Under-Dash Air Conditioning Components

[MAK]

What’s my best source of info for parts and installation of the old under-dash AC units? I’m not sure if I got some good components or a bunch of parts that are going to be more trouble than they’re worth but I had an opportunity to snag some parts this afternoon so I jumped on them. A guy right down the road from me had done some work for a fellow who offered him a bunch of old parts from a dealership garage that had closed down many years back. All he had left by the time I talked to him was a complete Galaxy 500 dash and a bunch of old AC parts. There are 4 hang-on units, 2 which appear to have never been used although they are little scuffed-up in spots but still have the hang-tags on them. There is a brand new compressor, a big box full of bagged fasteners, several brackets, pulleys, new hoses, and some other blowers, etc. I don’t know enough about hooking up an AC and haven’t done the research yet to know what I have or even what all the parts are. Can anyone help me identify some of these parts or point me in the right direction? I think either of the first two would fit the truck ok. What’s the round part in the first pic? What’s it look like I’m missing? What do the bare hang-on units usually sell for? Thanks for any help.

[fordman]

i'm noy sure but i don't think those will fit under yuor dash. but they might. at least the small one might fit. the proper thing to put one thats made for your truck is to bolt it in under the dash. run a hot and a ground to the unit. run those a'c hoses out throught the firewall hooke them to the compressor and dryer . the dryer is hooked to the condensor. which sits in front of the radiator. then have the system filled with your choice of freon. which will probably have to be 134a. you can still get r12 but its expensive and you have to be licenced to buy it.

[dotcentral]

Looks like a pretty good score. No idea on the large round thing, unless maybe its some sort of belt tenisoner? Seems too big for that.

I would think any of the 4 units would fit a 67-72, but the top 2 look the best. No idea on price, sort of hit or miss on ebay at times, though it is the time of year when we're all starting to think about a/c.

Good luck.

[68F250]

Those have ebay written all over 'em. The round thing looks like a clutch.

[Joe Kriston]

None of those will fit a bumpside,without looking awkward,if it will fit at all...I've seen about a dozen types of under dash units for our trucks,and everyone of them were contoured at the top to accomodate the contour at the bottom of the dash....Those probably fit a car or another,er,..brand of truck...

[Heavenlyfire]

The big round thing in the first pic is the clutch pulley for the compressor. I agree with Joe on the underdash pieces. But boy would I like to have that compressor.

[DuckRyder]

Yeah, I would like to have the compressor and clutch too..

[MAK]

Yeah, I would like to have the compressor and clutch too..

Yeah, I would love to have that AC set-up you have for sale but my wife would shoot me if I spent that much.

[DuckRyder]

Yeah, I would like to have the compressor and clutch too..

Yeah, I would love to have that AC set-up you have for sale but my wife would shoot me if I spent that much.

Maybe until she was riding in a nice cool truck... and hey you could save on shipping since I am probably headed through Gainesville next week...

[MAK]

Yeah, I would like to have the compressor and clutch too..

Yeah, I would love to have that AC set-up you have for sale but my wife would shoot me if I spent that much.

Maybe until she was riding in a nice cool truck... and hey you could save on shipping since I am probably headed through Gainesville next week...

Yeah, like I could ever get her in that thing...

[MAK]

That’s disappointing but typical for me… I really thought the long one in the 2nd pic looked like others I had seen in our trucks. I thought it would fit the right side of the dash and stop just short of where the contour is on the bottom but I checked and it is too long. The one in the 1st pic is short enough and does look like it would fit. I actually thought there were two styles for our trucks but am probably wrong. I have seen the one that goes the full length of the dash with the contour on the driver side under the steering wheel (like DuckRyder’s) but thought they also commonly mounted one that was shorter and stayed to the right of the dash’s bottom contour… Need to hunt around for some more interior pics.
Yeah, the round thing that was still boxed is a new clutch. Appears to be all the other components and hoses, etc in the other big box of parts I have. Looks like a whole new kit that was never installed. I think I’m still missing an evaporator?? (the think that looks like a mini-radiator?)
Any idea what this stuff is worth if I don’t use it?
Thanks for the help.
Mark

[Joe Kriston]

Hey,MAK, I looked a little closer at mine today,and you might be able to mount one that's flat at the top,but it would have about a one inch gap or so where the contour changes...I wonder if you had one of those vanity bars that mount below the passenger side of the dash one of those a/c's wouldn't work...

[CACWBY]

Good Luck getting any needed replacement parts, like switches, etc.
The newer compressors and under dash universal units cost more but IMO they are better, and can accept new refrigrant. Not to say a good mechanic can't make the old stuff work...

[MAK]

Held the one in the first pic up under the dash and it seems like it will mount under the dash with no problem since it's flat across the top and would stop before it got all the way over to the contoured drop on the driver side. Unfortunately, like has been pointed out, it's probably more trouble than it's worth by the time I deal with all the issues and parts like condensor I would still need.

What has to be done to these old systems to convert to the new R134 refrigerant?

How do you handle heating if one of these is installed? Does the old heater core remain or what?

Thanks for the help.