Cheap AC
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Cascade, ID
Cheap AC
So...... It has been about 106 for about 2 weeks now. Every summer about this time I start wishing my daily driver '69 F100 had AC.
I was talking to a friend of mine today at Motorfest and he said that I could probably get AC in mine for less than $600 dollars. But that price is still out of my current College student budget. We are trying to install forced air in our house and can't afford the duct work currently, my wife said no AC in the pickup untill the house has AC. Bummer.
So I was on Ebay looking for under dash units and came across some for about $50 bucks for just the unit.
I have often wondered about using the AC out of a newer vehicle and making it fit in the ol Ford. Not sure about that can of worms though. Any suggestions/ideas on this one?
I was talking to a friend of mine today at Motorfest and he said that I could probably get AC in mine for less than $600 dollars. But that price is still out of my current College student budget. We are trying to install forced air in our house and can't afford the duct work currently, my wife said no AC in the pickup untill the house has AC. Bummer.
So I was on Ebay looking for under dash units and came across some for about $50 bucks for just the unit.
I have often wondered about using the AC out of a newer vehicle and making it fit in the ol Ford. Not sure about that can of worms though. Any suggestions/ideas on this one?
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by scottfreeman
So...... It has been about 106 for about 2 weeks now. Every summer about this time I start wishing my daily driver '69 F100 had AC.
I was talking to a friend of mine today at Motorfest and he said that I could probably get AC in mine for less than $600 dollars. But that price is still out of my current College student budget. We are trying to install forced air in our house and can't afford the duct work currently, my wife said no AC in the pickup untill the house has AC. Bummer.
So I was on Ebay looking for under dash units and came across some for about $50 bucks for just the unit.
I have often wondered about using the AC out of a newer vehicle and making it fit in the ol Ford. Not sure about that can of worms though. Any suggestions/ideas on this one?
I was talking to a friend of mine today at Motorfest and he said that I could probably get AC in mine for less than $600 dollars. But that price is still out of my current College student budget. We are trying to install forced air in our house and can't afford the duct work currently, my wife said no AC in the pickup untill the house has AC. Bummer.
So I was on Ebay looking for under dash units and came across some for about $50 bucks for just the unit.
I have often wondered about using the AC out of a newer vehicle and making it fit in the ol Ford. Not sure about that can of worms though. Any suggestions/ideas on this one?
After 1964, all the passenger cars with FE engines A/C units are integral heater/air combinations, and won't work on an F series truck.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Jul 7, 2007 at 05:24 PM.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by scottfreeman
So what about the feasibility of retrofitting a AC/heater out of something newer like an Explorer or something? Am I crazy?
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Elder User
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From: Cascade, ID
I wanted the the heater/AC integral, that way the heater air is dried so that in the winter and during the rainy season my windows would not fog up anymore. I could make a panel to hold the controls for it. the early Explorers had small dash space if I remember correctly. Just a thought I have thrown around in my head for years.
If I had the money, I would run a Vintage Air setup. But I don't so I can't.
If I had the money, I would run a Vintage Air setup. But I don't so I can't.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Kearney, Nebraska
I just purchased a factory AC unit out of a Junk Yard out of a 1971 Ford F100 for $125. Got the compressor, brackets, under dash unit, condensor, etc. After replacing everything I think I will have about $400 in it. If you did not replace the heater core (highly recomended) and did not have to change the blower motor and the compressor or the Clutch you could get by pretty cheap (chances of this are pretty slim). I of course have some R12 that I bought about 30 years ago for .89 - If all my other investments had only been so profitable! Good Luck!
George
George
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by gquinn8516
I just purchased a factory AC unit out of a Junk Yard out of a 1971 Ford F100 for $125. Got the compressor, brackets, under dash unit, condensor, etc. After replacing everything I think I will have about $400 in it. If you did not replace the heater core (highly recomended) and did not have to change the blower motor and the compressor or the Clutch you could get by pretty cheap (chances of this are pretty slim). I of course have some R12 that I bought about 30 years ago for .89 - If all my other investments had only been so profitable! Good Luck!George
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
I see quite a few bumpsides in the wrecking yards around here with aftermarket A/C and have even found two with the factory A/C. (Factory A/C has the controls integral with the heater controls and has the evaporator up behind the glove box, and so has a very shallow glove box.)
Mine has aftermarket A/C installed, just needs to be charged. (I pulled a vacuum on it and it held quite well...just wish I had some of your R12, someone stole my last 2 cans!)
So don't overlook the wrecking yards as a possible source of an A/C unit, and as Bill and George said, get everything off the truck including compressor and mounting brackets, condensor (in front of the radiator) drier and hoses.
Mine has aftermarket A/C installed, just needs to be charged. (I pulled a vacuum on it and it held quite well...just wish I had some of your R12, someone stole my last 2 cans!)
So don't overlook the wrecking yards as a possible source of an A/C unit, and as Bill and George said, get everything off the truck including compressor and mounting brackets, condensor (in front of the radiator) drier and hoses.
Last edited by TigerDan; Jul 8, 2007 at 10:23 AM.
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
I would think that any new aftermarket system is designed for R134A. R12 hasn't been manufactured for over ten years now and most remaining supplies are either NOS or reclaimed and filtered refrigerant. So it's still availbale, but it's expensive and you have to be A/C certified to legally buy it.
An older R12 system can be converted with a bit of work. Rather than my typing it all out, just click on the link and you can read about most of the process:
http://www.nichols.nu/tip306.htm
An older R12 system can be converted with a bit of work. Rather than my typing it all out, just click on the link and you can read about most of the process:
http://www.nichols.nu/tip306.htm
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Kearney, Nebraska
Just remember that when you change these older systems over to R134 they don't always cool well at idle or lower engine RPM. I don't think that the old style compressors build enough pressure to make them cool as good as the new systems.
George
George
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Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Part of the problem is that R134A needs a bigger, more efficient condensor to radiate the heat out of the system so R12 condensors don't always work as well. Once you get up to speed and there's more airflow through the condensor it helps, but at low speed it's not as efficient a heat exchanger.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Yes, to a certain degree. It also has to do with the design of the condensor. Parallel flow condensors are more efficient than the standard tube-and-fin condensors, althought they tend to be on the pricey side. Here's a little more info, and the site this is on is worth poking around a bit:
http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?S..._Code=Parallel
http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?S..._Code=Parallel
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 432
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From: YORK S.C.
i found a company in north carolina that sells complete a/c kits it is under dash unit comes with a new compressor,everything to hook it up..mine has r12 since i had some laying around..the entire unit cost me $700 and have had no problems
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