55.2-59 Universal AC

[jeffs56]

Hey guys I’m looking to add a universal AC unit and hopefully heater as well. I’m looking at a universal kit from eBay or summit for my 56 Chevy truck. Vintage air is out of my price range. Has anyone dealt with the universal kits. I’ve seen alot of them in some classic cars and trucks and several shows. They say they work great. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you. Something like these

[mongocanfly]

Been thinking about something similar for my IHs...
I know Paul from fabrats on YouTube used something similar on his FJ..

[dsraven]

the first thing I would say is make sure you have the space, not just for the inside unit but also for the compressor. next up after that is how and where it will mount up. if you want heat i assume it's because you will drive it when frosty. that means you will likely want defrost vents so you also need the room to run the tubing to the windshield area.
a unit hung under the dash works for a/c but does it also have a heater coil in it or is it relying on a seperate stock heater?

[jeffs56]

I’d like to find a unit with heat and AC. My truck doesn’t currently have the heater in it and I’m not sure if it has the windshield vents

[dsraven]

Original heater is pretty basic. Floor or windshield. A lot of guys install the newer unit where the old unit was and remove the glove box for more room. You might try a local a/c shop to see if they have a universal unit with a heater incorporated.

[chevyguyase]

This outfit has complete kits or the parts to assemble your own. I bought the inside evap/ heater/defroster unit, compressor, and hose kit from them and used a condensor/fan unit from an Isuzu trooper. I fabbed my own engine to compressor mounting brackets because I could not find one any where. My engine has an regular fan but I can operate the extra fan with a switch or it comes on with the ac. The evap unit sat in the garage years before I actually put it on the truck and it was defective. I explained my predicament and they warrantied it after it was years out of warranty. The fan is a little noisy on high, other than that, no complaints.
https://nostalgicac.com/

[ghackett1]

Interesting question. Being in South Florida and not having AC definitely has me thinking about adding it. I’m interested in the same kind of under dash system. I don’t want to add new vents or cut the upper dash for a correct look etc.. I just want a unit that attaches along the bottom of the dash and be done with it.

[chevyguyase]

Nostalgic Air makes their evap units in Ocala, Florida. This is the one I bought, and has air, heat and defrost.
UD-180 Under-Dash Slimline Air Heat & Defrost Unit
Part # UD-180
$369.59

[56 3100]

If you can come up with some extra change vintage air fit pretty good for me and clean install.round vents either side of dash and oval cutout for dash controller.

[Stepside Jim]

I too am considering AC for next year. I already have an aftermarket heater that works great, it even came with the ducts for the defrost. Plus my fire wall has the holes for the heater hoses. In short, I really don't want to mess with changing the heater that's in there now.

I have looked at the eBay under the dash unit, I especially paid attention to the size and dimensions of the under the dash unit then grabbed my tape measure.

I am measuring to place the under the dash unit under the passenger seat. I'm interested in the style that has 4 outlets.

If it fits under the seat, next is placing the outlets in appropriate places. I'm not concerned about the air blowing on my face, I figure after a short time, the cab, being as small as they are, should cool and be dehumidified quickly.

[dsraven]

if under the seat maybe you could cool the seats like a newer vehicle does. do you have a center console by chance? you could run the tubes through that to the dash

[dsraven]

also, when checking, make sure to look at where the unit gets the air from so it can breathe.

[Hcb3200]

First note: Remember in the 55-57 series the glove box door swings down below the dash frame edge. That picture you posted will work in the center and leave clearance from the door. Some units are much longer that go under the dash and hang down and glove box door was issue. If you are redoing your dash to smooth and removing door its not issue. Some units go behind the glove box you loose a lot of storage with those in glove box. your truck decide how you want to do it.

Second point; Make mockups. all the sites have dimensions cut you some cardboard boxes down and make some mockups to move around and see how much clearance you have or how low it goes etc. if you are near some speed shops or custom shops some even have plastic mockups from vendor go try them out before you buy the real thing etc.

Most 55-59 have defrost vents in place and plenty of room for flex tubing to get back there. just make sure its out of way of wiper transmission when running.

As to are they any good. i have a mix and match of stuff from multiple places, condenser, dryer, mounts for compressor, hoses (custom made by me crimped at local shop) etc. evaporator from generic vendor etc. and i am frozen out of my truck if i leave it on high and plenty of warm and defrosting in summer. Make sure whatever you buy has the extra defrost ports out. some heat/ac systems don't have defrost.

[jeffs56]

I was quoted $4,000-$5,000 for the vintage air kit and installation, so definitely more than some change lol. The ones under the dash seem pretty simple. But I don’t have experience with it

[jeffs56]

Here’s one of them that I seen. Not sure what unit this is though

[mongocanfly]

looks like this one Jeff
https://coldhose.com/products/under-...35532305825952