We paused working on the truck and built a house during the pandemic and left very little time to work on trucks. Needless to say, we have finally gotten back to working on trucks and have made a little progress on the Bullnose. A while back we cleaned up the bed and got it ready for a UPOL Raptor Liner spray in bedliner. We have never used this before, but it is very easy to use and goes on very easy. As with anything like this, prep is key. a good scuffing and cleaning and we got busy spraying.



This is the filler box I made to allow us to use the factory (option) rear tank for this year truck. The rear end we used from the 2002 CV has a centered section where the truck was offset. This centered rear would have had the driveshaft rubbing the factory saddle tank.

We then started mounting the Vintage Air evaporator AC/Heat unit in the dash. This is a kit we bought, but is not made for this truck. It comes with some flimsy mounting brackets, but we tossed those and fabbed some new ones. We also wanted to reuse the factory compressor and condenser since it is packaged so well with the radiator. We were able to get some adapters from Cold Hose for the compressor and they modified the aluminum lines from the condenser to adapt to the Vintage setup. We deleted the factory AC/Heat box from the firewall and made a delete panel. This is where we installed the bulkhead for the hoses from the evap box. I then took a piece of carbon fiber kydex and made a panel to mount the controls. We shot Lizard Skin on the interior of the truck, but are also using a layer of Restomod Membrane. A few feet of heater hose and this project will be complete.

 

Good to hear you are back on it but I can see a place to live would be at the top of the list.

That looks great
What kit did you use fron VA?
I know others will want to know also.
Dave----

 

Here is the list of things we used:
AC/Heat Unit: Gen II Super - Heat and Cool
AC/*****: Gen II Streamline 4-**** Control Panel with Black Anodized Finish
Hose Kit: Beadlock 14-Fitting Extended Length Refrigerant Hose Kit without Drier
Drier kit with Trinary Switch: Standard Painted Drier with Trinary Switch and Mounting Hardware
Bulkhead Kit: Streamline Polished Aluminum 4-Way Square Bulkhead Plate for AC and Heater 6-10 Male O-Ring
Bulkhead Fitting Kit: Beadlock Type 4-Way Bulkhead Fitting Kit
Compressor Fittings: Ford DKS-17DS, FS18, FS20 Suction and Discharge Block Fittings
Additional Fittings:
Beadlock O-Ring Fittings with 134a Service Ports NO 8 Hose Fitting - 90 degree With Port
Beadlock O-Ring Fittings with 134a Service Ports NO 10 Hose Fitting - 90 degree With Port
These were needed because the 135 degree fittings that come with the hose kit above have too much bend to them and because the Compressor is mounted so low on the 4.6, it would hit the frame.
A/C Hose Crimp Kit:
Restomod Membrane This is thermal and sound deadening material we are using in the cab and along the firewall.

We also used a few inches of the stock aluminum AC hoses that come off of the condenser and had them modified by Cold Hose to have a male #8 and male #10 to adapt them to the Vintage Hose setup. These hoses come out of the condenser aluminum and then crimp on to rubber hoses from the factory, we just cut them and sent the aluminum pieces to CH and told them what we needed done. About $50 with shipping and we were able to use the factory Crown Vic condenser.

 

Thanks for the list.
I need to go back over your build from page 1 as it is such a nice job.
Dave ----

 

I have missed documenting some of the steps we have taken to get to where we are now, but here is a teaser shot of the work completed last weekend. Dangerously close at this point. Vintage Air is completely installed, charged and blowing 26 degree at the vent, Dakota Digital VHX Gauges installed and (mostly) calibrated, Alpine BT stereo and 99% of the interior installed. Still some fine tuning/adjustments to make, add a windshield and we are ready to start putting some miles on it.

 

I have missed documenting some of the steps we have taken to get to where we are now, but here is a teaser shot of the work completed last weekend. Dangerously close at this point. Vintage Air is completely installed, charged and blowing 26 degree at the vent, Dakota Digital VHX Gauges installed and (mostly) calibrated, Alpine BT stereo and 99% of the interior installed. Still some fine tuning/adjustments to make, add a windshield and we are ready to start putting some miles on it.

 

Cant wait to see it outside and full pictures.

I also hate you on that AC blowing 26* I am still fighting issues with my AC system.
Dave ----

 

We are very close now, probably 95 percent. We are able to put some miles on this thing and start working through completion of this truck. This thing runs and drives great, has plenty of power (even with the 3.27 gears) stops on a dime and has ICE cold AC.

 

Well done job
Dave ----

 

man, that turned out really nice.

 

Very, very nice. That needs to go to CTC. Love to see it going down 90 with a entrance placard in the window.

 

These projects never seem to be 100 percent complete, but this one is close enough to go to Cruisin the Coast this year. (If anyone else is going, let me know!) We have put 125 or so miles on it trying to work out a few little bugs, but she runs and drives great, and is ready to be out on the road. I will trailer it down as it is over 3 hours from the house, but plan to put as many miles as I can on it while we are down there. Hopefully next year we can take my '77, too! Saturday we will clean it up real good, put the pinstripe on, and nut and bolt the truck before loading it up.


If anyone has a good stainless tailgate panel, let me know. This one is original to the truck and is pretty faded and the red reflector is missing.

 

I've got some questions about the vintage air set up can you PM me!

 

I dont think you can get PM's yet as you need think 20? post before PM's will work.
He list and email so might try emiling him
Dave ----

 

that's what I figured, ill try to email him. I bought everything he listed just having trouble fitting the unit under the dash