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Aftermarket A/C and Heat

jonrpick

jonrpick

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Anyone using an aftermarket climate control setup? Not just the heaters that Summit sells, but something that does air as well?

I've seen this stuff in street rod magazines, and they're designed to add A/C to an old car that didn't have it originally, AND use dash vents (not the under-dash kind). Another thing I see advertised has something to do with having a "smooth firewall". I assume, since street rods are so slick, even under the hood, that these units mount inside the car, behind the dash.

I was thinking, since the C/K's have so much room under the dash, it wouldn't be too hard to retrofit one in there.

Here's what I'm talking about:

http://www.southernrods.com/categor...-and-cooling-systems/products/product-23.html

It says it's 10"x10"x24" (24" wide). The coolest part is that it's 100% electronically controlled, so no cables to mess with...just wiring.

Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud. Anyone try this or thinking about it?
 
My bud has a Vintage Air unit in his 66" chevelle that was an original AC car. It works great, blows 49 deg cool air out the vents. Im going to run the same one in my full custom tube and Aluminum dash in my K5.
 
rdn2blazer said:
My bud has a Vintage Air unit in his 66" chevelle that was an original AC car. It works great, blows 49 deg cool air out the vents. Im going to run the same one in my full custom tube and Aluminum dash in my K5.
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My dash is still being planned, so that'll influence the direction I go with heat and air. I like the idea of clearing up space under the hood and moving the heater box inside the cab.

So are you completely ripping your dash out and building a new one from scratch?
 
jonrpick said:
My dash is still being planned, so that'll influence the direction I go with heat and air. I like the idea of clearing up space under the hood and moving the heater box inside the cab.

So are you completely ripping your dash out and building a new one from scratch?
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Yes, it is already completely removed to the fire wall. Giong to use 1 1/4 DOM tube for the dash build since I have a 1 1/4 die for my bender. everything else is 2" DOM for the cage.
 
rdn2blazer said:
Yes, it is already completely removed to the fire wall. Giong to use 1 1/4 DOM tube for the dash build since I have a 1 1/4 die for my bender. everything else is 2" DOM for the cage.
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I'd like to see it when it's done.

I saw someone a while back incorporate their dash into the cage on their 1st Gen, then drop the whole thing into the truck. It used a stock dash panel insert and even had the stock glove box door built into it. Oh, it also had stereo/CB mounting built it. It was pretty slick.
 
jonrpick said:
I'd like to see it when it's done.

I saw someone a while back incorporate their dash into the cage on their 1st Gen, then drop the whole thing into the truck. It used a stock dash panel insert and even had the stock glove box door built into it. Oh, it also had stereo/CB mounting built it. It was pretty slick.
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I think I saw that too, it was bad ass. I want to have it in 2 maybe 3 sections, Have not worked it all out just yet since Im not to the dash part of the cage yet. Working on the back half right now. But I want the gage panel to be Dzuz fastened for easy access to gages and switches for repair and to add aditional stuff if I need to. The glove box will be maybe a first gen door or custom. The first gen door being flat is easier to figure out a shape of the dash. I have an extra dash door from a 69' is why Im thinking of this idea.

I want to bead roll the edges for some stiffness to the pannels too. Cant wait to get to that point in the build.
 
rdn2blazer said:
I think I saw that too, it was bad ass. I want to have it in 2 maybe 3 sections, Have not worked it all out just yet since Im not to the dash part of the cage yet. Working on the back half right now. But I want the gage panel to be Dzuz fastened for easy access to gages and switches for repair and to add aditional stuff if I need to. The glove box will be maybe a first gen door or custom. The first gen door being flat is easier to figure out a shape of the dash. I have an extra dash door from a 69' is why Im thinking of this idea.

I want to bead roll the edges for some stiffness to the pannels too. Cant wait to get to that point in the build.
Click to expand...

I won't be caging or tubing anything since mine will be a DD with light trail use. But I like cool dashes and interiors.

One thing that'll be sweet about the new A/C unit if/when I get it, will be being able to place the controls anywhere in the truck. It would be really nice to have the A/C controls and radio dead center at the top of the console, near the dash.
 
jonrpick said:
Here's that 1st Gen with the dash incorporated into the cage. Amazing job there...

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222300
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I saw that too, bad ass job he did on it. Mine will be a removable "pod" setup aswell. Will mount to the floor, the vertical pillars of the bed sides and fire wall and also tie to the frame. going to powder coat mine too but now Im back and forth on color scheme. I was going to do my truck in bright orange and electric blue but now Im not so sure. Might just do lime green and flat black, or orange and flat black.

I dont want too bright a truck, Kinda gay, need some black. Dont want yellow and black, will have the look of a bee, again gay. Red and black is cool. Green and black has been done to death. hell I dont know. My frame is Hammertone silver already.
 
rdn2blazer said:
I saw that too, bad ass job he did on it. Mine will be a removable "pod" setup aswell. Will mount to the floor, the vertical pillars of the bed sides and fire wall and also tie to the frame. going to powder coat mine too but now Im back and forth on color scheme. I was going to do my truck in bright orange and electric blue but now Im not so sure. Might just do lime green and flat black, or orange and flat black.

I dont want too bright a truck, Kinda gay, need some black. Dont want yellow and black, will have the look of a bee, again gay. Red and black is cool. Green and black has been done to death. hell I dont know. My frame is Hammertone silver already.
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Mine will be all black and white...with some silver/gray thrown in for good measure.

The way this console comes up to the dash is what I'm planning for mine:

ChevySuburban03-05moldedMETsmall.jpg


Except it'll hit dead center, right where the ashtray is. That way the area on the right side of the instrument cluster will be free for gauges (I'm a gauge whore).
 
I have the delux Tuffy center consol that I will have to try and incorperate into my cage along withan Art Carr shifter. It will be similar to that actually, but out of tubing.
 
I really like the A/C heater unit. It would probably be cheaper too than trying to get my factory unit up to snuff and converted from the megabuck freon.
 
rjpastor said:
I really like the A/C heater unit. It would probably be cheaper too than trying to get my factory unit up to snuff and converted from the megabuck freon.
Click to expand...

Agreed... it basically comes with everything you need, and would likely perform better than the 20+ year old stuff as well.
 
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