Adding factory air
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Southern NJ
There are aftermarket A/C units available that won't require as much work to install. I took the one out of my truck when I got. I hate A/C 
But it was a unit that mounted behind the dash, between the controls for the climate control and the blower motor. The wiring was very simple. Only other things you would need are a pulley with the extra slot for the condenser. This one had a separate switch and temp control panel that mounted next to the glovebox. Just another option for ya 
But it was a unit that mounted behind the dash, between the controls for the climate control and the blower motor. The wiring was very simple. Only other things you would need are a pulley with the extra slot for the condenser. This one had a separate switch and temp control panel that mounted next to the glovebox. Just another option for ya
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 153
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From: Oregon
A lot of those "aftermarket A/C units" were actually dealer installed ford units. If someone wanted a certain truck that was on the lot, but it didn't have A/C . Then the customer could opt to have the dealer install a unit {for a substantial fee}. I don't know if this is still true but I worked for Ford up into the mid 80's and we were still doing dealer installed A/C units
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Southern NJ
I'm pretty sure that what this was, Bushman. Looked like a clean professional install. I was just putting the idea out there, Torque
, figured she could take it from there. That's one impressive line of trucks ya got there, Bush.
, figured she could take it from there. That's one impressive line of trucks ya got there, Bush.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
factory air retrofit
well, I just completed the A/C heater core installation into my 79 CC. Mine came from a 79 donor truck. First thing you have to do is get the COMPLETE A/C system from a donor truck. The heater core, dash, ducting, A/C controls, etc. This way, everything bolts right into place, no need for monkey riggin the wiring to make it work. Anyways, I made a template for the hole in the firewall, then cut twice and measure once....no wait a minute, measured twice, cut once. With a minor bit of grinding with the dremel, the heater core fell into place, tikkity boo. Of course, this was after I removed the old dash completely. I thought it would have been a lot harder to get the hole cut in the firewall, and sliding the heater core assembly into place. Next I will be mounting the new dash, plumbing in all the vacuum lines, wiring it up, mount left over equip, and test 'er out.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 64
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From: Kentwood, MI
I have a customer with a '79 F100 with an I-6 who is converting to A/C. He is having all kinds of problems. He had to enlarge his radiator support, and he had to fabricate mounting brackets for the condenser. The tubes from the accumulator still don't line up with the hole in the rad support, so he is enlarging that too. Pulleys are fun too. The whole belt routing and pulley backspacing has to be changed. I don't know if he will be able to pull it off or not.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor, WA
Lowrider 77. Are you going to use the original type of refrigerant or the newer 134? If you use the new stuff I'm told that the old style compressor, even if rebuilt, will not stand up to the pressure required by the new 134.