Vintage Air kit for 55? (1 Viewer)

[Cgn1976]

Hi Everyone,

After a long hot summer in New Mexico I've been seriously contemplating putting AC in my 73. I've gone through the 55 AC threads but see mostly OEM or clevery pieced together systems which are probably gonna be over my head. I also see the Vintage AC systems the guys use in the 40's seem pretty straight forward but it looks like they take a lot of fab to get them to work in a 55. Going down that path I found that JT Outifitters lists their VIntage AC kit as bolt in ready for the 55. From what I've read elsewhere, I find this hard to believe, unless they've updated the kit since the older posts about them.

Vintage Air FJ40, 45, 55 Air Conditioning R-134a AC A/C Kit – JT Outfitters

www.jtoutfitters.com

So does anyone know if it's actually bolt on ready and if not, how crazy are the mods to get this system into a pig? Next, what about the alternator output? I recently replaced my original with one that I think is 45amps. Is that gonna be enough? Feels like it might be pushing things a bit. Going to a bigger alternator would likely mean upgrades eslewhere I'd assume.

Anyway, thanks in advance and sorry if I missed this all in other threads. I couldn't seem to find my answers anywere.

 

[mmw68]

FYI - Vintage Air is 12 weeks behind on production.

 

[Cgn1976]

FYI - Vintage Air is 12 weeks behind on production.

lol. good thing it's about to cool down here finally!

 

[Gordobe]

Going to a bigger alternator would likely mean upgrades eslewhere I'd assume.

I installed a single wire 155A alternator and didn’t have to do anything except drive it.

 

[Cgn1976]

I installed a single wire 155A alternator and didn’t have to do anything except drive it.

Good to know. I thought I read a while back that the stock wiring on the early pigs was pretty small gauge and a big alternator could overload it and the fuse block..maybe not. The wire for the entire electrical feed into the fuse block is pretty damn thin form what I see. Maybe 8 or 10 gauge? Regardless sounds like upping the alternator some isn'ts that big a deal.

What alternator did you use?

 

[RUSH55]

Here’s some light reading. Good info.

MadElectrical.com - Electrical Tech

 

[scrapdaddy]

Here's what a few of us are running....

Custom Aftermarket A/C Systems - Automotive AC Kits - Restomod Air

Custom Aftermarket A/C kits and aftermarket A/C parts for vintage, classic & muscle cars, hot rods, street rods, and pro touring builds.

restomodair.com

 

[Cgn1976]

Here’s some light reading. Good info.

MadElectrical.com - Electrical Tech

Hey thanks. Maybe next you can come over and stab me in the eye with a soldering iron.

I'll dig in a bit on that

 

[RUSH55]

-

 

[Gordobe]

What alternator did you use?

Hunting the web and found this. Brand x I guess, but it came with offset brackets to fit the 2F. Chinese bearing were shot lived. Had a local rebuilder go through it and holding up. One wire is so you don’t run it through the stock wiring. The amp meter will not detect the charging of the battery. win some loose some

 

[PabloCruise]

Hunting the web and found this. Brand x I guess, but it came with offset brackets to fit the 2F. Chinese bearing were shot lived. Had a local rebuilder go through it and holding up. One wire is so you don’t run it through the stock wiring. The amp meter will not detect the charging of the battery. win some loose someView attachment 2790153

But you could wire in a voltage to see system voltage, eh?
I think there is a reason they don't run all the system amperage up behind the dash any longer...

 

[PabloCruise]

lol. good thing it's about to cool down here finally!

That is why I will start working on my AC soon, get ready for that fall weather!

 

[Megadoomer]

That is why I will start working on my AC soon, get ready for that fall weather!

I haven't had time to change my compressor so I been without a/c all summer. Our summers are hot and dry. The coming months will be hot and, but with

 

[PabloCruise]

Good luck with the fires!

 

[Cgn1976]

Here's what a few of us are running....

Custom Aftermarket A/C Systems - Automotive AC Kits - Restomod Air

Custom Aftermarket A/C kits and aftermarket A/C parts for vintage, classic & muscle cars, hot rods, street rods, and pro touring builds.

restomodair.com

I'm guessing you have details about your install with these systems on your build thread. I'll see what I can find there.

As to my original question on that specific system, I guess I'm gonna contact the seller and see what he has to say. I know they don't have the best rep in this forum, but I'll see what they have to say about it for good measure.

And as to adding the AC as Fall rolls in, lol...Coming into some disposable income soon is all. Install ac now or invest it wisely? I think we know how that will play out

 

[Cgn1976]

I'm guessing you have details about your install with these systems on your build thread. I'll see what I can find there.

As to my original question on that specific system, I guess I'm gonna contact the seller and see what he has to say. I know they don't have the best rep in this forum, but I'll see what they have to say about it for good measure.

And as to adding the AC as Fall rolls in, lol...Coming into some disposable income soon is all. Install ac now or invest it wisely? I think we know how that will play out

Ok, just got off the phone with them. As I originally guessed, it's not a 55 specific system and will require some mods to make it work. Sounds like most of those mods are in removing the eom heater box and hanging the new unit off the dash, and getting it connected to the defrost ducts. I think I saw a thread here or on another forum where somebody gave some detail on this. I'll link if I find that. So now back to do I think I can manage those mods or not and do I really want this system

 

[samc2447]

The 40 surefit kit will fit just fine in a 55. @POTATO LAUNCHER installed this one in a 55 he worked on.
I'm a Vintage Air dealer, so PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Cgn1976]

View attachment 2793666

The 40 surefit kit will fit just fine in a 55. @POTATO LAUNCHER installed this one in a 55 he worked on.
I'm a Vintage Air dealer, so PM me if you have any questions.

Thanks for the info on that. Looking to pull the trigger in a few months if a few things fall into place!

 

[NikP]

I installed the Classic Auto Air custom cooler IV system. My thread walks through the install around post #575.

Custom Cooler IV. Universal Air Conditioning Kit

The Custom Cooler IV Smart Series A/C System engineered by Classic Auto Air was designed to install on a smooth firewall.

www.classicautoair.com

Builds - My New Project

You have a vacuum shifted t-case? For the love of God, why? I know, I know... but I liked the idea of not having levers sticking up through my tunnel. Kinda cool to have a 50 year old dash activated 4WD. Trying to keep some original touches along with some modern items. All else fails I can...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[greenbeast]

View attachment 2793666

The 40 surefit kit will fit just fine in a 55. @POTATO LAUNCHER installed this one in a 55 he worked on.
I'm a Vintage Air dealer, so PM me if you have any questions.

Out of curiosity how well does that hold up with the TX heat?