Underdash AC units
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
Underdash AC units
Hey everyone. Does anyone have any recommendations for where I can find underdash AC units? Also, does anyone have an underdash AC unit in their 73-79 truck and do you like it. I'm wondering if I should get an underdash unit or just try to install factory AC in my non-ac cab. Thanks.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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I have a 79 F-100 and have been checking out the units from Vintage Air. They have one under the dash unit that's 7" deep. They also have a complete kit for the 66-77 Bronco's. If it's small enough for the Broncos I am thinking it'll fit our year trucks too. The vents on the unit are really thin and the whole unit is about 12" deep. I looked into a factory set-up but i don't want that huge black box in the engine compartment and if I have to go to all that trouble I want brand new stuff.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
I have also looked at hot rod air. They have a couple of underdash units. I haven't taken any measurements yet to see if one of those units would fit. I would also assume the bronco units from vintage air would work, but would that unit cool enough to be worth buying and installing. I have all the parts "used" -to install factory ac in my non-ac cab, but I'm not too sure I want to try and cut a hole in the firewall to install the "big black box". Also, I do like the amount of room in the engine compartment in a non ac cab. I'm planning on putting a 460 into my 77 highboy and would like to have the nice big ford motorsport valve covers over my SCJ heads I plan on putting on. What's more Important? Factory AC or a really cool motor under the hood.
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but I'm not too sure I want to try and cut a hole in the firewall to install the "big black box".
It has been done by active members on this forum with no problems
Also, I do like the amount of room in the engine compartment in a non ac cab. I'm planning on putting a 460 into my 77 highboy and would like to have the nice big ford motorsport valve covers over my SCJ heads I plan on putting on
What's more Important? Factory AC or a really cool motor under the hood.
The Tall Valve covers have also been fitted by a presently active member of FTE recently
Athough I agree with you, These projects are doable
It has been done by active members on this forum with no problems
Also, I do like the amount of room in the engine compartment in a non ac cab. I'm planning on putting a 460 into my 77 highboy and would like to have the nice big ford motorsport valve covers over my SCJ heads I plan on putting on
What's more Important? Factory AC or a really cool motor under the hood.
The Tall Valve covers have also been fitted by a presently active member of FTE recently
Athough I agree with you, These projects are doable
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
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You can use aftermarket A/C from vintage or classic without those ugly under dash vent,s . Just go to any junk yard and remove a A/C dash which is a very easy job . Powdercoat it wrinkle black like I did , and duck the new unit to your new dash vent's and you have one very slick looking job.
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Originally Posted by Mil1ion
$1100.00 Plus.USD
I don't think so.
I'll stick with my Armstrong Air
I don't think so.
I'll stick with my Armstrong Air
Thanks for the info!
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: waco
I put factory A/C in my non A/C cab last summer. It was an all day job, but it wasn't at all complicated. I like the looks of the factory A/C better. I don't care for the box hanging out from under the dash.
1100 also sounds pretty expensive. I think I might have tied up about 300 in my factory A/C instalation. That included everything. From start to finish. I used the factory ducts, controls, box, evaporator, and brackets. I bought the condensor and dryer new along with the blower motor and heater core. If you choose to go this route, and you want to use 134A freon, make sure to buy the biggest condensor that you can possibly fit between your radiator and grill. I charged mine with 134A and used the big condensor, and it cools off my cab realy well in the 100 plus degree Texas afternoons.
1100 also sounds pretty expensive. I think I might have tied up about 300 in my factory A/C instalation. That included everything. From start to finish. I used the factory ducts, controls, box, evaporator, and brackets. I bought the condensor and dryer new along with the blower motor and heater core. If you choose to go this route, and you want to use 134A freon, make sure to buy the biggest condensor that you can possibly fit between your radiator and grill. I charged mine with 134A and used the big condensor, and it cools off my cab realy well in the 100 plus degree Texas afternoons.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
I don't know if I would really want my a/c under the dash either. Like Mil1ion said, the leg room would be compromised for the passenger and also I would think that for the passenger, their legs would start freezing and the rest of the cab would still be warm. I have never really been in a old truck with under dash ac so I'm not sure if that would be a problem or not. I have all the parts for the most part, now it's just a matter of cutting the hole in the firewall. The non ac cab has the blower motor on the firewall where the "big box" is located. After cutting out the hole for the box, does the box fit snug to the firewall, or is there going to be some contours in the firewall that are different in the ac cab vs the non ac cab that would make the box not fit nicely against the firewall? I appreciate the feedback.
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From: waco
Hey buck, once you cut the hole, the big box will go right up against the fire wall. The fire wall is the same between A/C and non A/C other than the size of the hole. I traced the hole on a piece of card board and cut it out. Then I held my box up to the fire wall. I took black spray paint and painted around the lip of the box. The paint went through the holes in the lip and marked the fire wall where I needed to drill holes. The rest was simply putting a puzzel together.
Doc
Doc
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 321
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From: Minnesota
I think my 77 F-250 camper special has aftermarket air, but does not have the large box below the dash. If memory serves me correctly, it does not have the large box in the engine compartment, but it does have a seperate fan switch below the center vents built into the dash. I am not sure what type it is and was wondering if you guys know what it is.