47-59 Air Conditioning. My way, win or fail.

[Stepside Jim]

I've got 2 items left on my want list for my truck. Air Conditioning and Cruise control. A/C now installed and Cruise control should be in this week.

Focused on A/C, lets look at my specific needs. I already have a very good heater /defrost, I don't want to remove it and if I did, I've have holes in the firewall not being used. I also don't want a large A/C / Heater up under the dash with the ducting hoses filling the under side of the dash. I've installed Vintage Air units in the past, absolutely great products and the dollar amount for a kit has no bearing on my situation.

Ok, that's the under the dash situation. Oh, I also didn't want to cut holes in the dash for vent outlets nor did I want to hang a vent panel underneath the dash creating even more obstruction getting to stuff under the dash.

I have a Big Block with a street blower, for 10 years and 13,000 miles, never an over heating issue. I also have a trans cooler in front of the radiator, with the 57 grill, fitting a trans cooler and condenser is tricky and would slow air to the radiator. I'm not willing to risk a hotter engine for a cooler cab.

I certainly didn't want to have A/C hoses going from the compressor through the radiator support then back through the radiator support, the mounting a filter drier to the inner wheel well along with the wires going it the filter drier. Then installing a hot water shut off valve in the heater hose along with it's wiring. Then the hose through the firewall from the filter drier.

Once again, I'm not mocking or picking on A/C kits, I'm just one who likes to look at all things from a theological perspective and alter or redesign for my specific needs or wants. I also have no problem building and failing, my fail is a lesson for the future and the cost of my learning is cheaper than going to college.

First, order a small under dash A/C only unit. it's only $80.00 ebay, worth a shot. If this doesn't fit, the whole project stops, if it fits I'm moving forward.

I hand made my seat mounting years ago, fortunately I made it the perfect size for this A/C project. It fit under the passenger seat very well.

The front cover of the A/C unit has a 4 hose outlet cover, this will not work. I made a new cover to redirect the air flow where I needed it to go.

There will be more pics coming, my Internet service is not the best.....