The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk a/c on inline 261

Just finished installing a fresh air heater in my '55 1st series truck. Rebuilt the heater and it works great. I am running a rebuilt '62 261. The heater works great but the summer temps in Idaho leave me considering air conditioning in my truck. Looking for some input.

Vintage Air makes a bracket for the inline 6's. It holds the A/C compressor and alternator.
A/C bracket

I put a Vintage Air system in my 46 a few years ago, was quite a job but a good learning experience. They do not offer a 'KIT' for this series truck so you'll need to fab every bracket, hoses etc. Got some excellent help from a good friend, engineer/fabricator guru, fabed mounting bracket for the compressor in the generator location and then used an alternator above the gen. Used a single belt set up then a smaller one up to the alt. What I'm most happy with is finding some space just under dash trim for VA's long slender vents and controls, expensive bits but really worked out well with such limited space. I'd sent in several photos of this job to the Stovebolt gang but it never showed up on the site??? You can send me a PM and I'll send you some pics if needed.

They list a kit for 54 I believe.
http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/chevy_parts.html

Alan Grove Co. also has a nice set of brackets, similar to mine on the 261.

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/images/New_Images/Large/301LTrial.jpg

I put a Vintage kit on my 54. Painted the underdash piece to match and it looks and works great. In my case it totally replaced the truck heater - heat and air are combined, which is very convenient. So I now have a heater for sale. Maybe you will, too.

Got mine from chevs of the 40s but had some one else do the install on 54/235. had too get a dual lower damper pulley from Buffalo enterprises.