Adding A/C
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Ozarks
Adding A/C
Is it worth it? Right now in November you may not think so but ask yourself the same question next August 
I put air in my '65 and it's wonderful. Installation is a LOT of work and my dash is much more open than some later models...
If you start from scratch using aftermarket parts you'll have about $1000 in it by the time you're done. The most expensive part is the evaporator/heater which runs about $400. (You can use an underdash add-on but it'll still be $200+ and won't look near as good). Also you can get factory a/c parts from junkyards cheaper but you'll be lucky not to have to have all the hoses remade ($150-200) at a minimum. A new receiver dryer is mandatory and it's only about $35. An old compressor or condenser may already have a leak. An evaporator that you tore your dash apart to install that starts leaking the first summer from internal corrosion will likely add a few words to your vocabulary!
There are cheap a/c systems and there are reliable a/c systems but there are no cheap, reliable systems except rolling down your windows. Trust me you'll only want to do this once.
I put air in my '65 and it's wonderful. Installation is a LOT of work and my dash is much more open than some later models...If you start from scratch using aftermarket parts you'll have about $1000 in it by the time you're done. The most expensive part is the evaporator/heater which runs about $400. (You can use an underdash add-on but it'll still be $200+ and won't look near as good). Also you can get factory a/c parts from junkyards cheaper but you'll be lucky not to have to have all the hoses remade ($150-200) at a minimum. A new receiver dryer is mandatory and it's only about $35. An old compressor or condenser may already have a leak. An evaporator that you tore your dash apart to install that starts leaking the first summer from internal corrosion will likely add a few words to your vocabulary!
There are cheap a/c systems and there are reliable a/c systems but there are no cheap, reliable systems except rolling down your windows. Trust me you'll only want to do this once.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Adding A/C
I converted my 73 non-ac to ac using parts from a junk yard. the cost of the parts was about $70 or so and most of the hoses to the drivers side vent were torn so I had to search for a good one.
The hardest part was cutting the large hole in the firewall because it needs to be very close. The unit sits very close to the edge of the fender skirt and I missed by about 1/2" and had to recut some. I made a pattern from the doner truck and took a picture which helped.
You'll need the dash bezel too for the drivers vent, under the hood, grab the vac lines and canister when your grabbing all the other stuff.
After all is done, it'll be worth it, but save yourself some time and be sure to grab all the little parts for a complete system.
The hardest part was cutting the large hole in the firewall because it needs to be very close. The unit sits very close to the edge of the fender skirt and I missed by about 1/2" and had to recut some. I made a pattern from the doner truck and took a picture which helped.
You'll need the dash bezel too for the drivers vent, under the hood, grab the vac lines and canister when your grabbing all the other stuff.
After all is done, it'll be worth it, but save yourself some time and be sure to grab all the little parts for a complete system.
