Loadmaster '47 COE

[lower50's]

I agree with solid!

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by lower50's

I agree with solid!

WE Canucks stick together !

[mud.man.rj]

Maybe a lexan box to show it off, or smaller wooden box, could put a false bottom in the large box and make the top 1/2 useful.

[Bad Apache]

Seeing as you use this truck as a truck, a cover is needed. I'd vote tool box, depending on it's looks. The trunk is cool, but too large. Let me sleep on it and try to come up with something else.

[nvrdone]

if you could find an old tool chest and make it fit over the engine, that might look real kool

[47 Fasttoys]

OK, with it being so dang hot I haven't been doing a lot of truck work lately. I have on the other hand been doing some research on adding AC to the truck. I have decided to go with the Vintage Air Mark IV under dash unit with cool function only. I will also use the donor truck compressor after moving my alternator to some other location and opening up that space. Keep in mind I am also running an engine driven air compressor (converted York) for the air ride system so space on the front of the engine is at a premium. I will take some pictures and give some details as I go.
Rob

[Bad Apache]

Always look forward to your work Rob. We have had the same heat/humidity. Very hard to muster motivation. Especially after working on other people's cars for 9 hours!

I think you need to stuff a turbo in there as well!

[47 Fasttoys]

So my Vintage Air unit arrived today. I was a little hesitant to fork over the extra bucks for this unit when I found quite a few for under $100 on the net. That being said I can see what you pay for: All the units I found for cheep had only a 4 pass evaporator coil and a plastic case, the Vintage Air unit has at least an 8 pass coil (that I can see through the vents) and a metal case. Below is what I received. A few things had to be moved, overall this part was easy to install. I should receive the remaining parts later this week.
Rob

[lower50's]

I have heard great thing about VA
Look what I found on a FB page.

[47 Fasttoys]

Dang, that looks just like my truck. Yes, on rare occasions I will buy from HF.
Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

Received some more parts for the AC system: a hose kit with 4 foot extra on the hoses and a dryer with switch. I need extra hose due to the engine location. I have been mocking up the new belt routing on a extra Vortec engine, looks like a 110 inch belt will do it. You can see the area I have to work with, things are much easier on the spare engine. You can also see I will need to modify the lower part of the compressor mount.
Rob

[Advanced Design]

The mock up engine sure beats pulling the front end apart. Good idea!

[lower50's]

Even in a normal truck that is a great idea.

[47 Fasttoys]

Making more progress on the AC install. You can see why I originally mounted the alternator in the AC compressor location. I also had to move the fuel lines and rewire the alternator. I ended up cutting a bit out of the rear of the seat surround, I have heavy wall 1 inch tubing for support and some other gussets in place so I think it will be OK. I built a mount for the condenser and now have it, the compressor and the evaporator installed. I had to order some additional fitting so it will be at least next week before I can charge and test the unit.
Rob

[Gokart Mozart]

Jerry cans on either side with ammo box in middle. Cans could be storage, not just fluids. http://www.jerrycan.com/shop/jerry-c...lity-tool-box/

Coke cooler http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coca...3D331941502721

[47 Fasttoys]

Ta Da! I now have working AC in the truck. I crimped the lines last week and a friend loaned me some gauges and a vacuum pump. I vacuumed the system for about an hour (after adding oil), charged the system with 2 cans of Freon and bingo 42 degree air. During the process I also rewired the fans to run at half speed. I didn't need full speed and the truck never got over 200 degrees. You can see the fire wall is getting a bit crowded with hoses.
Rob

[Katrina/10]

Does it cool the whole cab down well? If you are happy with it, I'm going to buy one of those Mark IVs.

[47 Fasttoys]

So far cools great. I don't yet have and insulation on the main floor, I do have it over the engine covers, and drivers door has a gap issue and I still run the unit on low speed and at about 25 % on the temperature dial. I ran it on high to test it and the fan is not to noisy on high speed. Air temp is a solid 42 degrees at the vents so it does not take long before you want to turn it down. Took it for a 2 hour drive today (90 degrees) and all worked great.
Rob

[mud.man.rj]

Nice work, very cool, pun intended.

[Bad Apache]

Luckily you have plenty of firewall for all those hoses/tubing. Great work as usual!

[joedoh]

way cool! (mud mans puns are contagious)

[Advanced Design]

Way cool...congrat's!

[BlueJeep]

I also think it looks cool!

Did you hook up the wire that tells the ECM that the A/C is on? I didn't, yet, and mine pulls the engine down when I kick it on.

[Katrina/10]

Excellent! I'm glad to hear it's working well. That is the unit I want to put in my 51. I was curious about the fit, I see you offset it a little to the passenger side to clear the cowl vent handle. I thought that might work, looks like you bent the right hand bracket a bit to fit the curve of the bottom of the dash in that area. Looks good!

[47 Fasttoys]

Thank all,
Good eye Gary, you are correct on both accounts.
Bluejeep, I do use the ECM to turn on the cooling fans but I do not tell the ECM the AC is on. For any load or change in idle it puts on the engine the engine recovers very fast, I don't notice any real change. I do notice a minor loss in power with the AC on but that was expected.
Rob