Adding a/c to my truck?

[raPoM]

87 D100 no a/c from the factory. I want to add it before summer comes,in the most cost effective way possible. I know I can get the mounts from Charlie for the compressor,but how about the rest of it? Should I do the junkyard crawl,or look into a kit. I was checking out some under-dash systems that might be the ticket. Any ideas appreciated!

[emsvitil]

Roll down your windows and get a sliding rear window..............

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

[raPoM]

With 100 straight days of 100+ temps that is not an option.

I was looking at something like this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VTA-672001VHY/

[raPoM]

Or this: http://www.rainbowproductsonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110&Itemid=32

[SlantSixDan]

I have added A/C to vehicles not originally so equipped, including to my '89 D100. I can't recommend doing it the way I did it (find and add factory A/C). Way too difficult and costly.

Whatever A/C system you choose will be all but useless unless you do the whole job, which calls for insulating the cab thoroughly. That means you'll be adding something like LizardSkin to the interior of the cab (especially the roof and walls, but also the doors and floor) and tinting the windows. Otherwise you are asking a small A/C system to cool a solar oven, and it just plain won't happen.

You will also need to upgrade your radiator and radiator fan substantially.

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一期一会

By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class

[raPoM]

The truck already has the HD cooling system,same as the one that came in A/C cars,its been a Tx truck its whole life. I already have 25% tint on the front windows,and 15% on the back.Eventually I will add insulation,but for now the seals/weatherstrip are all in good shape.

[Danarchy]

get you a "Thermador"! Cool off,and look cool too!

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1964 Dart GT

[64 Convert]

I installed a Vintage Air unit in my '73 D100, and it cools well in our Texas heat. I built it into the dash, which required much more work than the under dash version.

I don't have tinted windows, but I did insulate the cab and it has the heavy duty cooling package from the factory. It's also a standard cab, and I purchased their big AC unit, so it's not overworked.

Only problem I've had is some annoying harmonics when on the high settings. Once the cab cools down, I can set it on low, and the noise goes away. According to VA's tech support, the high and low pressures must be exactly as specified.

FWIW, I also have a Vintage Air system in my '64 Valiant convertible. It will freeze you out in 100F+ weather.

[Andy's GT]

dadtruck is either up to his neck in that same project, or maybe done by now, he would be a good one to ask

[Danarchy]

[raPoM]

[DadTruck]

raPoM

if your 87 came with an air pump, you already have the compressor mount and the idler pulley. The factory AC used the pump bracket to also mount the compressor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13718356@N02/5724436927/in/set-72157626730477864
I did not have the belt on but you can see how the compressor mounts.
for the 83 I am eliminating the air pump so I made a simple bracket to shift the idler pulley to where the pump used to be and installed the compressor on the existing bracket tabs.

It will be best if you can find a D - W truck with ac and a slant in a salvage yard, as then you can also get the brackets that go from the back of the compressor to the intake and motor mount.
To go all factory from the salvage truck ( and here any slant or V8 with air up to 1992 truck or Ramcharger will have the right stuff) also get: the under dash heater coil / evaporator box, the behind dash ducting, dash vents and dash mounted control unit. Will also need the blower resistor.
I got most of my parts in a swap with TurboRam. In hunting down other parts I got a couple extra blower resistors and dash mounted control units, just to have a spares. The dash needs to come out to do the install, that means taking the windshield out to. The dash is marked on the back side for the dash vent cut outs and mounting tabs are present for the ducts..

I had heard that the parallel flow condensers are the best,, The rest of my AC install is wrapped up in the over all renew project on the D-150,, and that currently sits in Kenny J's body shop

regards
DT

[raPoM]

DT-

Thank you for the info. I do have an AIR pump on my truck,it was a pleasant surprise to hear the brackets are the same for a/c! I think I will be going with an add on under dash style a/c system. I really do not want to pull the WS and dash in my truck,and have to go through that in a JY with a donor truck.

Thanks everyone,
Jared

[SlantSixDan]

The common aftermarket slant-6 compressor mount is poorly designed, and the factory setup uses a not-very-good C171 compressor. Save yourself a great deal of hassle; get Charrlie S' compressor mount kit and put in a Sanden-type compressor. See here.

_________________
一期一会

By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class

[DadTruck]

yep
a couple of different ways to go,,
remember I got most everything basically free,, I put power steering on my D-150 and took out a manual steering box. I swapped that manual box for all of the AC stuff turboram had removed from his truck. I knew at that time I was going to be completely stripping the 83 D-150,, so taking the dash out was on the agenda anyway,, also,, I just like to find a reason to go to the pull-a-parts