1965 Chevy C10 : factory air conditioner question.

[chevyrestoguy]

When you're restoring the factory A/C components, you have a bit of compromise to deal with. Sure, you can put it back 100% stock, but the hose connections become the issue. Back in the day, the factory used barb fittings and a modified hose clamp, which was sufficient with R12 and the standard rubber lines. If you run this style of fitting with R134 and the newer barrier-style hose, it will leak out. The barrier hose has a hard plastic inner liner(i.e: the barrier) that will not conform to the barb fittings and the connection is prone to leakage. The easier fix is to upgrade the ends of the condenser and evaporator with the newer Parker Beadlock ends and then have hoses made with Beadlock fittings and barrier hose. The original condensers will work OK, but the newer designs are much more efficient and are smaller dimensionally (thinner). Many of the later receiver dryers have a pressure relief port built into the housing to vent the system in case of an over-pressure, but a dedicated electrically activated switch will serve that function as well., and works in conjunction with the compressor. As Cortcomp mentioned, many of the components such as the resistor, temp switch, and the thermostat are available in the aftermarket from places such as Old Air products. I am in the process of restoring my A/C system in my '64, and many of these upgrades I'm speaking of are documented in my thread shown below.

Because my truck was missing most of the A/C components when I got it, I'm not going back to 100% factory. Instead, I am upgrading certain components for reliability and efficiency with the intent of using as many factory GM components as possible so if one ever breaks down, I can go to the local NAPA and get the replacement part. Having a trick, custom aftermarket system is great until it breaks. Then, you're scrambling to find the same exact trick, custom replacement part. The factory stuff was pretty darn good, and available at any parts store.

It's funny....when I was a kid, the first thing I always took off my cars as the A/C because I thought that it robbed horsepower. Now that I'm older, the first part I want to put back on is the A/C. As a matter of fact, I won't even consider buying some some old cars if they DON'T have A/C. Priorities change as you get older, I guess.

[64fleetside]

I did about the same as chevyrestoguy, Old Air welded o-ring fittings to a new evaporator(mine was fulla dirt dobbers), I used o-ring fitting hoses I made up, and a later R4 compressor. Used the aforementioned r134a condensor-had 45* air this am.

[cortcomp]

I'm glad to hear you guys are getting good temps out of it. I really hate to remove the evaporator or try to connect fittings to it and ruin it, i was planning on using hose clamps at the two evap connections and the regular AC newer fittings everywhere else.