VA ComPac Install On A 1942 Dodge Truck - A/C Install

Vintage trucks’ cramped...        read full caption Vintage trucks’ cramped engine bays fill up fast when you add modern chunks such as power brake boosters and big V-8s. There’s certainly no room for a big air conditioning blower/evaporator on this side of the firewall.

There’s ample room for...        read full caption There’s ample room for Vintage Air’s ComPac evaporator under the passenger-side dash. After temporarily removing the glovebox, Clay Mullis of Full Tilt Street Rods trial-fits the unit to determine mounting points and hose clearance.

Vintage Air’s ComPac...        read full caption Vintage Air’s ComPac evaporator is smaller than its SuperCooler unit, so it will fit most vintage trucks. But the ComPac features the same 465-cfm blower, and its 12,000-Btu output compares favorably to the SuperCooler’s 14,000.

The ComPac unit uses the same...        read full caption The ComPac unit uses the same compressor as the SuperCooler. Compressors are available for either R-12 or R-134a refrigerant. And Vintage Air also supplied the beefy mounting brackets made especially for the Mopar 360.

The complete ComPac system...        read full caption The complete ComPac system includes enough small parts to intimidate a novice at first. But the instructions are very clear and detailed, and they contain many large how-to illustrations and wiring diagrams.

Vintage Air provides universal...        read full caption Vintage Air provides universal mounting hardware. But Mullis found that additional custom braces were needed for this Dodge. This is one way a pro installer—with all the necessary tools—can save you time and hassles.

You can order a control panel...        read full caption You can order a control panel and vents that mount under the dash and on the kick panels (no cutting required). But we wanted the slick in-dash look, so we ordered those options, and Mullis fired up his plasma-cutter.

Templates were provided, but...        read full caption Templates were provided, but Full Tilt’s Mullis prefers tracing the real pieces. About the only suggestion he had for Vintage Air was to enlarge the vents’ mounting flanges to allow for more hole-cutting error.

The billet dash panel is attached...        read full caption The billet dash panel is attached to a ready-to-go wiring harness complete with necessary relays and vacuum solenoids. Harness length was plenty for our Dodge. Instructions include a color-coded wiring diagram.

Here’s the wiring harness...        read full caption Here’s the wiring harness installed and the control panel (faceplate removed) ready to go into the dash. With Vintage Air’s diagram, the job is basically connecting the dots. Still, if electricity spooks you, leave it to a pro.

An Advantage Plus fuse block...        read full caption An Advantage Plus fuse block from Ron Francis’ Wire Works eases the wiring job. Each terminal is color-coded and labeled. Mullis simply located the ignition-on terminal marked for A/C. A 12-gauge power feed went to the battery.

VA’s compressor mounts...        read full caption VA’s compressor mounts bolted up exactly as promised. But to fit the 360 into the Dodge, we repositioned the steering pump and alternator (a non-stock one at that). We’d need Mullis’ welding skills for custom bracketry.

Full Tilt’s Mullis stressed...        read full caption Full Tilt’s Mullis stressed that the two critical factors in planning brackets are pulley alignment and belt routing between the crank pulley, water pump, alternator, and A/C compressor. Brackets must also allow adequate belt tightening.

Expect the unexpected. The...        read full caption Expect the unexpected. The Mopar 360 had factory A/C pulleys on it, but this custom routing required a double water-pump pulley instead of the stock single unit (right). A salvage-yard scrounge turned up a workable piece.

Vintage Air’s 03045-VUC...        read full caption Vintage Air’s 03045-VUC condenser is specially designed to fit vintage trucks and street rods. Brackets and screws are provided. Mounting requires only drilling a few holes in the radiator support.

With the major components...        read full caption With the major components in place, hose routing is the next step. Vintage Air’s trick four-way bulkhead plate makes that job easy and neat. Mullis relocated the battery behind the cab—something we wanted to do anyway—and plasma-cut a hole.

This in-cab view shows that...        read full caption This in-cab view shows that the four-way bulkhead plate (arrow) is positioned for convenient hose connection to the evaporator using a variety of top-quality straight and elbow fittings included with the system.

A/C hoses are pressurized,...        read full caption A/C hoses are pressurized, so after they’re measured and cut, their barb-style fittings must be crimped (arrow) with the correct automotive barb hose crimping tool. A local auto A/C shop did our crimping for a nominal fee.

Mullis mounted the drier on...        read full caption Mullis mounted the drier on the firewall just below the four-way bulkhead. Vintage Air stresses that all extra holes and gaps in the firewall should be filled, the cab should be insulated, and doors sealed for best A/C efficiency.

This vacuum-operated shut-off...        read full caption This vacuum-operated shut-off valve is spliced into the heater hose that runs to the intake manifold. As usual, a graphic illustration supplied with the system makes correct installation an easy deal.

It was hard to get a camera...        read full caption It was hard to get a camera into the tight underdash quarters, but VA’s defrost vents had no such problem. Mullis then cut the included duct hose to size.

Full Tilt’s Mullis spent...        read full caption Full Tilt’s Mullis spent extra time double-checking all connections to ensure against leaks. Vintage Air provides the necessary O-rings and sealants.

Here’s the finished interior...        read full caption Here’s the finished interior installation just prior to replacing the glovebox. It doesn’t look that way, but we only lost 3 inches of glovebox depth to clear the duct hoses.

Under the hood, Mullis carefully...        read full caption Under the hood, Mullis carefully zip-tied the wires and hoses for neatness and to keep them out of harm’s way. A quick trip to an A/C shop to charge the Vintage Air ComPac system, and we’re cruisin’ in comfort whether it’s hot or cold outside. CCT

There’s no doubt that classic trucks look cool—even the ugly ones. Problem is, cool looks won’t keep you from burning up inside the cab during the hot months. For that matter, hot rodding your classic won’t necessarily keep the winter cold out, either. Factory air conditioning in older trucks is as scarce as truth in Washington, and unheard of in real classics. And 40- or 50-year-old heaters probably aren’t the hot items they used to be.

If you already know all that, you probably also know that there’s not a whole heck of a lot of room in vintage engine bays and cabs for bulky air conditioning or heating components.

That’s where Vintage Air (VA) can make your life a lot easier and more comfortable. VA’s ComPac Heat/Cool/Defrost unit is just what the name implies—a downsized package that easily fits into most vintage trucks and street rods but still delivers very efficient air conditioning, heating, and defrost.

The Vintage Air ComPac system comes with practically everything you need for a complete installation. And basically the job is just a matter of bolting on the four major components—evaporator, condenser, compressor, and drier—and then connecting the hoses and wires according to the illustrated instructions.

But is it a do-it-yourself project? That depends on the skills and tools you possess, your specific truck, and how modified it is, especially under the hood. Decide for yourself as you follow along while Clay Mullis of Full Tilt Street Rods in Grand Junction, Colorado, installs the VA ComPac in a ’42 Dodge truck that’s been repowered with a Mopar 360 V-8. The problem-solving issues and Mullis’ expert tips apply to just about any classic truck or street rod.