Aftermarket A/C
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
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Aftermarket A/C
Hello! Does anyone know of a company that sells an aftermarket air conditioning kit (134a) for a 1979 F100? I've seen them advertised for vintage mustangs and street rods etc., but nothing specifically for the 73-79 trucks. Thanks!
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
I thought about an aftermarket kit for my '73, but I decided to install factory a/c from a parts truck.
1. It's cheaper. May take more labour to install, but will cost me under $100 - verses around $1000 for an aftermarket kit.
2. Reliability. I trust the factory systems and I KNOW I can always get parts for them - not so sure if an aftermarket company will be around to sell replacement parts in the future.
3. I like the look of a factory install and having it all controlled with the factory controllers, no extra buttons or *****.
But that's just me.
Marty
1. It's cheaper. May take more labour to install, but will cost me under $100 - verses around $1000 for an aftermarket kit.
2. Reliability. I trust the factory systems and I KNOW I can always get parts for them - not so sure if an aftermarket company will be around to sell replacement parts in the future.
3. I like the look of a factory install and having it all controlled with the factory controllers, no extra buttons or *****.
But that's just me.
Marty
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Ohio
The systems from hotrod & vintage claim you can blend your air temp. But I think the way they all do this is they cycle the compressor on & off. This way it cools the hot air from the heater core. That = bye bye to more gas. Only one of these system allows for an intake of fresh air, which cost $50 more and would be tough to hook up to and retain tou kick panel vent at the same time. I don't like the thought of CO poisoning. I did alot of research on the subject decided to retain my heat and go with AC only. I went with the same system that Steve used (thanks to his answer to my post about ayear ago). Mine is 90% installed just hose crimping & a charge left to do.
Jeff
Jeff
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From: waco
73 Custom. I have a 73 F 100 custom. I would like to add A/C to mine. Can you give me the details as to what it took to get factory A/C in your truck? I have a 460 in mine, will there be enough room for the big black box? Do you use R12, or the 134 A? Give me all the details that you can.
Mike
Mike
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
Mike,
I'm finally done installing the heat-a/c system into the cab. I removed the entire system from a '78 F150, cut the hole in my firewall with a sawzall and installed all the '78 pieces. Everything plugs in/bolts up so it went fairly easily. It took the better part of a Saturday, but all is working now... I haven't mounted the compressor or the condensor - won't need it until next spring. But I'll be running R134 when I do charge it.
Read the tech article about replacing a heater core, it will show the steps involved in removing all the a/c parts.
Marty
I'm finally done installing the heat-a/c system into the cab. I removed the entire system from a '78 F150, cut the hole in my firewall with a sawzall and installed all the '78 pieces. Everything plugs in/bolts up so it went fairly easily. It took the better part of a Saturday, but all is working now... I haven't mounted the compressor or the condensor - won't need it until next spring. But I'll be running R134 when I do charge it.
Read the tech article about replacing a heater core, it will show the steps involved in removing all the a/c parts.
Marty
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From: waco
Marty, I didn't realize there was a tech article like that, and never thought about looking. Thanks a bunch for the idea. Your stuff did come from a 78 and in to a 73, correct? If thats the case, I'll look for 78 parts for my 73 at the wrecking yard. I'm not sure if it's a good price or not, but the wrecking yard told me $60 for the controls, dash board, and the big black box. I already have the compressor, brackets, and condensor. Are these all the pieces I will need?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
Any 73-79 will work. $60 is a fair price.
Be sure you have these:
1. the small wiring harness that goes from the heater controls to the blower motor
2. all the vacuum lines that connect the heater controls to the various control doors
3. vacuum can mounted on the driver fender and lines to the engine and heater control
4. vents and ducting for dash - also need the defrost ducts
5. trim around guages with a/c vent over headlight switch
6. make a template of the firewall hole (I used cardboard)
When I mount my compressor, I'll need new pulleys for the water pump and crank for a third belt.
Also there were two wire connectors that I had to change. Each end of the a/c harness has a single blade connector - the '73 was round, so I cut it off and soldered on the correct blade connector (not a problem).
Will the yard let you go take it apart? It helps a lot to see how it's supposed to go together.
Marty
Be sure you have these:
1. the small wiring harness that goes from the heater controls to the blower motor
2. all the vacuum lines that connect the heater controls to the various control doors
3. vacuum can mounted on the driver fender and lines to the engine and heater control
4. vents and ducting for dash - also need the defrost ducts
5. trim around guages with a/c vent over headlight switch
6. make a template of the firewall hole (I used cardboard)
When I mount my compressor, I'll need new pulleys for the water pump and crank for a third belt.
Also there were two wire connectors that I had to change. Each end of the a/c harness has a single blade connector - the '73 was round, so I cut it off and soldered on the correct blade connector (not a problem).
Will the yard let you go take it apart? It helps a lot to see how it's supposed to go together.
Marty
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: waco
Marty, Yes. The yard will let me pull it out my self. Be very carefull when you get the pulleys that you need for your truck. A lot of the pulleys won't line up with the brackets correctly. If you can find them cheap enough, the best way to go is to get a complete set off of something. Thanks again for all your information. Hhot71. Thank you for that link, but that is for after market A/C. I was more interested in hooking up factory A/C. I believe it will be cheaper, easier to install, and easier to get parts for in the future if I should need them. Also, I don't like the way the controls look for after market air. They don't realy match anything in the cab, and kind of look out of place.
Mike
Mike
Last edited by docholiday72tx; Nov 11, 2004 at 09:47 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Gig Harbor, WA
I had a local shop order and install Arizona Mobile Air's kit (same as ackits.com) in my '76 F250, 4X4, 360, $1500. It works very well but the blower motor is extremely noisy due to the brushes in the motor. I went around and around with the installer and Arizona Mobile Air. Finally the installer called me and said he had checked some motor/fan assemblies and had found one which was quiet. When I went to his shop we tested it and, sure enough, it was whisper quiet. He gave it to me for no charge
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 288
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From: Gig Harbor, WA
(sorry about hitting the enter button before I finished).
To have a factory system for blending of cold and heated air I was contemplating salvaging OEM A/C from a boneyard anyway when my heater core started leaking. Realizing I now had to remove my heater which necessitated removing the under dash Arizona A/C I decided to at least collect all of the stuff I would need for OEM A/C. I checked with my local installer and he said that I could use the new compressor and new condenser he had allready installed (using 134 R) with the OEM evaporator if it tested good. I have now collected all of the parts. I pressure tested the evaporator to 50 psi and am now fabricating one of the steel, air direction flaps which was rusted out. I've obtained some foam rubber which seems very close to the original stuff on the flaps (it's very deteriorated on all of the other flaps). I'll have to cement the foam on to the flaps, crimp the edges with heated pliers, assemble the plastic parts, test everything and set aside a day to do the conversion if I choose to do it. I bought a new blower motor with balanced fan from Green Sales even though the old one ran very well.
To have a factory system for blending of cold and heated air I was contemplating salvaging OEM A/C from a boneyard anyway when my heater core started leaking. Realizing I now had to remove my heater which necessitated removing the under dash Arizona A/C I decided to at least collect all of the stuff I would need for OEM A/C. I checked with my local installer and he said that I could use the new compressor and new condenser he had allready installed (using 134 R) with the OEM evaporator if it tested good. I have now collected all of the parts. I pressure tested the evaporator to 50 psi and am now fabricating one of the steel, air direction flaps which was rusted out. I've obtained some foam rubber which seems very close to the original stuff on the flaps (it's very deteriorated on all of the other flaps). I'll have to cement the foam on to the flaps, crimp the edges with heated pliers, assemble the plastic parts, test everything and set aside a day to do the conversion if I choose to do it. I bought a new blower motor with balanced fan from Green Sales even though the old one ran very well.
