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Factory AC

Big Jake715

Big Jake715

Registered Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Posts
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Location
Pennsylvania
I am looking for advice on installing factory AC in my 74 K5, I have all the components to make this happen.
I am at the point of completing the body work and the only step left is to retrofit the firewall and I am very apprehensive of doing this, especially since the tube is virtually rot or rust free. Again, I would like to connect with anyone who has also completed this conversion would be great. If vintage air is the only real option than I will go with no AC at all.
Thanks

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I was asking Kenny to post up a pick of an AC fire wall. Your's appears to be a heater only firewall
 
I don't know how many Squares are left in PA, but sourcing the plenum both sides from a donor and cutting that section of fire wall out might be the best solution for factory air.
As for an aftermarket kit, some here have complained the defrost performance is very lacking. I imagine this would be important in PA. Maybe not if only a fair weather cruiser.
 
We moved from PA to south Georgia and the heat is brutal in the summers, we definitely are going to need AC.
I was hoping someone else has done a conversion and maybe give a few pointers.
 
I hear ya, the humidity make the ac work harder too, factory would be the best. Yes just recently someone is doing a conversion to factory ac, but I'll be dammed if I can remember who. I remember @kennyw posted up firewall comparison of ea, maybe he will remember the thread.
 
This is what the AC firewall looks like. If you can cut and weld sheetmetal, it should not be a big deal to convert your firewall. I probably even have a section available I could cut out to sell you but shipping from the west coast would not be cheap.

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I guess I missed what the hold up is about using vintage air or any aftermarket system for that matter. The aftermarket stuff is way more efficient in how it works and how much less space it takes up on both sides of the firewall.

I’ve got a heater only truck and there is no way I want to convert mine to the oem setup even if I didn’t have to section in that chunk of firewall. A buddy of mine put a vintage air setup in his cucv blazer and it was blowing ice cubes in Death Valley. I’m tossed up between vintage or old air myself, but I’m still looking at them.
 
I don't doubt the add on air work good at cooling in a hot, dry environment. I know my rear aftermarket seems to cool better than my factory front air, probably because it recirculates the inside air only.
I only question the defrost performance. If the add on unit can source out side air for defrost it may work just fine. Many units don't have out side air option.
Now a separate under dash evap only system, leaving the factory heater/defrost in place and functioning would be anther option.
Compressor choice will factor into this. My idea is bigger is better esp for a Crawlabego or K5
 
Your looking at the answer..... Use the OEM parts to trace the holes.....

Would recommend using a new style R134 style compressor......

My biase is to run R12 for colder air.

This is the layout for the newer square bodies

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Thanks to all for your advice, I think I am more apprehensive of the thoughts of altering the fire wall on an exceptionally rust free body, that's why I waited til the last minute to make the decision
 
Here are a few pics from folks that helped me out on researching this same issue.
I included a pic of the thread title because I ain’t gotta clue on how to link it up to this thread for ya.

Lots of great info on that thread.

Maybe one of the moderators can link it up ?

Hope this helps , Tom

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Square A/C cab v/s non A/C firewall compatibility ?

I know there are easy enough options/solutions for covering up the hole left behind from going from an A/C equipped cab to a non A/C equipped cab but I am going in the other direction. I’ve got two ( 85 K-5 & 83 K-30 ) original A/C cabs with all the correct OEM type components but both of...
ck5.com ck5.com
 
It was back in the late nineties that I had Vintage air in my '70 K10. The only conditions that it worked well, IMO, was dry summer heat. Once the humidity went up and the temperature dropped below 80*, it was very annoying to put up with. Windows fogging over in a summer rainstorm, icing on the side windows in the winter with poor heating, too.
I ran it for several years before I ditched it and went to factory system with some updates.
Less blower noise was a side benefit of the improvement in the other situations.

In my opinion, I would just be careful to plan the firewall modifications to use a factory housing. I would recommend updating to the orifice tube/ accumulator style like the mid eighties and up. Using a parallel flow condenser will help a little more, even if it takes custom lines to install. I also would use a Sanden or Sanden style compressor, 7 piston version.
 
Last edited:
Big Jake715 said:
Thanks to all for your advice, I think I am more apprehensive of the thoughts of altering the fire wall on an exceptionally rust free body, that's why I waited til the last minute to make the decision
Click to expand...
Hi! How are you doing now, did you install the air conditioner?
 
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