I installed one in my 51 AD cab. I got the four vent model which is
overkill. I chose the Old Air unit over the Vintage Air with under-dash
vent manifold because the manifold interferes with my e-brake lever that is
attached to the transmission and sticks up out of the floor next to the
shift lever.
The instructions were complete and easy to follow although it probably
helped that I understand how the systems work, in general. I had to
fabricate mounts but expected that. Everything works as advertised and it
keeps the cab cool (80) even in 105 deg. weather with the sun beating
through the windshield.
Some picks and pans: The low speed on the blower is too high. Air for the
defrost is cold much of the time but since it is dried air it seems to work
OK anyhow. The water valve is either all on or all off so the unit takes in
hot water, heats the air then cools it to the desired temperature,
condensing out the moisture in the process. This is fine from a comfort
standpoint but not from a fuel economy standpoint. It means that the
compressor works too much of the time when the heater is on and that uses
extra fuel. How much extra, I don't know but in 100+ deg. hot weather the
AC cuts my mileage by about 10%. My solution was to put a cable operated
water valve in series with the vacuum operated valve supplied with the
unit. I cut the water flow back till the thermostat clicks on and off only
at infrequent intervals like when pulling a hill. Of course, when it's
really sloppy wet and the windows tend to fog up, I increase the water flow
so more moisture is condensed out by the AC evaporator.
Something to consider when adding A/C to any 216/235/261 powered vehicle:
The crank pulley allows only for one belt. On the 235 it's a narrow belt
and it has to drive the water pump, fan, compressor and alternator. The
narrow belts have a pretty short life when stressed that far. They stretch
and wear into the shape of the pulley and if you let them get loose they
glaze and begin to slip. Once that happens, its almost impossible to get
them tight enough not to slip. And if you could, it would make short work
of the water pump bearing. So, follow the directions on the belt package
and readjust it after a few minutes running time and then again at regular
intervals. Carry a spare and some belt dressing. Admittedly, part of my
problem is the high-pitch, 6-blade, 18" truck fan that I need to keep cool
when pulling hills in third gear. But that's not all of the problem.
What we really need is a double-groove harmonic balancer that sticks out no
farther than the original (for fan clearence), and accommodates two drive
belts, with compressor and alternator mounts to match.
Tom Allen
51 3800
At 10:21 PM 1/7/02 -0600, Ronald I. Givens wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ronald I. Givens
>To: old-chevy-truck
>Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 10:21 PM
>Subject: a/c
>
>
>Howdy,
>can anyone tell me good or bad about Old Air Products (Hurricane a/c units)in
>Fort Worth, Texas...
>thanks for any info
>ron givens
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
Tom Allen
Seattle, WA
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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