AC Aftermarket in my E100 Pickup

Some of you already know that I've always wanted AC in my pickup...
Hell, that's why I put the big torque 300 cu in engine in instead of the 240. Well, after seachin on Ebay and Craigslist I got lucky and found a used after market unit really cheap. I wish that I had a $1000 to fork over for an exact match unit from Vintage Air but I didn't. I blew the exhaust manifold gasket so it was a good time to start the AC install. The following install will come to you in parts...or should I say problems....

Problem #1
How do I mount the sanden compressor on the passenger side of the 300 motor? There is no bracket made for this application. Guess who made one out of an alternator bracket I had laying around.

Here are a few pics of the passenger side of the engine showing the alternator bracket chopped on the upper left to clear the manifold and chopped along the lower right to clear the water pump hose.

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So, my buddy comes over with his welder and welds a couple of brackets under the truck just rear of the passenger seat.
Econocarl gave me the idea to locate my condensor under the truck and out of the way. The AC lines were just the right length. The fan wires will be jumped to the compressor switch. Here are a couple of pictures. The fan works as a pusher.[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]

Don
You make a good point. Since you've had your AC in longer and have had no
problems , I'm going to go with your expert opinion and switch the fan around.
Thanks for the look.
Jim

I'm going to switch the fan on top and then put some wire lath to cover the condensor...
that should do it.

I mounted mine at a 45 degree angle between the panel under the side doors to the junction of the frame rail and floor. I made a scoop to draw air in and over the condenser and mounted a fan on the under side.

Hey Thunder

Got any pics of that mounting technique?

Thinking of having a Northeast Early Gathering sometime in July up here in Jersey...think you might come?...trying to get some kind of head count.

Jim

I don't have any pics, other than the one in my sig. That van was retired in 1980 due to a broken frame and the body I transfered the parts into did not get the AC. I will try to mock up something this weekend and take pics to show the idea. That setup got plenty of airflow and never had any issue with rocks, even though the scoop was directly behind the front wheel. At highway speed the fan was not needed and got turned off to lighten the load on the charging system.
I am trying to get my van running for Carlisle and if I get it done I might be able to attend. It has been a work in progress for longer than I want to admit.

Casimier ~Any updates on your AC install?

OKAY..the AC is finished and it WORKS!
Here are a few pics of the install....[img][/img]
This shows the compressor with too mucjh plumbing...as it worked out, I did not need it..
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This pic is a view of the compressor looking towards the passenger side.
Notice that the plumbing is removed..I was able to loop the heater hoses over the new bracket that is bolted to the exhaust manifold.

This next pics are of the dryer/cannister which was mounted behind the grill just next to the horn. AC lines just followed the heater lines.

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I cut a couple of hose holes in the floor just left of the heater hoses and the AC lines worked in just fine. Here is a pic of the AC unit side and then the final cabin pic. Maybe I'll have some how to pics on the clock and the radio console some other time.

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Awesome! Great job. Ready for the summer.