Air conditioning

[Mikel]

That should fit fine. But keep in mind that our trucks lack any kind of insulation.

[randyscycle]

Those underdash units were pretty much the norm for much of the 70's and 80's in trucks. Very few came with factory air in that time period, and usually that stuff was a dealer installed option. It should fit, but having sat for so long uncharged and probably open to the atmosphere, I'd question what might be in the evaporator. Old refrigerant and oil reacts with moisture to create a nasty acid that weakens the aluminum of the evaporator core.

If I were going the A/C route, I'd just buy a complete universal kit from one of the street rod suppliers. They use modern components that are available, and by the time you hunt down all the missing parts for the old cast off, and have custom hoses made, then get it all to work together, you'll be money ahead.

[Barrman]

I second what Randy wrote. Sermis has me looking for an a/c system for his 6BT truck. We have two complete underdash Wagoneer units but I don't want to use them since they have been sitting for so long open to the air.

I am also looking for a/c to install in Colton's RED M1009. I think Vintage Air is going to get the business on both vehicles. The main reason being they have a unit that will fit completely under the M1009 dash, have a/c, defrost, a new heater core and vents. They have a universal fit kit that will do the same on the M715. Not having that heater take up the entire passenger side firewall would be nice for those of us with swapped in engines.

Going all new will cost more today. However, pulling a 50 year old heater core out on the side of the road in freezing rain isn't going to be cheap or easy either.

Lee had a Vintage Air system on his 4BT M715. I have a picture on my home computer I took in 2004 of his dash. It was all contained under the dash. He claimed he could roll up the back of his New Life Canvas top and still be comfortable driving around Baton Rouge in the summer with it.