Can anyone tell me the best fitting heat and cool evaporator that will fit behind dash on 31 Model A? I have the bottom of gas tank cut out. Looking at the Gen11 Mini , but still can't tell if I have room to run vent hoses off the top of unit. I have installed a few cheap units in trucks with good results, but I don't think there are any out there small enough for the A.
Look at Vintage Air, I just put one in my 49 Buick. They have a mock up unit that you can borrow, with a deposit, to see if it fits.
I just installed the Vintage Air GenII Mini in my ‘31 Model A. It all fit with the gas tank removed, but there’s not much room left. I used a ‘32 dash and a 5-gauge cluster. Worked great, but tight. I installed everything with the cowl (old gas tank top) out and put it back in when everything was done behind the dash. I used their center vent and control unit for the ‘32 dash and added two of their cheapest vents near the outboard edges. I’m happy with it.
Like the paint on your Buick! Thinking of a flat white on by A with gross black firewall and rims. Do you have the Gen 11 Mini? And does it do a good job cooling? I have a 14x 18 condenser mounted and Sanden 508 on SBC. Thanks for the pics! I have a 4 inch recess firewall....hop
vintage air makes a unit for behind the seat. much better option than trying to cram it under the dash.
I put one [vintage air] behind the seat in my Shoebox about 25 years ago, the ones they have now are probably more compact and made to go behind seats..
This is how I did the brackets to install the Vintage Air Mini in my 1928 Model A. I used a Aftermarket 32 style fiberglass dash. I don't have a pic with the A/C installed.
I flipped the original firewall, so gained about 4 inches of engine room. The AC still fit, but it’s tight in there!
What about using the mustang style heat / AC unit - small and compact - that's what I plan on using in my 30 coupe Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I used the Gen II heat/air unit in my 32 sedan last year and moved the unit over to the passanger side as to be able to use the cowl vent, I am more than pleased with how it turned out and how well it works. I also used the optional control panel that mounted to the bottom of the dash, I my cash I did not want to drill vent holes in the dash so we made some sheet metal panels and covered them with vinyl and that hid any unsightly hoses and fittings. HRP Nothing hanging down. HRP
Hotrodprimer, Did you go with the mini unit or the compac ? I'm working on cleaning up my firewall before attempting to install the Gen II mini, so I can also keep the cowl vent usable.
Gen II compac it does a great job of heating and cooling the sedan. I believe the mini ^ the compac are both the same size. HRP
That's good to know!!, It says to install the largest unit possible, but at 20.5" long the compact evaporator would have been mighty tight. So I went with the mini & wasn't sure how effective it would cool the coupe during our Texas summers. I feel better now, with your help!!
I found a 404 evaporator heat and cool on ebay. I have installed this under dash type in four or five in pickup projects. They have worked well. The problem with the behind dash 404 is that the vents are out the front and won't clear the dash in a Model A with a four inch recessed dash. So I think I can cut the vents off the front and put a plate over the front...that cuts the unit down to about 11 inches deep. I'm going to cut vent holes in front of top of unit. I have room to run hoses to vents on each side and middle. Did I say the 404 sells for 83.00, that's with controls. Hoping it works....but for the money...I'll roll the dice!
There are 2 sizes of the compac. Look at Vintage airs website to see the differences. I believe it's around an inch in 2 directions.
31 Model A coupe. Currently working on installing a Gen II ComPac heat, cool, defrost with center control like HRP used, plus under dash vents on each side. The trick to me was to make defrost vents that actually work. I'll try to get pics showing my solution.
I'm looking at the Heritage Series from Vintage Air, a little smaller. Can't decide if I want Heat or not! Suggestions
I haven’t charged my AC yet, but I’ve used the heat several times already. I suppose it depends on when and where you drive. It’s been in the 50s and 60s here lately.
Here's a few pics of the vents I made for the defrost in my '31 coupe.Haven't connected the hoses yet. C9F346F4-8B7E-4E21-8A4B-27CAA5CC6492 by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM 919DEB7B-484F-4295-A0BA-CFD8D2CF0968 by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM 3DB99244-A053-4076-A06A-9631A7D8E625 by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM 19D64C61-A169-4FA8-B056-DE768ECDB4CB by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM D451541C-8671-4013-B5B4-F0B33560F2CC by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM 0713BD06-EF58-459C-A91B-E1A775713EDD by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM E196526F-E288-47C6-B092-3FBF83180ACB by Redrodguy posted Oct 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM
I realize Vintage Air is the most used A/C unit. But the Hurricane unit from OLD Air Products is a very compact unit for under dash. Has anybody had experience with Hurricane unit ? Price seems to be reasonable I think.
I bought a southern air a/c and heat unit . not impressed with it.should of spent more $ and got a vintage air, just saying.
The Jalopy Journal
