I'd like a fresh air system with a filter and the recirc option.
Vintage Air sells a "complete" system without the pulleys and brackets. Those pieces can be hard to find. I urge anyone contemplating this addition to scrounge all the pieces from the relevant engine and to take photos before removing them, like I ... did not do.
Eric

 

Personally the compressor setup is the least of the issues. I'm very good at engineering mounts, the only thing I need is the engine pulleys to match the engine. I actually have a bunch around the shop but I haven't got to that point yet. I would think finding them used is gonna be a crap shoot.

 

I just bought a Vintage Air kit for my 64. I'm just about done with disassembly of the old components. I too would prefer a "factory air" look. My truck doesn't have a radio, but I haven't decided if I want to cut into the dash to mount the center vents. I would really like to mount the left and right vents in the dash where the kick panel vent controls are, but I can't do the welding or bodywork myself. So maybe at a later date.

I do think that I can mount the 3 **** controls in the dash where the choke, heater, and in my case blank hole are. I did a preliminary check and it looks like there is enough room behind the dash to mount them. Won't know for sure though until I try them. I don't know yet what I would do for bezels yet either.

Yes the vents that come with the VA kits are pretty plain looking, but they have nicer vents available too. As do other A/C suppliers and street rod parts manufacturers. I've seen some angled housings that could mount on the bottom part of the dash and point the vents upward. That would still require cutting holes in the dash but not on the face.

I still have a lot of research to do to figure out how I'm going to tackle it.

 

resonateur, what kit did you buy? is that the Gen IV from the surefit kit, or a different box? I really like the way your install looks. My 64 doesn't have a factory radio either and I was going to put one in. This however looks much nicer, and I agree, I don't like that looks of the under dash vents. What was the cost of your kit and roughly about how much total with your misc. pieces? I was looking at buying a Gen IV SureFit kit minus compressor and I was quoted $1245 for that since I'll be running a different compressor.

Thanks!

 

Nordi:
I would have to dig out all my receipts to figure the total cost but, suffice to say, it will be more expensive to buy the components than a ready-made kit. However, a "custom" install is what I was after. The only "kit" I bought from Vintage Air was their 1966Ford F-100 condenser kit with drier. I didn't use the entire kit, because I mounted the drier under the battery box rather than under the inner fender. I didn't want to run the hoses under the fender and then out again to the firewall. I did use their condenser mounts and the modification to the hood pull, which was convenient. I got a ComPac Gen II unit because it was the largest that I could fit under the dash, behind the glovebox. We made a bracket/cradle so that the AC hoses were pre-connected to a bulkhead fitting and the whole unit mounts to the firewall through the original holes, with two additional supporting tabs under the glovebox door. Pre-connected the heater hoses to a bulkhead fitting as well, so all other connections can be made from the engine side. Got the Sanden compressor from Vintage Air as well as the deluxe control panel that you see....and about two years ago, snagged a really nice FE/Sanden compressor mount kit with an idler pulley. All the brackets were 3/16" steel plate and I got it for a fraction of the original cost....no longer available from the manufacturer, but a nice set up.

 

 

Nordi,
With your FS10 compressor, you might consider adapting the Crown Vic system to your truck similar to what these guys are doing:
1964-viccup-build
May be a cost savings, maybe not. Worth a look though - Crown Vics have inexpensive, reliable systems and can be found in every wrecking yard everywhere.

 

I install a ventageair system, blower fan blows harder when accelerating. Does anyone know why? Would think it should be same at idle or accelerating

 

You might check your Alt output at idle and again at off idle. Also make sure your wire size is large enough to the AC system.