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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 48 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 48 | Okay, a ran a few searches, and didn't find this info.
I'm trying to find out what brand of compressor originally went on the dealer add on A/C systems. I'm not looking for the slick new vintage air system.
thanks in advance.
-kd kibbe
Sometimes you got to leave 'em like you found 'em.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 | Hy KD Kibbe, I believe they were Frigidair systems from the factory, as for dealer installed systems, I'm not sure what was used, and even if it was the same brand installed at different dealerships. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | It would depend on who they sourced it from. Trucks didn't get an A/C option until '59 from GM, anything earlier would almost have to either be dealer fabricated or aftermarket. That said, the '59 factory A/C for trucks used a Harrison compressor, most likely the A6, which is arguably the best compressor ever made. Aftermarket systems would possibly used a York 2 cylinder.
Good luck in finding one, A/C on a truck was rare. You might look for a passenger car version, and adapt it.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 48 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 48 | Good luck in finding one, A/C on a truck was rare. You might look for a passenger car version, and adapt it. Thanks much, That's what I was planning to do, but I didn't know what to look for.
Sometimes you got to leave 'em like you found 'em.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | My family's shop had a franchise in the 50's and 60's, installing add-on air conditioners. Mark IV was the most popular one, but FrigiKing and Climatic Air were also popular brands. Practically all the add-on units used York or Tecumseh 2-cylinder aluminum housing compressors, with adapter kits for specific types of engines. The under-dash units were almost all the same, regardless of application. We would start on an installation job at 8:00 AM, and usually drive to lunch in the air-conditioned car, then install another one in the afternoon.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,903 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,903 | York and Tecumpseh compressors haven't changed in the last 50 years except for the hose connections. Since they were piston type, they vibrated and broke mounting brackets and still did this until about 10 years ago when rotary compressors became standard in the trucking business. GM was way ahead of their time with the rotary compressors they used on passenger cars. I don't know what they used on trucks because no one around here could afford one. | | |
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