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Thought I would put a thread together to see what people are doing to add that all essential air conditioning to their trucks to beat our heat. This is also in my build thread, but thought I might share this here to see what people who really need A/C think of the approach I'm taking, and maybe develop a resource for other methods for other folks in setting up their trucks.
I didn't care for having that obnoxious box handing below the dash, so when I was parting out the '98 explorer donor (Engine, tranny and rear also going in the truck), I kept the AC box that goes under the hood.
The air flow will basically come into the interior just like the factory. Will pass across the heater core and out the back of the interior box into the Explorer box under the hood. Pass the fan and A/C evaporator out there, then pass back through the fire wall into the interior air box using the original '64 fan hole to be distributed.
Interior F-100 box modifications: Will be using the explorer fan located in the A/C box, so took out the F-100 fan. Cut a blank-off for the original air path to redirect the airflow. I had to relocate one of the bolt stand offs to the bottom of the box and drilled a new firewall hole for it. Cut a hole in the back of the box in the section with the heater core. Will buy a new heater core (1992 ford van rear heater core should fit) and lay it flat across this opening. The heater hoses will have to route out the bottom and through new holes in the fire wall. These will be about the only new thing visible on the interior once this is done.
Fabricated some flat stock metal to create the two air passages between the box and the interior of the fire wall. At final install, I will seal these off to the box and fire wall.
Under hood: Had to relocate some of the mounting bolts in order to clear the interior modifications to mount the explorer box. Cut a couple new holes through the fire wall. Note: In the pics i still have some trimming to do. Cut the fire wall holes a little small so I didn't have to risk patching something back in. I'm guessing that I will have to do some notches to the interior fender to clear the air box.
I know the passages through the firewall are going to be a little restricted, but that A/C for an SUV should have no issues keeping up with that small cab, which will get full insulation for these 110 degree days.
Mocked up to firewall Another view of the mockup Plenum fabrication More plenum fab Firewall cutout, trimmed the openings a little more after this pic. Interior heater box Blank-off for heater box
Last edited by leeinphx; Aug 10, 2019 at 01:54 PM.
Reason: wrong year on heater core
What are you going to do for insulation? I keep thinking about this for mine, going back to school days & starting with premise that heat transfers via convection, conduction & radiation. I almost want to double wall the cab, insulate each side within, but leave an air gap - same w firewall, at least where I can. I keep looking at different products like Lizard Skin, too - looks like they have both sound reduction & temp control products - but I would most likely use it in conjunction with other products. Just curious. I was looking at clear UV blocking window "tint" as well. My goal is basically to make my cab into a Yeti cooler, ha.
I don't have a heat gun, but would love to know what a stock steel cab gets to in an AZ July with the windows up - I used to dread driving this thing in the summer.
Not sure, but most likely will use self adhesive on the lid, firewall, door interiors and back of the cab. There are more options for the floor. I'm good with just slowing down the heat transfer to repel the heat in the summer to take advantage of what heat I remove with the A/C. Probably a good thing I didn't finish that thermodynamics class in college or I would be getting the calculator out about now
I'm working on a '53 COE and figured the dash was the same as an F100 so I ordered a kit from Vintage Air. I'm using a '96 fuel injected 460 from an F250 and it had A/C originally so I had them delete the compressor from my kit. They said the factory Ford compressor is a good one and will work well. I'm using the '96 aluminum radiator too. I'm hoping if I get out of town and a rock or something else hits my radiator, I can find one at the local parts house.
Nice, I've mainly heard good things about the vintage air systems. Have you put it in yet? The ones I've looked at I wasn't sure how they connected to the outside air duct on the passenger side, or do you just convert that to a vent?
I had thought about just tossing my parts and doing a vintage air, then my Scottish heritage kicked in and hit me up the back side of the head "dummy, you have a complete AC system sitting there, with a compressor that fits the engine, see if you can make it work"... Only thing I haven't quite figured out yet is the controls. Fan speed should be easy, but I think I recall the Explorer having an A/C control module. Hope that was just to tell the engine that the a/c was on so it could compensate for it.
I haven't installed any of it yet. Hopefully it goes easy.
I understand your wanting to use the Explorer stuff and do it yourself! I have done many things like that in the past and most work out ok. I'm 64 now and basically, I've gotten lazy and want to just be able to bolt it in and go if possible. The rest of the truck is testing my fabrication skills, and I'm not setting any records or impressing myself too much either!
Thanks for posting the pictures. Keep us updated and the pictures coming,
Ken.
I have to get the engine rebuilt and installed first, then will update. Probably will try to do that this winter. Was up to my shop over the weekend getting my other project ('75 Maverick) running and off the lift so I can take the truck up. Hope to have the F100 on the road by spring.
Do you know how many Maverick parts would end up on my F100 & vice versa if I did both projects at once? That's a lot of work. Wouldn't mind checking out the pics of the Maverick. My brother's got a '60 Galaxy I told him I'd help with once I get the '55 on the road. (I hesitate to say "done.") But I also want to do a '54 F100 for my wife. I love the front grilles on those - maybe my favorite out of the series. Anything I can do to make sure I stay poor.
I have gone back and forth a bunch of times about which engine/tranny combo to put in each of these. I have a 92 Cougar 5.0L HO/AOD and a '98 Explorer 5.0l/4R70. Finally decided the older lower HP motor would be more than enough for the Maverick, and I have more room in the engine bay for all the crap on that Exploder engine. Fortunately the maverick already had an 8" rear end, so putting the Explorer rear in the F100 was an easy choice.
Checked out your Maverick thread - that's a nice looking engine. Working on my 223 right now & not too impressed with past work on it. & that's coming from a guy who doesn't know what he's doing!
Look forward to seeing the progress. I think I'm going to start a build thread in the main section - seems to be a lot of eyes there & I'm simply amazed at some of these build threads from other guys. Truly admire the skills of the folks on here!
Got the heater core (Spectra Premium 94783) this week so drilled out the box and mocked it into place, not sure how I will secure the core in the box, but it looks like its going to work fine. Once i get the foam tape to seal it off on the back, it should center in the holes pretty well.
Taymo, give us the link to your build thread when you set it up so we can check it out.
Well, since I need AC & have no idea how to build that myself, I'll definitely keep watching & taking notes. Hope everything's going well with you. Starting to cool off at least a little bit it seems - if I get up early I can work in the 80s now.
Not too exciting, but hoping if I post a daily update it'll keep me on my toes.
So judging by that motor pic you showed in your Maverick thread, I'm assuming you know I thing or two about engines. I'm getting my 223 6 ready for the machine shop & after poking around online I'm thinking about having the cylinders bored .060 over stock (found some pistons & rings online from Northern that should fit), then taking .040 off the head. Also found an Offenhauser carb adapter that'll let me replace the original 1904 single barrel with a 350 cfm Holley 2300 2 barrel.
You think that would work, keeping stock cam, intake & exhaust manifolds? Or if I make the changes above, do you think I'd have to mess with this other stuff, too? (Not to derail your AC thread - suppose you could PM me back if you want to keep it out of here.)
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