Cool/Heat: Adding A/C to 1950 Champion w/ 6cylinder

[Patrk71]

Anyone have experience or suggestions for adding A/C to my 1950 Champion ? Manufacturers, A/C units, alternators, changing to a 12 volt car.

Live in South Texas and it gets too hot & humid about 5 months out of the year.

I know I am spoiled but the wifey will not go without cool air in the Stude.

Patrick

[Tom Bredehoft]

Check with Vintage Air, they have some kits for some Studebakers, yes, six cyl included, may have what you need or can rig something up that will work.

I saw a very neat setup on a '60 Lark VI that the owner had installed, from vintage.

[rockne10]

Studebaker didn't offer A/C until their vehicles were 12-volt. Other manufacturers did. Finding 6-volt systems that would fit and work would be a daunting task and require substantial fabrication.
I would guess, converting to 12-volt and procuring a system from Vintage Air would be the least hassle but still require some homework, planning and fabrication.
Champion flathead power will not be the best once the compressor engages but, at least, the newer compressors suck less HP. Besides, you've got no mountains in Houston!

If you decide to go 12-volt, get a copy of Randy Rundle's 12-volt Conversion Guide.

http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/

[Johnnywiffer]

Studebaker didn't offer A/C until their vehicles were 12-volt....

Actually, the '55 had A/C as an option,



And it was retroactively available for '53-'54, which were all 6 volts systems.



However, as stated, only for the V-8 engines. I'm guessing the factory felt the 6 simply didn't have the extra power to run the system.

John

[Jim B PEI]

A/C was available ISTR on flathead sixes from 58 onwards, and I have seen on Ebay the setup retroactively installed on a 57 Champion 4 dr. I wish now I had snagged all the pictures. Mind you, that was the 185 with 16 more hp than a 54 (let alone a 50) but if the OEM could work on the 59 and 60 90hp flathead, then a modern compressor would likely do just fine on a 50.

[cbonner757]

This is encouraging news, though I'm sure it be some expense and work to do it to my 51 Champion. I love the engineering that went into this car, and it's pretty original (except someone swapped in a HUDSON DG-200 automatic for the original one), but would like AC for the Virginia climate as well, even at the sacrifice of power. I was considering swapping to a V8 primarily to get AC, but if it's possible with the six, I'd rather do that. Saves a lot of other changes to the car that come with installing an eight. Since some of my wiring is only so-so, I don't mind changing to 12V when I get it re-wired.

Regards,
Clarence in Virginia Beach

[nvonada]

There is a company called ArticAir that makes portable air conditioners intended for aircraft use. It is essentially a cooler with a fan and a couple of outlets. You dump a bag of ice in and repeat as needed. This would be a low-impact (and maybe cheaper) solution as long as you are willing to buy ice every couple of hours. It even seems like something an enterprising person could make themselves with a cooler and a couple of old computer fans...

http://www.arcticaircooler.com/

[Lothar]

It even seems like something an enterprising person could make themselves with a cooler and a couple of old computer fans...

Indeed one could do that...and someone apparently has done it. There are several examples at the site below. I've always wanted to build one for myself, but I haven't done it yet. It would be great for the Studebaker and for camping, too!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Portable-12V-Air-Conditioner---Cheap-and-easy!/

[DavidValk]

So...Problem Solved? Vintage Air eat your heart out.

[Lothar]

That is the coolest Lincoln EVER!!

[cbonner757]

Back in the Forties or Fifties my grandfather used his skills at his mechanical shop to take advantage of tourists passing through GA to FL. While they ate, he'd install gaskets on the air intake in front of the windshield, and put in a drain tube, so they could fill it with ice. He made really good money. A similar setup that you roll up in your window was commercially available, and I thought I saw an ad for one a couple of years ago.

The Sea Breeze: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeross/2253402695/

Clarence

[Johnnywiffer]

The sea breeze as shown was only one of many brands available just after WWII. Only the ritzy cars had AC so the peasants used the "swamp-cooler' to take some of the heat out of the inside of the car.

Of course, as with any stop-gap measure (which it was), there were a few problems. One was, it wasn't called a 'swamp-cooler' for nothing. If the water sat in it long enough, it would mildew and really smelled dank. Take a right-turn too fast and some of that wonderful cooling water would decorate your passenger's lap. As with any system, if it comes in, it has to go out. So there had to be another open window somewhere to allow the air to flow or the muggy moisture just hung in the air. And since it was an EVAPORATIVE cooler, it really ONLY worked well where the humidity was low. Try to use it anywhere else, the moisture tended to condense on surfaces, including YOUR surfaces. And last, you couldn't leave your car parked with that contraption. All a thief had to do was just bear down on it, break the window and make off with whatever interesting items were left inside your auto.

So..Ya want one....get it....but REMEMBER the Boy Scout Motto....

John

[Waydon]

Do a search of "waydon" on this forum...I've got some detailed pictures fo doing an A/C conversion on a 63 Lark OHV 6 cylinder. The flatheads would be quite similar to cinvert.
I bought a new old stock 6 cylinder A/C compressor bracket from SASCO at the time. I bought an A/C kit from Southern Rods.com . They were actually the cheapest to do business with.
I then had to buy a compressor adapter bracket to use a modern day rotary style compressor . It was onl about 35 dollars. Look up the posting as i is doable, but it is a lot of work.
If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask because I got lots of advice when I did mine. The instructions that come wit your A/C kit will show you everything you need to know.

[alanahasan]

I am in the process of figuring out how to ionstall an a/c in my 1950 land cruiser - same vody as the champion [plus three inches length], a slightly more powerful motor. My qualifications: I am a air conditioning mechanic with over 30 years experience; i have driven 1950 Land cruisers over 500,000 miles, and more.

the problems are solavble, as ;long as we can get the right stuff. The better the condenser coil, the less work the compressor has to do - even more important on your Champion. the new compressors are more efficient; the one on my Escort hardly is noticeable when it kicks in and out. Once i finish mine, i'll provide details to anyone interested [suppliers, pictures, diagrams, etc.

the problems with the 1950 era unit is fitting in a large condenser; there isn't much space in front of the radiator. May current hangup is that my motor is out being rebuilt, so i can't put anything in until its back.

if you would like to discuss the various alternatives, etc., email me at alanahasan@gmail.com.

[Kdancy]

I installed a vintage air unit in a 55 Champion sedan with DG 200 automatic, dual carbs, twin exhaust ----
It's still a dog, just a slower dog.
(these pictures were before I pulled the engine back out to rebuild it.

http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm97/studebaker2/1955%20Stude%20Champion%20Sedan%20AC/

after the rebuild -