Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Great job, I have done this changeover and small fingers really would help! Where are you planning to get the vacuum to operate the controls?

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I was able to tap into the line that feeds the vacuum gauge. The truck has vacuum boosted brakes which is supported by a Bendix engine driven vacuum pump. Thanks for the pictures.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Got the A/C compressor bracket installed, next will mount the actual compressor and belt.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Mounted the compressor and installed the condenser. Condenser bolts directly to the radiator support with 4 small bolts.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Got the connections to the condenser installed. I noticed these lines are steel on the medium duty trucks and aluminum on pickups. Guess the steel take vibration better.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Got some more done on the truck, reinstalled the seat and seatbelts. Next is installing the a/c lines from compressor to evaporator and condenser.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

It's so rare to see a medium duty looking so good. Love the updates, thank you for sharing your work.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Thanks, I appreciate your comment.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Started disassembly of the truck to repaint the exterior back to its original color. Upon removal of the right side (passenger) fender extension I discovered a rust problem between the extension and support brace. Water had collected over the years and caused the fender extension metal to rust away in the vicinity of the support brace. My son Noah assisted me in removing the rusty metal and welding in new replacement metal. It turned out real good. He plug welded the brace back onto the extension and it's ready for primer and finish sanding.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Hey, good to see an update. Glad you're still making progress on it. Is that brown color the original you refer to? Will you and Noah be building the flatbed for it as well? Dovetail or straight? I went back through and read the first post...this tractor collection you speak of, I hope there is some green in there. :D :D :D

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

The original color was white, the truck was owned by a distribution company and had a 24' van box on it. It appears the brown color was a "company" color for their fleet of trucks. I think it was originally painted when it was new. The plan is to paint it white and install a rollback bed. I have been trying to buy a used rollback, however the good used beds bring more money that I am willing to pay. I am strongly considering building my own rollback unit using a factory flatbed. Would just have to fab a rollback interface between the truck frame and the flatbed. Noah is very talented and a great help (see thesamba.com link below), so I know he will be very involved. Here are some links to help answer the color of tractor question.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=439103

Link to youtube tractor videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZzyJXSFvYM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdUcBhWIWE

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I know this does not pertain to A/C installation, however I will post the truck transformation / restoration here to keep it all in one thread. Got the bumper and lower front grill painted and reinstalled. I will paint the fenders and fender extensions next. My shop is not large enough to allow me to paint the entire truck at once, so I will do it in several stages. The color code is White 12S / White 12P. Not sure the difference between S and P, however both translate to Frost White, more recently called Linen White. I am using single stage DuPont (Nason) Urethane.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Great progression, man. Keep it up!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Thanks!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Found some pictures of the truck prior to the van body being removed. Evers Distributing was the original purchaser of the truck.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I made progress on refinishing the truck. Sanded, primed, sanded, primed, sanded, primed, you get the idea, the front fenders and extensions, first with 220 grit wet/dry then the final two passes were with 320 wet/dry. Next will be the hood and drivers step. Hope to be spraying some more paint by the end of the week. Gotta work tomorrow, that kinda gets in the way of playing!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Hope to paint these items tomorrow!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Fenders and fender extension are painted. My youngest son Micah (pictured) painted both front fenders and the driver side fender extension. I sprayed the passenger side extension. They all turned out great!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Started working on the hood and driver side step. The hood had three very small dents and one larger dent on the driver side. They all looked like hail damage. Hope to get these items refinished this weekend.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Here is a link to video of Micah spraying the front fender.
https://youtu.be/5Q6jhB-poAA

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

The ac install turned out great! I like the detail in the installation. If you still have the original parts send them my way I am in the process of trying to fix up my heater system after mice damaged everything, and it gets cold in Minnesota so heat is a must. Micah must be pretty new to bodywork but his spraying is looking good.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Would be glad to donate my old parts, however we cleaned shop and I think everything got pitched, I will look and make sure.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Made some more progress a couple of weeks ago. Did not have a chance to post the update until now. Hood and driver side step are finished and ready for installation.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Got some more done, media blasted and primed the mirror brackets, used an etching primer.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

It looks like you have a new floormat,was wondering where you sourced it from ,or did you just use one for a pickup? The aftermarket company that made mats for the medium duties went out of business about 10 years ago and the supply has dried up.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

The floor mat is for an earlier truck, doesn't fit perfect but it works.
Classic Truck Parts Item 39-033 (1967-72) Floor mat Small Hump

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Got started repairing the drivers door, had to weld cracks where mirror attached. Ordered new door channel rubber from LMC.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Great job on that truck and excellent pictures. If you could, it would be awesome to see a video of that Detroit running in the truck. Detroits are music to my ears!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

After welding up the door cracks, I was not happy with the results. Got major warping on the door skin which would have required lots of filler. At the end of the day I decided to order new door shells from Auto Metal Direct. Their local dealer, ZBR Enterprises, 3200 Commander Suite 110, Carrolton, TX 75006 was able to order them for me. While I am waiting on the new doors I plan to finish painting the cab roof and back. Pictures of progress will follow.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

If you can find the newer type mirror diagonal brace, it eliminates cracks where the short bracket bolts on right under the vent window.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Good idea, I will try and fabricate a diagonal brace to eliminate the vent window brace. Should make it much more stable.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Any updates to report? I took a break from forums for a few months and just remembered this build. I really appreciate your detail and use of OEM parts (particularly in the A/C conversion).

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Not any progress, waiting to get my shop empty of other work so I can proceed. Hopefully soon.

David

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I can't be the only one interested, but it's about time to check in and see how that shop emptying is going... :D :D :D

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My shop is getting closer, had a setback, one of my primary tractors broke a cylinder sleeve and locked the engine. I am in the process of a full rebuild, once done the truck is next. Anxious to get it finished!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Making progress, the truck is back in the garage and ready to finish the painting of the cab!

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Making progress on the body work on the cab. Roof is sanded, hope to get the cowl area and door hinges sanded tomorrow. Next I will tackle the door opening and rear of the cab. If all goes as planned, I should be able to paint it next week.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I am looking for a fan and fan clutch that will fit the 4-53T. Mine has a solid fan drive with no clutch.

Thanks

David

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Don't believe there ever was a fan clutch for that engine, factory book only lists a direct drive even for a truck with factory A/C.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

If you look close at this truck, you will note it has a fan clutch. I have seen one other unit (California Truck) that also had a fan clutch. It may be that one was not offered in 1979.

David

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1517355465
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1517355770
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1517356133