Air Conditioning a Sub

[VictoriaHardware]

Who has experience with the interior cooling performance of the A/C system in their Suburban? Is it able to keep you cool? I'm wondering if after all the work of adding A/C I will be dissappointed with the result.

What kind are you using- factory or aftemarket? Did you have to dark tint the windows? Do you have a light or dark roof? Are you living in Alaska or Florida?

[burbluv]

I would love some input on this as well.
Thinking of installing the underdash Mark IV from Vintage Air.
Thanks,
AJ
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[theastronaut]

Maybe look into integrating the rear air out of a newer suburban? I know that our '96 Tahoe won't cool the back seats at all (no rear air) and only barely cools the front when it's over 90 degrees out. It blows out cold- high 30s/low 40's but just doesn't have enough volume of air. As much metal as the old interiors have, you've got a challenge ahead of you.

[spacedebris]

I've been considering the problem for my panel as well. The Cummins I am dropping in came out of a 95 dodge with factory air. I know it worked fine on a P/U cab but I'm worried that it will not be enough to cool the cavernous area of the panel.

However I do have some plans that should help.

First (after all rust repairs are done) I plan to "paint" the entire roof on the inside with Lizard Skin Ceramic insulation and also the sound control coating. I'm even playing with the idea of adding both to the sides as well.

The next thing I've considered is adding 2-4 A/C vents in the rear. However, I'm not sure that the A/C will have enough volume to handle up to 12 vents.

I'd like to hear back from others that have successfully cooled off their burbs. For that matter those that were not successful would be helpful too so we dont make the same mistakes.

[Brad54]

I'll tell you guys one thing that GREATLY helped the interior temps of my '61: Dynamat sound deadener in the ceiling.
The roof is more rust than white, so it's dark and absorbs heat.
No carpet, no weather stripping... it's primitive (for now).
Every time I hit a bump, that roof panel would twang and vibrate like a 12-foot long saw blade.

I put the sound deadener on the ceiling, and it quieted things down a good bit, and it cooled the interior.

I live in Atlanta, so know all about heat in the summer.

Future plans call for more sound deadener in the doors, inside the quarters (I'm going to cut access panels in the interior insets, and then cover the insets with fabric), and on the floor to keep exhaust and trans heat at bay.

Between that, the kick panel vents, vent windows and opening the rear windows, I should be pretty good. I can live without A/C for two months. I've found as long as I'm rolling, and the temp is 95 or lower, it's not bad.

-Brad

[carryall65]

Hi,I had the orig. factory a/c but i replaced it with an old air unit but its only good for the front passengers. I did not want to sound deaden the roof,i wanted it stock looking. I also didn't want to tint all the windows dark but i did tint them a lite blue to match my paint.Sound deadening the ceiling and floors will help alot. I just installed an 84+ suburban rear a/c blower unit in the rear and had it tee'd into the front unit with separate control.I just need to fab a sheet metal cover to go over the unit and incorporate air vents.It cools nicely but will see come summer...hth...gil

[Bart Savage]

Originally Posted by carryall65

Hi,I had the orig. factory a/c but i replaced it with an old air unit but its only good for the front passengers. I did not want to sound deaden the roof,i wanted it stock looking. I also didn't want to tint all the windows dark but i did tint them a lite blue to match my paint.Sound deadening the ceiling and floors will help alot. I just installed an 84+ suburban rear a/c blower unit in the rear and had it tee'd into the front unit with separate control.I just need to fab a sheet metal cover to go over the unit and incorporate air vents.It cools nicely but will see come summer...hth...gil

so how did this work out over the summer?? do you have pics of the install??

[kieth]

Rear a/c units, the older factory ac units out of a LATER MODEL suburban are nice but try to think outside the box. Visit your local over the road truck body shop, they should have lots of extra a.c units from sleepers they have removed, or ones that were damaged. Remember when you think about cooling capacity, these large class 8 tractors have the same compressor as your suburban. Kieth

[LT1 Burb]

I put a GEN IV vintage air setup in my Burban and it cools the front passengers fine, towards the back it gets a little warm still.I think a rear air setup would be the ticket but I rarely have passengers back there so I don't see the need.

[MikeS.]

LT1, thanks for that info. I plan on doing mine this winter.