Notices
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Moser

NEED AC HELP!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 3, 2016 | 12:45 PM
  #1  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
NEED AC HELP!

Okay guys, so I have a 78 f100 I bought right after I turned 15 and got it on the road in a few months. It's a short bed 2wd with a 302/c6 3 speed auto. It a non-air conditioning truck. Here in Florida where I'm at it's only May and it's hot!😩But I have a local junkyard called bronco dales. They have a couple dents with Ac. On that I'm looking at has all the Ac components from the factory. Do any of you have an idea on how easy it would be to swap all of that over to my truck? Please please give me some insight! Any help is much appreciated
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 01:14 PM
  #2  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 78BluePig
Okay guys, so I have a 78 f100 I bought right after I turned 15 and got it on the road in a few months. It's a short bed 2wd with a 302/c6 3 speed auto. It a non-air conditioning truck. Here in Florida where I'm at it's only May and it's hot!��But I have a local junkyard called bronco dales. They have a couple dents with Ac. On that I'm looking at has all the Ac components from the factory. Do any of you have an idea on how easy it would be to swap all of that over to my truck? Please please give me some insight! Any help is much appreciated
1973/79 F100/350 & 1978/79 Bronco: Three different types of Ford A/C

Upper picture: Factory installed integral A/C is combined with the heater. The A/C controls are in the same panel as the heater controls.

Center picture: Deluxe dealer installed A/C is combined with the heater. The A/C switches are located in a HUGE dash bezel that sweeps across the entire right side of the dash, covering up the glove box.

A "hang-on" glove box bolts to the bottom of the dash.

Lower picture: Economy A/C is not combined with the heater. The two A/C switches are located in a panel that also contains two registers. This panel fits into the dash to the left of the glove box.
 
Attached Images    
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 02:28 PM
  #3  
benbuilder's Avatar
benbuilder
Fleet Mechanic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 53
If you pm me or email me, I can send a link to a guy who shows all the steps for a factory install of ac in a non ac truck
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 02:31 PM
  #4  
Canus's Avatar
Canus
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Spencer Mountain, NC
Probably be much easier (and cheaper) to install an aftermarket unit like one from Vintage Air.
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 02:38 PM
  #5  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by benbuilder
If you pm me or email me, I can send a link to a guy who shows all the steps for a factory install of ac in a non ac truck
I'm pretty new to the forum. How do I do that? Or what's your email?
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 02:39 PM
  #6  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Canus
Probably be much easier (and cheaper) to install an aftermarket unit like one from Vintage Air.
I'm really not in the market for something that expensive. The reason I ask is because I have all the components lined up and ready to purchase for less than cheap
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 02:39 PM
  #7  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by benbuilder
If you pm me or email me, I can send a link to a guy who shows all the steps for a factory install of ac in a non ac truck
I'm pretty new to this forum. What's your email??
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2016 | 03:41 PM
  #8  
4x4slik's Avatar
4x4slik
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 898
Likes: 3
From: Chillicothe, IA
Originally Posted by benbuilder
If you pm me or email me, I can send a link to a guy who shows all the steps for a factory install of ac in a non ac truck
Why not just share the link here?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 3, 2016 | 04:18 PM
  #9  
benbuilder's Avatar
benbuilder
Fleet Mechanic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 53
I will gladly post it here if I can figure out how. I was giving myself a fighting chance to do it off the forum. Bringing it on here, I am afraid, is a bit above me. I will try.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 06:57 AM
  #10  
benbuilder's Avatar
benbuilder
Fleet Mechanic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 53
This was cut and pasted from a post from MikeoOoOoO




Yeah, like Rich said, factory A/C can be a real pain to work on.
Go to this link for some pictures of what you'll be getting into
1979 F100 Air Conditioning

__________________
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 07:43 AM
  #11  
mikeo0o0o0's Avatar
mikeo0o0o0
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by benbuilder
This was cut and pasted from a post from MikeoOoOoO
If you're talking about installing factory installed A/C then yeah, it can be a real pain. The problem is the firewall. On factory A/C (Ford calls it "integral A/C") the firewall is different, it has a huge hole to mount the evaporator housing. You'll either need to cut out and patch in the part of the firewall or cut out the existing firewall to match the hole for the evaporator.
The other thing with factory A/C, with that huge evaporator housing sticking in the engine compartment, it makes working on that side of the engine a bit of a pain.
If you do pull the system from another truck, two things, get one from a late '75 or later and be sure to get the two "accessory" wiring harnesses that go with it. The main wiring harness is the same for A/C and non-A/C trucks, these harnesses plug into the main harness to power and control the A/C.
Like Bill said, there are also two "Ford" dealer installed versions that are bolt on and don't require major firewall mods.
This is the hole you'll have to deal with with the integral A/C installation.
 
Attached Images  
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 11:02 AM
  #12  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mikeo0o0o0
If you're talking about installing factory installed A/C then yeah, it can be a real pain. The problem is the firewall. On factory A/C (Ford calls it "integral A/C") the firewall is different, it has a huge hole to mount the evaporator housing. You'll either need to cut out and patch in the part of the firewall or cut out the existing firewall to match the hole for the evaporator.
The other thing with factory A/C, with that huge evaporator housing sticking in the engine compartment, it makes working on that side of the engine a bit of a pain.
If you do pull the system from another truck, two things, get one from a late '75 or later and be sure to get the two "accessory" wiring harnesses that go with it. The main wiring harness is the same for A/C and non-A/C trucks, these harnesses plug into the main harness to power and control the A/C.
Like Bill said, there are also two "Ford" dealer installed versions that are bolt on and don't require major firewall mods.
This is the hole you'll have to deal with with the integral A/C installation.
What's the deal with the ford dealer installed that doesn't need the massive hole in the fire wall? Turns out my deal on all my Ac isn't going to work due to the local junkyard screwing me over. Resulting in my anger saying I won't be back to do any more business😒
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 11:07 AM
  #13  
mikeo0o0o0's Avatar
mikeo0o0o0
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 78BluePig
What's the deal with the ford dealer installed that doesn't need the massive hole in the fire wall?
Sorry to hear about the bad deal with the junkyard.
The dealer installed system is like any other aftermarket system. It fits up under the dash. These are A/C systems only and still use the factory heater.
The factory integral system replaces the heater with a "package unit" that bundles both the A/C evaporator and the heater core in the same housing.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 11:16 AM
  #14  
78BluePig's Avatar
78BluePig
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mikeo0o0o0
Sorry to hear about the bad deal with the junkyard.
The dealer installed system is like any other aftermarket system. It fits up under the dash. These are A/C systems only and still use the factory heater.
The factory integral system replaces the heater with a "package unit" that bundles both the A/C evaporator and the heater core in the same housing.
So this is a unit that DOESNT need a big hole in the firewall and DOESNT replace my glove box? Also I want to use all the factory flash vents. I want cold Ac in my truck now lol. How about compressor? How does all that work? And can you post some pics??
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2016 | 03:46 PM
  #15  
Canus's Avatar
Canus
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Spencer Mountain, NC
Not cheap but should be an easy install.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:37 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE