Adding A/C on a budget

[JimC]

With actual warm weather this week in the midwest, I am reminded that not having air conditioning can put a crimp in driving around. I'm not horribly bugged by it, but I don't like exposing my son to the extreme heat for that long, and my wife flat out refuses to get near the car if it's more than about 85 or so.

So I'm wanting to install A/C in my vehicle, but I'm on a pretty tight budget. The all new $1400 kit in turning wheels sounds awesome and has lots of critical acclaim by members in my chapter, but it's also several times my current budget.

Does anyone out there have a complete used A/C setup (with pulleys, brackets, evap, etc.) they'd be interested in selling? If not a full set, I wouldn't be opposed to piecing together something, so long as it works. I might not be able to get around shelling out the money for a new kit, but folks on the forum have really came through for me a few times in the past, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Thanks!

[jclary]

Jim, unless you are super "anal" about originality, don't restrict yourself to the Studebaker offered under dash unit. To me, any period correct offering of the era should be acceptable. In my Lark, I have a Sears unit that has a single motor double squirrel cage fan assembly that is more compact than the Studebaker unit. It delivers as good (if not better) air distribution, and provides more reliable air direction control.

I bought mine so many years ago, that I don't recall what I paid for it. However, you can bet, if I bought it...it was a deal! In addition to Sears, Western Auto, Montgomery Wards, and probably a dozen or so additional retailers sold privately labeled units. Not restricting yourself to the ones offered by Studebaker should expand your chances of finding an economical solution.

[mbstude]

A friend of mine is right in the middle of adding AC to his '59 Hawk. This is the evaporator he mocked up under the dash just yesterday.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-UNDER-DASH-AC-EVAPORATOR-UNDERDASH-A-C-AIR-CONDITIONER-ADD-ON-UNIT-12V-/251319933144?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a83d5d8d8&vxp=mtr

But the evaporator is just one small piece of the puzzle. You'll need a new condenser, all the bracketry, pulleys, custom hoses, volt gauge to replace the amp gauge, flush out the engine block and add a bigger radiator, etc etc etc.

My friend has done several custom AC installs on Studes. He always uses new parts and makes his own hoses. By the time you add up all the parts and the labor, he says "To do it right, it's a $2000 job". And you really can't take any shortcuts if you want to be cool. The upside to that is that his setups work great in the middle of a Florida summer.

Now, all that said, once the AC is sorted out on his Hawk, his low mile '63 Lark with AC will be for sale. You could just buy the whole car, Jim. <grin>

[bezhawk]

The compressor mounting brackets and the crank drive pulley are the only Stude specific things you need to worry about. Even then, with a sanden compressor, it is pretty easy to fab a mounting bracket up. I would recommend this compressor over the York . Also the condenser is easy to come by new as a generic off of ebay. Get the largest you can find to fit the available space. A hose kit can be had that includes all hoses, and ends, and the drier. You will have to find ends to fit the under-dash evaporator. The new hoses are O-ring type, and the old under dash evaporators are flare fittings. Once you get everything mounted, you fit the hoses, cut them to length, and mark them so when you get the ends crimped, they route the same way. If you get a used under dash unit it is a good idea to back flush the evaporator core and expansion valve to make sure no crud is in it. The smallest spec will clog the expansion orafice and you won't get cooling.

[Corley]

You kinda have to be careful with assembling a bunch of used parts, given the switch in refrigerants from R12 to R134a. Make sure you clean everything thoroughly, and use the right oil. I'd go with one of the newer small compressors, not the big old York compressors used back in the day, but again, be careful in buying one, as most use serpentine belts, which you don't have. Any A/C shop can make the hoses, and condensers are a dime a dozen at the U pull it. It can be done, but one thing you don't want to scrimp on is the receiver/drier. Get a new one. If you use a used one, you may find the whole system contaminated with desiccant that expanded to the point that it broke the bag, when it absorbed all that moisture from the old system, being exposed to the atmosphere when unhooked, and the new system... Be advised that most refrigerant is very expensive now days! R12 is through the roof!!! One bad part with a leak, and you will get to re-charge the system after fixing the leak, so vacuum check it very well prior to filling it with refrigerant! There are several drop-in substitutes that are cheaper, but none that are "cheap".

[Bordeaux Daytona]

I was gathering up parts for mine but forgot about for now. I bought a universal sanden/sankyo adapter bracket off of ebay a few years back.
I'm not sure about this one, it looks pretty heavy and comes with some extras.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sanden-Compressor-Conversion-Adapter-Kit-/230762196144?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item35ba7facb0&vxp=mtr#ht_691wt_883

This is more like the one I bought. I think I paid more than that for mine.
Some people have it with a compressor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YORK-209-or-210-TO-SANDEN-OR-SELTEC-COMPRESSOR-MOUNT-KIT-/400257494069?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3134ac35&vxp=mtr#ht_700wt_883

I'm not sure about this one but it would make the belt adjustment easier.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YORK-TO-SANDEN-4510-or-8390-COMPRESSOR-MOUNT-KIT/400175519174?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D163%26meid%3D842338479080660631%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D230762196144%26#ht_860wt_721

[jnormanh]

"To do it right, it's a $2000 job".

That's about right. Using all new generic but good quality parts, the parts will cost about $1000. If you're handy and understand or can learn how AC systems work, it's a few day job to plan, fabricate and install. I would not attempt to use ANY salvage parts. One old part can dump enough crud into the system to make a major problem.

[Bordeaux Daytona]

Maybe you can ask Bob Kapteyn if he still has this add on a/c crank pulley. It'll make things a lot easier. http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...hlight=kapteyn

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?72744-Adding-air-conditioner-pulley-to-crankshaft&p=756940&viewfull=1#post756940

[JimC]

A friend of mine is right in the middle of adding AC to his '59 Hawk. This is the evaporator he mocked up under the dash just yesterday.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-UNDER-DASH-AC-EVAPORATOR-UNDERDASH-A-C-AIR-CONDITIONER-ADD-ON-UNIT-12V-/251319933144?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a83d5d8d8&vxp=mtr

But the evaporator is just one small piece of the puzzle. You'll need a new condenser, all the bracketry, pulleys, custom hoses, volt gauge to replace the amp gauge, flush out the engine block and add a bigger radiator, etc etc etc.

My friend has done several custom AC installs on Studes. He always uses new parts and makes his own hoses. By the time you add up all the parts and the labor, he says "To do it right, it's a $2000 job". And you really can't take any shortcuts if you want to be cool. The upside to that is that his setups work great in the middle of a Florida summer.

Now, all that said, once the AC is sorted out on his Hawk, his low mile '63 Lark with AC will be for sale. You could just buy the whole car, Jim. <grin>

Don't tempt me!

Actually, if the price is right, DO tempt me. I've been contemplating getting another '63 So I can drive one while I work on the other, and rotate them until both are in better shape. I've been told that the desire to own multiple Studes is a sickness, but I disagree; I feel great!

The mechanics of an air conditioner don't scare me so much. While I have never installed one on a car starting from scratch, I've worked on a few, and I used to fix residential AC as a maintenance guy, so most of that knowledge will scale down. I'm planning on flushing my block soon anyway, so I'm not too worried about that step.

Last summer, I took a cooler, popped some fans and a vent duct onto it, and filled it full of ice, and used that to keep the car coolish on a couple of the scorching hot days. It actually worked really well (My thermometer read about 75 degrees inside the car on a day where it reached over 100.), though it was a little too redneck for my tastes. I honestly don't need a 50 degree interior, if it's in the upper 70's I'd be happy.

[GThawkwind]

Jim I know a guy here in sioux city with several complete systems. I also almost bought a parts car with a complete system for 1200 for the whole car delivered that guy may be coming down here soon. I'll PM you with a couple email addresses if you like.

[JimC]

Dan, that would rock, thanks!

There's a guy selling a non-running '64 Daytona with an AC in the area here. I'm tempted to see if I can talk him into letting me pull the AC.

On the flip side, there are whole new kits like the southern air complete universal kit for around $800. I'd be tempted to go that way, but I imagine I'd still need to buy/fabricate brackets, pulleys, etc. If I could pick everything off an existing setup, I'd feel more confident I had everything.

[JoeHall]

I keep the OEM style condenser, and buy new for all else: I prefer the Vintage Air compressor & pulley setup for less than $250, or if I already have an EOM mount use an adapter plate for $75; retro hanging evaporator with both heat & cool elements inside for less than $300; Sanyo 508 compressor for less than $150, and a hose kit with dryer included for less than $100. By shopping wisely, I can usually stay below $1000 for parts and materials, then do all the work myself.

Prerequisites are: heavy duty radiator & fan, and a cool running Stude that is not prone to overheating, i.e. not a recently rebuilt, tight engine, or one with clogged water jackets. Otherwise, you are just asking for headaches.

[Skip Lackie]

I have a complete contemporary aftermarket a/c system that I pulled off of a 60 Lark V8 about 20 years ago. Can't remember the brand (Fidgiking?), but it was well-known in the 1960s. It still had freon in it when I disconnected the hoses to remove the evaporator. I don't think I have the York compressor any more, but everything else is there except the heavier duty radiator. It has been installed on the car in Texas in 1961.

I offered it here a few months ago, but there were no takers, so still have it. Shipping would not be cheap, and I'd have to think about how hard it would be to pack.

[JimC]

Skip,

I'll PM you tonight. Maybe shipping via Greyhound is a possibility? They sometimes ship heavy/weird stuff cheap. I'm definitely interested.

[LarkTruck]

A Keystone Chapter Member has been advertising a complete set-up from a 62 Lark for $250.00 in the Chapter Newsletter.
Again, shipping other than Greyhound will be a little pricey. PM me if you want contact info.
Jim