After this year’s hot and humid summer in the Midwest, I’ve decided to add A/C to my 1955 F100. I like my stock heater so have decided to go with an under dash unit. At this point I like the Nostalgic air UD-110 as its only 10” deep so can be installed flush with the dash. Has anyone used this unit or found others that are not too deep? My main question is about mounting the condenser. The radiator support saddle in my truck has a steel rod cross-brace that sits about 1” from the face of the radiator. I have seen some older posts that suggested cutting out the cross-brace in order to mount the condenser closer to the radiator, but I would prefer not to. I would love to get some opinions on what other have done to mount their condensers. I am using a 16” electric fan on my radiator (stock) and have no issues with cooling even at 95 degrees idle. Here are a couple options I’ve considered:1. Mount in front of the cross -brace and use a pusher fan ( would be a couple inches from radiator)2. Use a shim/ spacer on the radiator mounting points to move radiator closer to engine and then have room to mount condenser between the radiator and cross-brace3. Mount to cross-brace itself - not sure how secure this would be and still might be too far from radiator.Thanks for any suggestions ,

Brian

 

The sure fit Vintage air unit can barely be seen and don't cut out the cross brace on the radiator mount, it does not interfere with the condenser. There is good heat and A/C with their unit and fairly straight forward to install...

 

 

Do not cut out that cross brace. Look at the overall front structure and you will see that the entire front structure is supported on that saddle. That brace is designed to keep the saddle from flexing. If you remove it you will stress the radiator and eventually spring a leak.

 

The condenser goes in front of the cross braces so no need to remove them..

 

Thanks for the replies. Most of the instructions I've read for A/C installation suggest being as close to the radiator as possible and no more that one inch away. Looks like I will be around 1.5 inch away if I mount the condenser in front of the cross brace. Do you think I will need a condenser pusher fan? Thanks again.

 

 

I have a mechanical fan in one truck and an electric pull fan in the other and have no problems with either..