Vintage Air,it's the most efficient unit on the market. Remember the old adage ~ The the bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. HRP
I'm looking at Vintage Air also, they don't make a unit for a 50 or 51 but have a universal that run from about 18" to 25" long 10" deep that go under the glove box over to the hump in the middle. Think the 25 is too long. You're looking at about $1200 for the whole system course then you have to install it. Interior and air are going into mine this winter. Just gotta get up off my wallet.
VA is the only choice. They have been designing and manufacturing A/C units for over three decades with excellent Technical Support. What ever you do, don't even think about a Southern Rods unit they are garbage. They don't manufacture anything. They are only a parts vendor. Gary
I have used Classic Air kits in the last 4 I installed. The ones I put in a 40 and 41 Chevies i used the factory choke and throttle cables to control them. Sent from my LG-H343 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I used Southern Air's biggest & best (Most expensive) Heat & Air unit in the Ranch Wagon and I won't call it junk but I will say it's less than adequate on a hot day in the front seat. As for the heat ~ It will run you out of the car. Nothing against Tom but I will use Vintage Air in the future. HRP
Properly selected, and they will help you, Vintage Air components will keep a side of beef fresh, in the summer Arizona sun, for as long as you can keep the engine running.
Well, not to be disagreeable, but I chose to get and install an "Old Air Products" system in my '49. I'm a retired mechanical engineer, and owned a couple of A/C companies. What I liked about their system is that it is a "draw through" rather than a "blow through" arrangement. Draw through has two advantages: the air flow pattern through the coils is more evenly distributed over the entire surface area (probable that more capacity per square inch of coil), and the system should be quieter than a blow through. I have no data on this, but on the blow throughs that I researched indicated that the fan intake is wide open to the passenger compartment, and that arrangement contributes to more noise than if the intake of the fan is inside the enclosure and downstream of the coils. It's very compact and fit perfectly. If Interested I could post some pictures and measurements. And it does not disturb the stock glove box.
By the way, I got a junk yard Jeep condenser that was still under pressure and chrome compressor off Amazon, so I only bought the evaporator/heater section with electronic heater valve and controls/harness. Check out my website for more info. I didn't take a great deal of pictures of the A/C system, but if you scroll the "interior", "under the hood" (pictures of condenser and fans install), "tips and tricks", and a couple of pics so you can see how well hidden the unit is in the "wiring the car" galleries ...when you use their separate underdash diffusers. Each picture has a text description below it. Click the little up arrow thing below the picture for the text to "pop up"...................Here are a few pictures: https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Wiring-the-Car/i-VwTvdrs/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/The-Interior/i-vK4QL4w/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/The-Interior/i-7CBkg6s/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/The-Interior/i-szPLgXc/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/The-Interior/i-5BKtwGL/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-VvKgwt6/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-xK4XDn6/A The condenser part number https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-RjsHMSJ/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-mcgR6Nm/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-sN6bR2m/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-4M9pq66/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-xpmCHWx/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-kR7fCbS/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-x7BwtfP/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-b4CNx6R/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-HMC8tfc/A Evaporator/heater with piping https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-4N3bzMn/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Under-the-hood-modifications/i-h3gvhcJ/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Finishing-up-Details/i-Jk9666M/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Finishing-up-Details/i-wL3XMTh/A https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Finishing-up-Details/i-TqDhQRD/A
Ok thanks for all the response. I will definitely go with vintage air. Now do I go with the super or the magnum. My only concern is been able to tuck the evaporator up under the dash without it been seen. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
We use about a 60/40 ratio of Vintage to Old Air units at out Texas shop. Both are of equal quality, good R&D, good well informed support, and equal in price. The Old Air guys come up with the POA eliminator for old GM cars and have some units that are more hidden and usually allow a bigger glove box. The Vintage brackets and controls are offered in a wider range. On your Merc you might consider mounting an under dash unit up in the dash which is then completely hidden. Makes a very simple one wire hook up since all controls are integral to the unit and with no ducts to cool down you get instant cold air. I say this because after seeing your metal work modifying a dash should not be a problem for you. Shot of an under dash unit in the dash of a 39 Ford.
By the way, the box hanging down under the dash on the right side is the factory location for the battery box and not part of the a/c system.
Roy at Vintage Air said with the size of my more door Merc I needed to go as big as possible but I don't think I have room for the magnum it's 25" long and there just isn't that much room under my dash. Guess anybody in the back seat just won't be as cool.
Is everything insulated? Roof? firewall? plenty of floor pad? Doors? If so, the size won't be so significant..
Kind of interesting how none of the after market A/C systems manufacturers don't publish the system actual cooling system capacity. So how can anybody make an educated decision especially when trying to compare dollars per BTUH ?
Vintag Air for me also. I don't mind at all the bit of black evaporator case below the dash. I would do whatever necessary to install the largest possible.
Definitely call Jack at Vintage Air. I've had a VA unit in each car I owned, that's 5, and been very satisfied. You should purchase his condenser. It is high-tech and the only one of its kind on the market. Rick Love may also be one to talk to. Gary
Speaking of that fucking Arizona sun, we took I-8 at Casa Grande last year heading to LARS. It was 115 and my unit struggled a bit because my curtains leak at the tops of the doors. Nevertheless, the cabin stayed acceptable. The curtains are now sealed much better, and that unit makes my juevos shrink. LOL. Jack's stuff works in South Texas. That is quite an endorsement.
Everything will be insulated. It's more about been able to hide it under the dash and still get good air. Sounds like the Gen ll super might be the answer, been slightly smaller in size to the magnum. Thanks for all your help. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I can't take the credit for the metal work done on the merc. All done by Matt Townsend Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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