Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 5, 2015 Well, I finally took the plunge and got me an underdash A/C unit for the truck. Been spying them for a few years. I got mine from RetroAir in Texas. http://www.retroair.com/universalackits.htmlBeen a pretty nice group to deal with. My first evaporator showed up broke on the front corner. No problem, and had a replacement within a week. Kit comes with everything, but like anything "universal" it needs finesse to work.I remade the mounting bracket for the dash unit. I was going to mount the cb below it, but just seems kinda wrong. So I used some 1 x 1/8" stock and bent me a new bracket so my CB is in the same location.All the work under the hood has been quite an undertaking. Was NEVER any room for an a/c compressor on a B model. I saw the way they mount it to an R model and since finding the OEM bracket wasn't going smoothly I just made my own. I had to remove the original fuel filter from the front of the motor:I cut the arms off the mounting plate and used them to fabricate a new mount off the frame rails:I had thoughts of converting to spin on filter, but since I had all this I figured just to reuse it all. A few new lines to get everything hooked up and that part is complete. I then started on the compressor mounting. I started with a 6x9 pc of 1/4" plate and made it all work:I will need to trim the 1" shroud from the radiator to get the clutch to clear. I will be running from the front belt only. The rear belt will not clear the accy drive on the front of the motor. On the R model, they run just off the water pump pulley, but there is NO room for another pulley groove with such a short water pump. You can't space it out because right now there is only maybe 1" clearance from the fan to the radiator. Barely get the fan bolts on/off with the tips of your fingers.I have some more pics I need to download from my phone from the brackets I made to support the plate that run down to the accy drive area where the pump bolts on. Two 1/4" plates runs down to steady it. Should not ever be an issue with anything ever breaking loose/off. Once I slot the bracket I can then figure a belt length and finish that part up. I am working on getting hose lengths and having the ends crimped on.I mounted the condensor under the bunk on the passenger side(just above my battery box). The kit comes with a nice 12" electric fan to mount on the condensor. There is NO other place to mount it. The shutters are only 1/2" away from the front of the radiator so no room there. I thought of mounting it upright behind the bunk but with the fan I figure this is out the way and won't have any chance of getting damaged.It will be probably a month before it is ready for testing and charging. Baby steps. 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j hancock 13,107 Posted January 5, 2015 Air ride.....Power steering....A/C......This B model is turning into a Cadillac! Some nice upgrades no doubt. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farmer52 2,264 Posted January 5, 2015 Nice work Larry! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCR 174 Posted January 5, 2015 Good job Larry. With all of your experience you can come and help me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 5, 2015 Been a slow, very thought provoking process. Been eyeing up the possibilities and how I was going to do it. Finally bought the kit and started it a few weeks ago.The air assist steering is coming along slow also. All cleaned up:The red boot is from a Rancho shock. I had a pair laying here and it was just the right length. Still need to purchase another small tank so it has its own supply(like a 7x24 like I already have on the truck) with a check valve inline.You can see the fan for the condensor laying up on the fifth wheel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 5, 2015 Air ride.....Power steering....A/C......This B model is turning into a Cadillac! Some nice upgrades no doubt.If I could get rid of the SLOW, NOISY, RATTLY old truck portion I would really have something LMAO!!!!Going TO and FROM the races, my buddies all have late model pickups with all the creature comforts. I think the a/c will come in handy. Making it a bit more comfortable on hot/muggy days. The air steering will just make it easier to manuveur. Won't have to work so hard to park it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladislav 2,806 Posted January 9, 2015 That's a good way to go Hope you'll end up all the story to the hot days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thomastractorsvc 1,378 Posted January 9, 2015 once you get that AC working make up a set of plans for the rest of us! You will make sure the rest of us don't become "hot heads" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ezrider 599 Posted January 9, 2015 i am impressed with your work so far. rather than using the electric fan i would try to wire your signal to turn the electric fan to you're fan clutch solenoid and just use the engine fan.or if you have a mechanical fan you should have enough airflow for the condinser Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 9, 2015 EZ, there is no room for the condensor anywhere near the radiator/fan on a B model. There is less then 1/2" in front of the radiator for the shutters. That is why the remote mount and electric fan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ezrider 599 Posted January 9, 2015 ok i guess i missed that, i thought you had room for the condenser but not the fan. you could probably go on the back of your sleeper like as if you had a apu unit without looking too out of place Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ezrider 599 Posted January 9, 2015 i guess i really am not there today i re-read and see you already mounted it so never mind...lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 9, 2015 Ya, I was thinking along the lines of the back of the bunk, as I've seen units like that. I have room under the passenger side so I just put it up there. We'll see how well it works? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eddeere 512 Posted January 9, 2015 Great work and a good idea. Thought about doing the same thing on my B. Have to get every thing back together first. Things have slowed due to the weather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 9, 2015 Ed, it'd be MUCH easier to make things fit if it was in the parts yours are in. Well, the BIG garage would be a nice start too LOL! I gotta work in a single stall car garage.And it has a bunk and is 5ft longer then in this picture!! The room is about 10ft wide and the truck is 8ft. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farmer52 2,264 Posted January 9, 2015 I been to Larry's and can vouch for the small "work bay". However, I have a large work bay (outside) and rely on Mother Nature for heating and cooling. Would definitely like a nice work shop like several BMT members. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddog13407 2,138 Posted January 9, 2015 i think Matt Pfahl actually cut the center out of his shutters, just left half the fin and took out about a 20'' by 20'' square to mount the condenser in front of the radiator. he might have also used the stationary shutters that didn't move so he didn't cut a good set. cant remember , been a while since I studied his truck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Freightrain 2,387 Posted January 9, 2015 Hmmmm interesting. Well it is what it is now. I think it will work okay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ezrider 599 Posted January 10, 2015 ill try not to complain about my 25x50' shop being too small anymore....lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
57 bcr 2,691 Posted January 10, 2015 Matt,Matt Pfahl went to a rooftop unit about 2 years ago. Talked to him about it at Lititz, that year he did it. Al 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddog13407 2,138 Posted January 10, 2015 that must have been the last round of restoration on ole Jane Anne I guess Al? I remember years go he had the shutter shaved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
57 bcr 2,691 Posted January 10, 2015 Yes. He did have the Vintage Air as I recall,Matt. I never even noticed the rooftop unit until he pointed it out. Guess it cools better. I just drive with the "twin 60's" open myself! (no $$$) Think Larry is doing a great job on his though! Al Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theakerstwo 785 Posted January 10, 2015 Larry think insulation on the floor and fire wall and inside of the doors.The doors on a B does not hold air like it should also.Also I want to ask what belt will pull the cond.I installed a a/c on my B years ago and found something you may have not run into.I tried to use a fan belt to turn comp but when you do that the water pump is being turned now by one belt. Because the belt you use that goes over the comp and water pump has not enough wrap on the water pump so the pump is only being turned by one belt.What I did was find a three sheve pulley for the pump and use one short belt from the pump to the comp.Fot the condenser I used a red dot with a fan and mounted on top of my camper that is mounted on the truck.In the end it was just cool enough to keep from rolling the windows down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gearhead204 1,825 Posted January 10, 2015 Ok I wont complain about the 24x24 shop I built when I was 14 being too small. I now know why you stayed so thin I thought it was so the car was moving less weight, I can see that it is a must, in order be able to move around in the shop A diet would have saved me a lot of money 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
