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Underdash AC-experience and opinions

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Tacson, Jun 19, 2009.

  1. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    I bought Old Air Products from Ft Worth too. It wouldnt fit my 57 chevy even though they claimed it would. It didnt cool well at all. I recommend everyone stay away from Old Air
     
  2. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    I bought one from Lucky in Texas. Chinese. Do I really need to tell you it is crap?
     
  3. Tacson
    Joined: Jul 14, 2006
    Posts: 850

    Tacson
    Member


    David it actually is doing very well. Glad I made the swap. In hindsight I should have started out with underdash. Thanks
     
  4. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    I used an old Mustang under dash unit and mounted all the other items and then took it to a local guy for gassing and wiring up. Not too costly that way and you can chose the quality of your parts.
    This was my 3rd home installed unit and I've never had a problem with any of them and cooling was always great.
    Just make sure you have a decent radiator and fan with shroud etc.
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. I have two vehicles I put original 60's underdash A/C units into. Both cool great, using R134a instead of the original R12. Sure the TXV (thermal expansion valve) is not exactly right for R134a, but it is close enough it works fine. Biggest thing with R134a is you need to use one of the newer style serpentine condensers as used on R134a newer cars. The old R12 tube and fin type condensers just do not remove enough heat to work optimally with the R134a. It is not an evaporator issue, those old underdash units can make plenty of cold air when supplied refrigerant as cooler liquid at the TXV.
    Don't forget to make sure the condensate drain is clear and connected up. In humid climates that underdash unit can create a lot of water. Soaked the floor in my old COE when it leaked.
     
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  6. Nothing wrong with mounting a air conditioner below the dash, That was the norm when cars & trucks were purchased and then air was installed later.

    Back in 1975 I used a add on unit from 1968 Ford in my 1940 Ford sedan and it worked great. HRP
     
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  7. Tacson
    Joined: Jul 14, 2006
    Posts: 850

    Tacson
    Member

    HRP
    Underdash is pretty handy. No duct work or nothing to impede efficiency/performance
     
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  8. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    I have a knee-knocker in my 56 Olds that the previous owner installed. The inside of the car is big so it won't freeze you out like a modern car where you eventually have to turn the air down, but it will certainly make the inside of the car very cool and comfortable. We went out last weekend in 95 degree weather and cruised very comfortably in the a/c, a true luxury IMHO. Having the air blow directly on you is key to the A/C really working to cool you off.
     
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  9. 55longroof
    Joined: Apr 6, 2020
    Posts: 15

    55longroof

    IMG_0776.JPG
    Love this vintage air mark IV, usually on low in 90+deg. weather. In a 55 wagon !


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  10. lemondana
    Joined: Feb 21, 2009
    Posts: 225

    lemondana
    Member
    from Lincoln NE

    In your picture of the compressor mounted on the small block Chevy. You have it mounted so the hoses exit down. They recommend that they be mounted with hose outlets no more than 90 degrees down from vertical. Call Classic auto Air or Vintage Air for their opinion.
     
  11. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

  12. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA


    Thanks for the heads up on my compressor orientation.
    It is a bad pic really, as it was never finally installed that way. Now the outlets are pointed up and the previous pic's were taken during making the mounts.
    For the record, the compressor outlets need to point upwards from what I know to prevent loss of oil that is contained within the gas system for lubrication.
    With outlets pointed up rather than down the oil will always run back down and remain in the compressor body.
    In hindsight I probably should not have even posted those compressor pics as I would not want to give a newbie the wrong idea...
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 27, 2020
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  13. TrailerTrashToo
    Joined: Jun 20, 2018
    Posts: 1,289

    TrailerTrashToo
    Member

    2019 06 01 Final test fit of evaporator.jpg
    Location of the under dash evaporator box make a big difference. This car has a small footwell and the box is mounted to the right (passenger side) of the shift lever (in 3rd gear). Yesterdays test drive proved that this location does a great job of cooling my right ear lobe.

    Ideally, center mount the evaporator box, both driver and passenger get an equal shot at the cool air. In this case, the shift lever is in the way, I will have to twist the box toward the driver - still pondering the "how"...

    Air conditioning is 10 # of "stuff" in a 5# sack. This is the smallest evaporator box (from a vendor that I trust) in my searching.

    https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Universal-Under-Dash-A-C-Cooling-Unit,50705.html

    Made in Texas, for Speedway, by Victory Climate Systems.
     
  14. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,397

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    Nothing recent but back when I bought my new 66 Chevy Impala Super Sport it came without air so I had the dealer install an air kit that came with a MK 4 under dash unit and it would freeze your butt off. (so to speak)
     
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  15. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA


    Yeah, I had a 1967 GMC C10 like that. Great pickup and a/c but boy I could use it as a refrigerator or even freeze at times. No place for a Scotsman...
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2020
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  16. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,442

    goldmountain

    Back in the dark ages when I put an underdash unit in my '47 Plymouth, I cut up the piece under the dash that held the ignition switch and other controls and brazed that onto the top of the a/c unit. It worked good but the condensation drain tubes were too high to let the water out. There is definitely a reason why those underdash units are adjustable for tilting.
     
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  17. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

    [​IMG]

    This old wards was missing the switch. I hooked it up on high to test the fan. It pushes air well. Switch, new expansion valve and clean up be ready to go. Looks like the frigiking units in comparison [​IMG]


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  18. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 2,554

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Scored another unit at the Paso Robles swap this morning for 35 bucks.same as the one in my 64 elky 20200829_085930.jpg
     
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  19. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

    I’ve bought 2 of those one nice than the other but don’t put out as much air as some other Mark IV. I want to use them too. From what I’ve read Mark IV used same fans in all there units.
    .[​IMG]


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  20. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

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  21. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 2,554

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    I've heard you can change the fans and motor out for a newer one that vintage air sells but mine blows just as good as the new ones (which I've installed) but is a bit louder
     
  22. 55longroof
    Joined: Apr 6, 2020
    Posts: 15

    55longroof

    It does quite well, the whole wagon cools down. I'd compare it to a 6000 btu room air conditioner!


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  23. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

    Friend of mine gave me this artic kar. He said it was in a 63’ Cadillac hearse. Looks good when I put it in my 57 Pontiac. Tested the fan it’s smooth. IMG_4965.JPG


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  24. A few years back I installed an entire Vintage Air under dash kit, in a customer’s ‘70 351 Ranchero.
    Other than having to custom fit all the hoses, all the engine and cabin parts worked great. Looked 70’s perfect and blew ice cold.
    Tech department very helpful too


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  25. davidh73750
    Joined: Apr 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,598

    davidh73750
    Member

    It’s that time of year. It got to the 100’s before June 15th. I have acquired a few evaporators and have been test fitting them in my parts car 58’. I will probably use vintage air products from firewall forward, with everything it still adds up in $$.
    On the evaporator I will use the 3m cleaner to clean the coils.
     

    Attached Files:

  26. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Those under dash units will indeed freeze you out when you have them set up right.
    I stuck one in my 69 Cutlass that I pulled out of an old Rambler Wagon that my mother inlaw gave me after she got a newer car with factory air in 1969. That was cold air, Had a 59 El Camino with a 235 that came with one that we used to have to turn down because it got that elkie so cold inside that you could chill beer in it. They work great but do take up some room .
    I posted this diagram out of the Vintage air instructions on another thread but if you missed it here it is again. It might help a bit with figuring it out. Screenshot (143).png
     
  27. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I cheated, I wanted the under dash vintage look but I needed heat, cooling and defrosters in my 41 PU. I didn't want to use the plastic vents that vintage sells so I found this Merc grille on the HAMB. I built a shallow box for it that I had a black wrinkle powder coat applied. It is hooked up to the vintage air compact AC evaporator under the dash. I welded up the switch plate to hold the fan, heat, defrost and AC temp controls, it will get a cool faceplate. It looks right and does a nice job of hiding the evaporator as well as moving the switches off my dash.
    upload_2022-6-17_13-43-25.png
     
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  28. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    R-12 :)
     
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  29. hepme
    Joined: Feb 1, 2021
    Posts: 519

    hepme
    Member

    This is one found at a swap meet, an old style unit that had a lot of copper etc. in it and it was NOS. Used a Sanden 508 compressor (like yours i think) and the thing would freeze ice cream. Suggest if you can find one that has this type guts, that would be the solution. I'm looking for another one now.


    upload_2022-6-18_8-11-43.jpeg
     
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  30. Ziggster
    Joined: Aug 27, 2018
    Posts: 1,697

    Ziggster
    Member

    One thing to keep in mind is that these small under-dash units have about half the capacity of a “modern” OEM system. OEM systems, and similarly sized aftermarket systems will have anywhere of about 20,000 Btu/hr - 30,000 BTU/hr.
     

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