Denny, it is a '57. I removed the ashtray and the small bar that the ashtray hinges on. I fabricated the controls to fit into the ashtray opening. I bent the metal plate that holds the thermostat and the fan switch to fit curve of the dash using the profile of the ashtray as a template. The slots for the sliding switches were cut with a Dremel cut off wheel and a straight edge. Once I had the base plate fabricated, I had it chrome plated (only $15). The Harrison Air Conditioning logo is from a metal reproduction tag that I bought on the internet then split so that "Harrison" could go on one side of the controls and "Air Conditioning" could go on the other.
My goal was to make the controls look like they were a factory option.
I didn't want to hack up my dash. If the a/c ever comes out, the ashtray can easily pop back in.
Regarding the question about using an idle stop solenoid on the carb, I do not have one. I simply increase the idle speed a bit to cover the load of the compressor. The truck idles a bit more than it should without the a/c on, but not so much that anyone but a Stovebolter would notice. It idles normal with the a/c on.
Matt
