The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Cool air at last in my '56

After a month of working until 2 or 3 nearly every morning, I have AC in my '56.

I started by installing a radiator mount in the 6 cylinder position to get clearance for an electric fan. Yes they mount in different locations. The 6 trucks had it mounted about 4" forward of where it mounts on an 8 truck. I bet you also didn't know that a mount from a 2-ton will fit in the half ton. The front fenders are held on by this mount so I had to cut the fender mount parts off my old piece and use them.

I used a Cooling Components fan and a Centec electronic controller. I'm happy with both.

I already had a rebuilt compressor and new condenser that came with the truck but weren't mounted. There was an evaporator unit in the truck but the ports have been open for who knows how long so I trashed it and bought an evaporator kit from Hotrod Air. I bought compressor mounts and an exhaust manifold to match from a local wrecking yard. I also used a hose kit from Hotrod air and had the ends crimped at my local NAPA outlet.

I charged it last night and took it for a cool test drive.

so good to hear... sure makes a lot of difference although I wasnt really that hot last yr in my truck, the main thing , was just the wind noise from having to drive with the window now..

I might suggest that you give it a good test drive in some real stop and go traffic, and mostly stop to see how the electric fan handles ever thing,,

in my 52 and in stop and go traffic it can go up to about 210 real quick,, so far it hasnt went any more when I have to turn on the fan... anything more and I would probably turn off the air.. so far I have put hundereds of miles on it without any problem.. I just hate to see it go from 180 to 210, and it will in really heavy traffic..

For sure it makes a drive a lot more pleasant,I know I enjoy the one in my 52 car..

thanks for sharing..
Fred

Because of the longer engine I presume. Good on ya, this is the time of year for AC.

way ta git-r-done Clete!

Fred if I remember right you have a 350 in your hotrod.210 degrees wont hurt it a bit.I just pulled the thermostat out of my 55,it was inching up toward 230 in heavy traffic.It now runs between 155 and 180 depending on the weather and traffic.Most smallblock Chevies I have been around tend to run hot.

thanks, I just keep a good eye out when it gets 210 with the air,, again it has to be almost stop traffic for it to run that high,,the electric fan seems to keep it about that......but in normal traffic it is about 185.. I am speaking when the outside temp is 93-100 plus.

Hay Cletis, a truck that cool don't need no stinkin AC. Although in Texas at our age you are dead (cooked) meat if you don't have one.

Well, I spoke too soon. It has already taken a crap. I drove it to town and it quit cooling. The Hotrod Air tech said it souds like a blockage in the lines. Could have been a freeze up due to moisture in the system. I tore it down and could find no blockage. Blew out all the lines. I have it on the vacuum pump right now and I'll charge it back up. If that don't fix it I'm taking it to a pro.

I don't know if this will help, but I had the system "charged" up one time and the guy put too much freon in the lines that caused the AC not to work. Something about "head line pressure"?? I took it back thinking I had a leak, but they charged it with the correct amount and it works good now. This was in a F%$d truck. Good luck cause it HAS to be hot in Texas!

Joker you saw my truck and mine to was running a bit high. I repitched the blades so I pull more air. Took care of problem. I know you can't repitch plastic. 185-200 if it's 98-100 out side sitting at idle.

Cletis, Does it hold a vacumm? I've got a leak detector if you need it. You have a site port on the high side? What freeon?

Yes it holds vacuum. After sucking it down last night and letting it stabilize, I tried to charge it again. It started taking refrigerant (r134) then the low side went to negative again. That's what it was doing when I got back from driving it. I'm stumped.

About the only thing it can be is some sort of restriction, prolly a stopped up expansion valve or orifice.

with all the rain down in texas i think i would make sure i had a submarine!

I agree with fleetside, it is probably a bad expansion valve. Always remember just because it is new dosen't mean that is good.
Tom

Feel the hoses and lines with it running. The temp should turn from hot to cold at the exzpansion valve. Anywhere else indicates a restriction in the systen at that point. The line from the exp-valve to the evap and back to the compressor should be cold, the others hot.
If they are check the temp at the evap going in and coming out. They should feel the same temp. If coming out is considerably warmer it indicates a restricted exp-valve or low charge.
Richard

Cletis, how much freon have you put in? Does it have an expan. valve or orifice? Does it have a pressure switch. You didnot say any thing about the site glass. Got one?

Thanks for all the replies.

No, it doesn't have a sight glass.

I pulled the expansion valve last night and could find no restriction there either. Have to wait until Monday to talk to the Hotrod Air tech again.

Cletis how much freon did you put in? Could have been that it needed a little more. If I were you I would put a drier on that has a site guage. It's alot easier to charge and monitor the system with the site glass, especialy with an expansion valve. There is a good chance with your orgional power/pressure-up the system didnot have a chance to acheve the operating range of the exp- valve. The system should be at operating temp along with about 2500 to 3000 RPM for proper pressures to work. I also will put the freon can into hot water to raise the pressuse in the can to help load the system.

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for posting this. My 55 2nd will get a system in the future. I was looking at the Old Air company in Fort Worth. There is a small shop here in Richardson that said they would work with me.

If the system doesn't work well in the 56 it may be a system for a 55 2nd. A years difference is a strange thing. I know of a great 55 that we can try it in. Let me know.

Cant wait to see your system (completed)...
I am vey happy with my system. I bet that on those HOT Palo Pinto/Parker county days you will be just like me..... driving with the windows up and the A/C on . with a great big smile.

Cliff59

Update: I didn't know there was an specific in and out port on the dryer, so just like Murphy said they would, someone installed it wrong. I swapped ends on it and charged the system again. Now it cools but only about 60 degrees. I talked to the Hotrod Air tech again and he thinks maybe the dryer is ruined from running it backward. What do the Stovebolt Techs think?

what kind of pressures did you have?

Low side 7, high side 235, ambient temp 95 degrees.

put more freon in it, you need a low side about 20-30. Got good airflow across your condensor?

I'm running an electric fan with shroud plus I have a shop fan blowing on the condenser.

The high side is already at 2.5 times the ambient temp so I'm afraid to add more refrigerant. Don't want to get the high side too high.

It will never cool well w/o some more pressure on the low side.

dumb question, but would the problem have anything to do with the switch/thermostat that controls the coldness of the air..on mine I can control the temp of the cold air by turn a knob........

at any rate , I hope you get it working, you will need it for the Kansas,City trip...or at least June will better with it..

Make sure the discharge line from the compressor goes to the top of the condensor, some aftermarket are the same size hose fittings & can be swapped, 88-95 model Silverados are the same way, lots of folks get them backwards, A/C will still work but not very cold.

It's going to the top connection.

put more freon in it

Ya get it going Cletis?

It's going but still not as cool as should be. Still waiting on a new dryer.