This is going to be awful. You have been warned.

I am working on a 1946 pickup, so no factory AC. This truck now sits on a 1988 Ranger chassis that had AC.

Here's where the fun starts. I can use the compressor, mounts, and other stuff from the engine compartment, but there is no room for the heater/Ac box on the firewall.

I do have a heater/ac box that will fit inside the cab (out of a Honda). Is there anyway to make this stuff work together? I have all of the parts for both systems

This is a project truck so I have all the time in the world to make this work, and I'm not looking for frosty cold air, just a way to cool it down a bit in the summer.

This needs to look good when installed, so I will probably be making new lines and re routing them anyway. Is there a distance consideration in the lines. For example if I move the dryer can down to the frame rail by adding a foot of line will it affect the system? I realize it will take more freon to charge with longer lines.

The Honda AC box fits so nicely in the truck that I would like ot use it, but the pulley on the compressor won't match the Ranger stuff (belts are different widths). Otherwise I would just install all of the Honda stuff.

I know I am asking for trouble here, but I would like Ac in this thing, and the after market systems are just too expensive.

 

I don't think there is any harm in moving your components around. Most systems are designed for the space that is available anyway.

 

The simplest option might be to just modify the pulley on the Honda compressor so that it will work with the larger belt.

I will still have to move stuff around so it's nice to know that it might not be a problem. I would like to run the A/C lines in the frame rail and come up in the front cab pillar if possible.

Any one have suggestions on how to modify the lines. I know that I can make copper lines and sweat the connections together, but the aluminum looks nicer.
Do they make tools to make the connections in aluminum.

Just as a side note the Ranger system used rubber and hose clamps, but I don't think it worked very well since it wasn't charged when I got it.

 

The ford parts underhood are OK, use them
The honduh parts inside the cab are OK, so use them
Now you just need a signal from the controlhead to trip a relay to power the compressor, grade school wiring job 101.
Last but not least, the hose connections. Many parts stores sell fittings, hose and do crimping. So once those parst are gathered and connected you are done!

 

You make it sound so simple.

I hope it's as easy as you make it seem.

I originaly thought that I would be asking for a whole lot of trouble when I came up with this idea. I have done A/C work before, and it seems pretty simple, but when I have to start mixing parts I get worried.

I'm still not sure that it wouldn't be easier to weld the ranger pulley over the honda one so that I can just use the complete Honda system and make it match the belts on my truck.

I haven't checked other cars for the heater A/C box (I just happen to have a Honda one on my shelf). Some other car might have a better box for my setup. I need it to be small. There really isn't much room in the engine compartment or under the dash.

Thanks for the info. I think I wil go ahead with the plan and see what happens. If it doesn't work, I can always try something else.

 

Hook it all up, put a set of gauges on it, and make sure nothing climbs too far. But that means, evacuating it, filling with refrigerant (are you going to R134a?) and oil, and testing it out.

It's not hard to rig up a vacuum pump, a pressure/vacuum A/C gauge, and pull a vacuum in the system. the A/C gauge should have a way to hookup a can of refrigerant, and a valve to let it in. That should get you started. Keep an eye on the high-side pressure though, you don't want it to get too high. Since your mixing components, you may get weird results.

Is the Honda setup fixed-orifice? If it is, and you get too much pressure in the high-side, you might have to open that orifice up a bit to get the pressure down.

Also, who knows how much refrigerant you're going to need? Just fill it 'til the high-side pressure is good, and the low-side isn't too low (going to vacuum).

I haven't worked with auto A/C in a while, so I've forgotten more than I currently remember, but I think you get the gist of what I"m trying to say

 

Oh, and if it's fixed-orifice, that means you need a way to cycle the compressor on and off. That means a pressure switch somewhere, to keep it from blowing up, and certainly a good idea anyway.

Study the A/C wiring in the Ranger, it should have a pressure switch in it.

 

I collected the Honda stuff when I was installing the A/C in my wifes car (it had none from the factory). It turns out that between 93 and 94 Honda changed the tiniest things so that the newer stuff wont fit in my wifes 93. Since I already bought the 94 stuff at the salvage yard I decided to see if it would fit in the 46. I had to buy a whole different system for the wifes car.

Since I already installed a similar system in my wifes car I got a pretty good idea about how to put it all together for the truck. Like I said before, the pulley difference is the biggest problem. The honda uses a belt that is three or four ribs narrower than the Ranger.

I would be using all of the factory Honda stuff except the compressor, if I cant get a bigger pulley. The switches and stuff are all there. It should be pretty straight forward once I get the pulley thing figured out, and make a mount for the compressor.

I already have the gauges, and have recharged the wifes Honda. It should be the same process.

All I need now is a lot of free time. I never had any patience, so I will have to get by without that.

 

Fix, sounds like you have a good handle on it.

I'd bet the Honda compressor is used in other configurations as well. Maybe look for a clutch for one from an SUV or something. Watch the diameter of the crank pulley vs. the compressor pulley though, you might under (or over) drive it.

If you do wind up using a different compressor, I'd watch the size of the compressor. Too big, and spun too fast, and it'll be an interesting thing to watch.

A long time ago when I redid the AC in my '76 Triumph TR7, nothing was available locally, or at least not listed as TR7 parts. The compressor is a twin-piston York like a lot (if not all) of 70's Fords used. I needed a clutch, I asked for a TR7 one, no go. I asked for a 1978 Ford LTD clutch, VOILA! New clutch. Only problem was the pulley was a double-belt, but one of the grooves matched right up. The dryer I found by looking up sizes and fittings. Perfect match down to the bracket to hold it to the body.

That was a long-winded way of saying: Auto parts stores have books with listings for all sorts of AC parts. The stuff might not be in the computer, but it'll be in a book somewhere, they just have to look. Or find a friendly place that'll let you get behind the counter to look through their books

 

Fix, if all else fails you can get an under dash unit that houses everything except the comp. I bought ones years back to put into a 1929 tudor becasue room was a big issue after chop and channeling it. I know its money from your pocket but if you like me here in FL you need air 10 months a year. Cow
Ps. If you can't find them look in jc whitney or Hmn book. Good luck

 

I'm in Illinois. I only need A/C for about two months a year. Heat, is another thing altogether.

The after market systems look good, but I can't bring myself to dump that kind of money in something that doesn't make the truck go faster or look nicer.



I never thought about looking at other applications for the compressor. I know some people at a salvage yard that can run an interchange lookup on it. It sure would be nice if I could find a compressor that would fit the system and the larger belts.

Thanks

 

Both vehicles used a fixed orifice valve, and the same type (probably both ND brand also) compressors, so the systems are very compatible. Use the Honda sensors, and wire it all up like it was still in the Honda, and you should be good to go. You can mix and match on this sort of system to almost no end.
On edit:
If both are ND compressors, you might be able to put the Ranger pulley on the Honda compressor.

 

Thanks for filling us in on that Ford_Six!

 

Use the compressor on the ranger. Its size is comparable with the honduh compressor.
You state the ranger has barbed fittings and hose clamps. That sounds like an aftermarket system. The Sanden/Seltec compressor is the appropriate size for the ranger and the honduh. The condenser should be as large as practical.
The ranger and the honduh use a TVX system (expansion valve) thermostat and drier.
You can reuse them, well a new drier of course. A universal 3/8" O-ring drier similar to the ranger one is cheap enough. Use a drier with a High pressure switch for convienence sake.
Amount of refrigerant. The Honduhs charge weight should be close to right. Start out with a charge 8 oz light, its easy to add more. About 26 oz should be about right, depending on the condenser size compared to the honduh condenser.

 

I think you might be right about the Ranger system. I cut and installed the core support into the 46, and it looks like it has been modified for the A/C.

I will probably get factory parts if I have to use any of the Ranger stuff. I need to find the time to try some stuff out on it.
I'm currently in college so the whole thing will be put on hold for the next 16 weeks, but you have all given me quite a bit to think about during my classes. I'm starting to think that this might actually work.

Thanks for all the help and advice.
as a novice A/C installer it is reassuring to know that I'm not trying to do the impossible.