the younger set than us old timers, and it is my expectation that they aren't as interested in "authenticity" as others might be. And, if you are swapping engines there goes some of the authenticity as well.
But, if you just unbolt the parts instead of cutting them off then the NO could put them back if he wanted to do so.
But, if you just unbolt the parts instead of cutting them off then the NO could put them back if he wanted to do so.
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From: White Mills, PA
Thats very true too... I might pull it all out, then again i might leave it in the truck. Ill have to decide when i put the motor in it. But the slider does make a big difference in the cab too. Well i if i do pull it out, ill be sure to save it all and label all of it bc i remember looking in LMC and NPD at how expensive A/c parts are haha
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
And, if you remove the stuff and don't hate the NO, do him a BIG favor by giving him pics of the installation as well as having the bolts bagged & tagged. But, if you think you will actually hate the NO just throw everything in one big bag. If he's never done it before he won't know what a pickle he's getting into.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: White Mills, PA
And, if you remove the stuff and don't hate the NO, do him a BIG favor by giving him pics of the installation as well as having the bolts bagged & tagged. But, if you think you will actually hate the NO just throw everything in one big bag. If he's never done it before he won't know what a pickle he's getting into.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Seconded on if it's still functional to keep it in place. Your resale value will be higher.
I would not destroy it at any rate as fixing these systems and making them 134A compliant isn't all that difficult if you know how.
I would not destroy it at any rate as fixing these systems and making them 134A compliant isn't all that difficult if you know how.
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Junior User
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From: White Mills, PA
Yeah...i dont know much about A/C systems, but i could definitely learn!
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