Installing A/c

[Dajudge]

So, has anyone put any of the under dash a/c systems in a pilot house? If so where did you mount it? We have a lot of activity in the center of the cab. Shifter, e-brake, and vent lever. I was thinking maybe under the passenger side, not sure if the heater might be in the way. Or even had a thought of under the seat facing forward. Just looking for some input.

[Apittslife]

The aftermarket has a couple of Mini units that have both Heat & AC, & Seems to be small enough to fit behind the glovebox door, or sit just below it like the Original style heaters.

Good thing about trucks, they do not need huge AC units.

[Scruffy49]

90s Ford Ranger unit heat/ac combo. Still in the bracket design phase, but based on rough measurements will fit with room to spare. Have to source a different compressor or make a serpentine to v groove pulley conversion, and engineer a mount for it.

[Jim Shepard]

I'm converting to 12V this winter 'cause I couldn't find a 6V AC.  I even talked to the Vintage Air folks.  I think they make a universal under-dash unit that'll work.  I know some guy on the car side put AC in his MOPAR, although I don't remember where he mounted it...

[Kensoldtruck]

At a car show in Florida I ran across a guy who out AC in his 49 Chrysler.  He used the generator bracket to mount the compressor and rigged up a bracket above that, using the same 2 bolt holes as the AC compressor was using as the lower bolts for the generator bracket.  The top generator bracket came off of the water pump.  The way he has the compressor and generator mounted made it difficult to see the ac compressor which makes it look almost stock.  The condenser is mounted in front of the radiator and the hoses are routed underneath the car so that they did not "stand out".  The evaporator was mounted up under the dash out of sight and had hoses routed to dash vents that he had managed to blend in nicely with the rest of the dash.  A heater is not a necessity in our area or Florida and I have a 49 truck which will get AC this winter so keep us posted on your project.

[Dan Babb]

Maybe give the people at Southern Rods a call.  http://www.southernrods.com/

 

Ask if any of the units they sell would fit behind the dash in a truck.  You might lose the glovebox (or have to make a smaller one), but that would be a small price to pay.  I'm pretty sure they have compressors that are setup for v-belts.

 

Making the bracket sounds like it would be the hardest part to figure out, but if you have any fabrication skills (or know someone who does), it shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

Edited September 11, 2013 by Dan Babb

[Dajudge]

Thanks guys.  I'm still pulling the truck a part but am trying to look down the road.  The heat is finally starting to break here in Texas so I can go back at it.  Little warm in my warehouse.

[Dajudge]

Maybe give the people at Southern Rods a call.  http://www.southernrods.com/

 

Ask if any of the units they sell would fit behind the dash in a truck.  You might lose the glovebox (or have to make a smaller one), but that would be a small price to pay.  I'm pretty sure they have compressors that are setup for v-belts.

 

Making the bracket sounds like it would be the hardest part to figure out, but if you have any fabrication skills (or know someone who does), it shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

Thanks,  It looks like they have one that will fit where the glove box goes.  It is heat/ac/defrost and you can put the vents where you want.  I had not heard of them.  Thank you.