Thinking about adding a/c to my '78 and was wondering what seems to be the best kit avaliable. would like to hear from those who have added it to their trucks. I have seen a couple of them that specify 'not for 4 spd' but I dont want the under dash unit anyway. planned on adding the vents to the dash and if it isnt to much of an ordeal, I thought about fitting a factory control to the aftermarket unit. looking for thoughts and sugestions, thanks.

 

I added a ford dealer installed a/c system to my 79 f150 s/c..no problems, swapped in a factory a/c dash, 3 holes through the firewall and instant a/c ...unit is behind the glove box, controls are alongside center vents..works well

 

You have the little box that goes right under/behinde the glove box with the switch in the center vent's? if so where can a guy find the lines to the condenser?
I have a A/C like this I found when I pulled the dash off a 76 2wd I just parted out and was thinking of useing it in my 77 rather than putting back in the big hunking factory A/C box on my firewall.

 

any a/c shop can make them up ..I used a guy who does it in point pleasant,nj dash-auto air inc

 

Heres a complete aftermarket heat/ac kit I just did. I highly reccommend it if you want an aftermarket one.

Starts on this page
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...redone-12.html

 

Looks pretty clean. What is it?

 

Vintage air compac unit.

 

I haven't installed anything like that in many years. If you guys don't mind me asking, what does a unit like that cost these days. The last one I did was 10 years ago in a Jeep wrangler I used to have.

 

So far Im into it about $900, for only running the heater lines and getting the heater hooked up. Ill probably be near $1500 once I finish the A/C. Since Im going with all braided A/C lines thats whats going to skyrocket the price, and the billet control panel bumped it up a lot. But you can by complete vintage air kits for right around $1000.

 

Thanks. My everyday driver (2001 F150) has a/c but I have an older truck with out it and here in South Carolina it's a bit warm. I have a factory a/c unit in a 78 F150 I am parting out but my experiance with re-using the older stuff makes me think a new aftermarket unit will be more pratical. It wouldn't hard to sink hundreds into the old unit and still have something that would work half the time, not to mention the R134 issue.

 

I've got 2 of the big factory air box's & 1 under dash unit. My 77 has a 78 A/C cab on it that I cut the fire wall out of my none A/C 77 cab to cover at the time since I didn't have a A/C box to put in it. Now I just can't decide which route I wanna go. I've got all the hard line's, condensor's, A/C pump's, A/C box's to do 2 trucks. So do I go with a big ugly box under my hood or do I use the under dash unit & just have line's made for it?

 

I had a 66 mustang with the factory under dash unit that I later put in a 61 falcon. I also had an under dash unit in my 88 jeep wrangler. I personally don't like the under dash units because if you need to do anything behind it, your in trouble. Working behind the dash is a pain anyway, but if you put small suitcase below it, well, you get the picture. Of course I would rather have an under dash unit than ride around with out A/C.

 

lol. I'd like to have A/C. I just dont like the looks of that big box under the hood

 

Heres another kit. Its more direct fit.

Ford AC Kits for Trucks

 

That is the one I have been looking at. Didnt know if anyone had any experience with them or not. I know that the vintage air is pretty good from my own experience but my truck is basically done so I don't want to alter a bunch of stuff this late in the game.