Hi,

I am interested in getting an antique/classic Ford Truck. I was wondering which year that real A/C came out on these trucks. I know all trucks have the 2/60 A/C, but I wanted one with the extra coolness for those hot, hot days. I live in GA, which has some brutal summers. I guess all trucks have a heater in them.

Thanks,

Chris

 

I would start checking some junk yards, if you find one you will want to get every part you can possibly remove. The AC trucks have a larger hole cut through the cab to house the plenum assembly. The first truck I got did not not have AC, I went to the local junk yard and bought the dash, plenum, ductwork, heater/ac controls, wiring harness, hoses, accuumulator and condensor, pump brackets and all pulleys, I picked it all up for 100.00
The most impotant thing you need to do is either get a good pair of metal shears to remove the section of dash that the plenum is mounted through and cut this out or make a really good template of the area.
This section can be cut out of the firewall once the dash and plenum have been removed, warning it is a P.I.T.A. and tight quarters to cut out. I have done it and converted a couple of trucks.
Two junkyards I know of in Georgia are Futrills on US 82 west of Tifton approx 20 or so miles and Obsolete Ford parts on US 82 east of Tifton in Nashville, GA

I live in Indiana but my wife is from Tifton and when we visit I try to swing by as many yards as I can.

I will try to post a non ac cab photo and one after it was cut out tonight.
Click on my user name and then select view gallery to look at them.

Rudy

 

my 78 f100 has ac equipped in it, it actually works very well too. And I live in TN and man was it a hot summer here this yr as well.

 

I am actually doing a little bit of homework before I decide to buy one. I had a newer 99 F-150, but had some financial troubles come up, so I had to get rid of it. I have been wanting another one and thought about the classic trucks. Would love to have one with either a 302 or 351W with automatic, ps, & a/c. The trucks back then sound great with a nice set of headers and true-dual exhaust.

 

First Ford F100/350 with in dash factory air conditioning: 1967

No 351W's were installed in F Series trucks till 1980.

 

you could get an under dash unit too. even if it didn't come factory, you could easily get one of them to work.

 

Yeah? But the burning question is, "How well do they work?" I found one at the junkyard, I can get it for $50. If it isn't going to cool for squat, I don't want to mess with trying to retrofit it into my truck.

 

Quote; Yeah? But the burning question is, "How well do they work?" I found one at the junkyard, I can get it for $50. If it isn't going to cool for squat, I don't want to mess with trying to retrofit it into my truck.

Most of the guys I have talked with claim the underdash after market units will freeze you out.

 

Underdash units work just fine. I have messed with automotive air conditioning since 1957 at which time my Dad started doing auto a/c installations in his shop. Those underdash units would freeze you to death. Put one in a volume as small as a pickup cab and your problem will be remembering to bring along a sweater.

It would be no problem to find a compressor mount and drive in the wrecking yard for most any engine that was used in a dent side truck. You can then put a condensor in front of the radiator, a unit under the dash and have a frosty cold cab.

 

My 68 F100 came with factory air. The ac has a 2 ton exp valve, will put out a constant 35f air during 100F days. The truck has/had no insulations and would still cool it down and freeze you out. So yes they worked rather well. Uses R12 for freon. Any retrofit to 134a if not done right (replaced evap, cond, comp) you will loose 35% out of these old units and will destroy the old compressors.

 

Yes, blue is right on with his recommendation to stay with R12. It is false economy to spend hundreds of dollars on "upgrade" to save fifty bucks on refrigerant.

On the other hand, if you decide to put in a new, aftermarket a/c system, you will only get it for 134 and it will work fine. Getting a wrecking yard system would be much cheaper, in spite of the fact that you will be paying for R12 as the refrigerant.

BTW, if you have not yet purchased a dent sides truck, you will find that most of them came with factory air, at least in the Southern states.

 

427 SOHC - I'm planning to do the conversion of non-ac to ac using the factory equipment. What exactly did you have to remove the dash for? To run the ducting? I was considering removing the front clip (already restored) to get access from the front but wasn't thinking of removing the whole dash. Was planning to cut holes for the vents. The entire system is in a donor truck at the moment. What is necessary for the wiring harness? Is there additional wiring for the ac system?

Thanks for your help.