Air conditioning

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Aug 10, 2006 | 08:14 PM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

Likes: 1

From: S.W. Florida

Air conditioning

Do any of you guys have a system from "Southern Air" AKA Southern Rods? Are you happy with it? They are less pricey than some other brands, which is appealing, but it's been my experience that you get what you pay for.. I have an R-12 system from the 80's on my truck. Sears and Roebuck!! evaperator and one of those unsightly, yet effective, York compressors under the hood. I have the oppritunity to buy a new, in the boxes, Southern system relatively cheap, but don't care for the evap. It looks cheesy and flimsy.

Aug 10, 2006 | 08:18 PM

tacson

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 2,578

Likes: 208

From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

raerjm,

Don't do it. I seen so many horror stories regarding Southern Air. A club member has one in his 55' and he is not happy with it. Here is a recent thread about AC. Are you looking to go UNDERdash or INdash? By indash I mean a unit that go up behind your dash and not be seen.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ditioners.html

Aug 10, 2006 | 10:05 PM

rhopper

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 1,511

Likes: 1

From: peyton, colorado

Go to jalopyjournal.com and do a search. Lots of bad info about them on that site.

Aug 11, 2006 | 12:11 AM

TBucketJack

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 203

Likes: 0

From: Glendale, AZ

I went with Hot Rod Air's Streamline Under Dash heat & a/c in my 49 F-1. Didn't want to give up my glove box. Its a R-134 system, I installed it in April 2005 and am going on my second summer as my daily driver.

Aug 11, 2006 | 06:29 AM

GreatNorthWoods

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 8,813

Likes: 13

From: Littleton, New Hampshire

A/C installation is something you want to do only once. Go with a Vintage Air system and you won't be disappointed.

Vern

Aug 11, 2006 | 06:38 AM

merc546

Posting Guru

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 1,243

Likes: 0

From: Michigan

I installed a Vintage air unit in my 56 this year. It really works good.

It's not as easy install as they would like you to believe, but the end results are worth it.

You will end up with about a 2 1/2 inch deep glove box so no radio mounting there.

I mounted the radio and the A/C control panel in the dash so I could reach the controls while I'm driving.

Chuck

Aug 11, 2006 | 06:53 AM

tacson

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 2,578

Likes: 208

From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatNorthWoods

A/C installation is something you want to do only once.

Vern

Amen Vern!!!!!

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Aug 11, 2006 | 08:53 PM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

Likes: 1

From: S.W. Florida

Thanks fellas. A buddy with a dusty jug of R-12 recharged my existing system tonite. ( it was cold, but low, starting to ice the evap core) I passed on the other. An "in dash" Vintage system would not work for me due to stereo hole and other problems with an in dash unit. Will opt for a fresh knee knocker, maybe next summer.