Vintage Air in LV?

[peterman]

The nostalgic compressor is set up for double pullies, but I moved the radiator and fan shroud back like maybe an inch and there is not enough clearance for the second belt. I did put the condensor in front between the bib and rad, but it's probably 1.5" thick. When I say I don't have clearance, it's pretty close. Right now one belt runs all the way around, and I have an idler wheel pushing the belt against the fan between the fan and the alternator. Worked at first but not anymore. Pivoting the alternator is the tensioner. It works fine until the AC is loaded up, then it slips. I'll figure something out.

I did hook up the heat. Works great. Just didn't put the rear heater back in because I wanted the room for speakers. Tried to keep the rig as stock as possible and couldn't come up with anything better on speakers.

Cables from left to right are 1. coolant valve for heater, 2. choke, 3. fast idle. I did the aftermarket gage kit for the stock cluster and the 4th cable looking thing is just the temp sensor line. Has a wrap that looks like a cable pull. The only AC-related things are the coolant lines that run through the plate where the blower motor used to be, one hot to the battery, and one wire to flip the compressor clutch on and off, plus the heater hoses. Pretty simple. There are also two ports in the back for defrost, but I don't have them hooked up yet. Need to make a 1.5-2.0" hose and after rewiring the truck up under the dash for the last few months, I'm pretty sick of laying upside down. Project for later. There is a lever behind the left side vents that should be hooked up to another pull in the dash to divert the defrost.

wdukes, sorry to hijack the original Vintage Air Q but hope this AC detail is helpful!​

 

[merbesfield]

Peterman and all, where does the Alt. go when you add the a/c compressor? I thought that the Vintage Air Co sold a bracket that moved the Alt down on the right side and mounted the compressor on top? Hard to tell if Petersons is that way. Here is the real question, when looking a my engine, sorry no pics, the water pump has an outlet on the bottom right that looks like it would prevent the alt from going in that location. Again, sorry no pic. Does this make sense? There is also the oil filter and the oil cooler there as well. Oh, and don't forget the battery. Luke111, you have a 55, and all my running gear came from a 79 55 w OEM power steering. Could you comment and post some engine pics? Thanks

 

[merbesfield]

Can we get any updates here? I would love to see the alternator bracket setup on the engine and how it fits together. Thx

 

[peterman]

I'll post some up tomorrow. Been busy. Sprung a big leak in my oil line the other day and in my panic to get home forgot to release the ebrake. Smoked the shoes. Engine is fine. Had just torn the 40 apart that day so I now have two non-working cruisers...

 

[CHAS404]

I am lurking here looking at AC options. I love the CB. I remember in the 70s the CB was the Iphone must have option!

 

[wdukes]

not happy with VA

My install of the Vintage Air has stalled primarily because I cant figure out how to install it and also have it look good. Mine is going in my LV. Even if I cut out the glovebox, it will still stick way below the dash and it is UGLY....no consideration for a shield or cover. I bought their largest version b/c they recommended it for the size of the LV. I have seen smaller versions they do and they would look ok.
I have done a lot of work to have a good looking rig and now I am looking at having a huge blower motor sitting at the passengers feet.

JMO

Dukes

 

[merbesfield]

Dukes, how much would hang low? I agree, most look ugly and I don't want that either, but if you look at many modern cars, some have black parts hanging down. The question is how much and how low? Got any pics?

 

[wdukes]

ac pic

The only picture I have is mounted below the glovebox. I haven't committed to cutting it out yet.

I am also looking for recomendations in making a plate for the dash where the ac vents are in the middle.

....and why is my ipad loading this thing upside down? I have no kids. Anyone have a thirteen y/o to lend me? I am sure they could figure this out.

dukes

 

[c2dfj45]

Hey Dukes...what is the intended purpose of the plate? Just to make things look a little cleaner/better?

Too bad that Vintage Air is so big....would be nice to have the capacity BUT taking up that limited passenger area is a bummer.

The more I think about it, I'm going to try to build a custom one under my front seat. I found a killer hot rod AC place right down the road from my shop.

 

[wdukes]

center dash plate

if you can see the two center air vents in the upside down picture, both vents have oversized holes around them. there is also a larger rectangle hole closer to the gauge cluster. the a/c control will fill part of this space. I am thinking any kind of very thin metal or billet. I just haven't been able to trace and replicate the inset curve of the dash.


thanks

 

[c2dfj45]

1/8" aluminum, chamfer the edge, powdercoat with a textured black or grey. I used a textured light grey on mine. looks good. If you have the paint code of the dash color, you could just have the aluminum painted. Could be glued in with some windshield adhesive for a blind finish or a couple of cool buttonhead stainless allens. Maybe do the gauge bezel and ashtray in the same color...that's what we did on mine....looks really smooth....not necessarily OEM but not blatantly out of line. I'll probably do my 45 the same way.

Got in a cool 65 barn find FJ40 for a customer....super clean. Stop by and see her if you're in my neck of the woods.