Is Air Conditioning a Reality or Am I Dreaming

karenna · June 29th, 2008, 08:22 PM

Hi, I bought a 1961 Falcon and joined this club yesterday, and I would like to know if it's possible to install air conditioning in a '61 Falcon without destroying it, or without it losing too much of it's original look.

**Luva65wagon** · June 29th, 2008, 09:46 PM

Welcome Kareena,

There's always someone selling an old AC unit for Ford cars -- if going "period correct" is what you're after. They seem to come mostly out of Mustangs these days. Check out Craigslist or eBay.

Keep in mind that these early AC units were designed to use R-12 refrigerant, which is VERY expensive and hard to find... not to mention having been replaced with R-134, which is far more Earth friendly. So if you can find a complete AC unit, it'll cost a lot to install and charge up. There are those who claim you can convert these older units to run on R-134, but I've not talked to one person who has been happy with this conversion.

There are a couple of companies who sell new AC units for classic cars. Vintage Air is probably the most popular. Just Google "classic car air conditioning" and you'll find a few links to help you decide whether it is worth it to do.

Hope this helps!

Oh, and by the way, if you look under the dash on the right side, you'll see a little handle that will open a door. This little door on a Falcon is the freash air on the passenger side... in case you hadn't seen it yet.

**Nathan289** · June 29th, 2008, 10:17 PM

there's an air vent on the left side too..

the next quetion is is the 170 or 144 cubic inch engine powerful enough to handle an ac unit?

Nathan

**Luva65wagon** · June 29th, 2008, 11:03 PM

Oh sure... as long as you turn it off when you go up hills, pass someone, or just drive it on a flat road. You can turn it on going downhill though.

That left side vent had a regular handle on it, so I figured she'd have seen that one.

That door though.... saved my behind once when I was younger and a lot more stupider than I is today. It was what I had stashed behind it... which I will leave to your imagination.

**pbrown** · June 29th, 2008, 11:04 PM

Classic Auto Air is now re-manufacturing Ford style under dash AC units. They look just like the older Mustang stuff but use modern refrigerant. They also have bracket kits for the 144/170/200 for Sanden compressors. Give them a call.

**redfalken** · June 29th, 2008, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Luva65wagon

That door though.... saved my behind once when I was younger and a lot more stupider than I is today. It was what I had stashed behind it... which I will leave to your imagination.

A pint of Mad Dog 20/20 "Wild Berry"???

**Nathan289** · June 29th, 2008, 11:10 PM

My 61 has a door on the drivers side just like the door on the pass side..

Though your knob that is mark with an A is much easier to open when driving..

I'll stick to my 250 a/c 2 windows down 50 mph, because the car wont go much faster than that..

Nathan

**Luva65wagon** · June 29th, 2008, 11:11 PM

Kenny... It was in the "ounces", but not fluid ounces

**Luva65wagon** · June 30th, 2008, 10:21 PM

Kareena... back to the subject of AC, I just got my new FCA newsletter today and there is a story about a white 64 with a 170 and a factory AC unit. So, I guess a 170 was enough at the time to handle AC. The 144, which may be what you have, may be a little wimpy for it, but I'm sure you could install a 200 for very little money and have more than enough umphh for AC.

**justahairFalconloopy** · July 1st, 2008, 12:14 PM

also look into http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/
they have a real nice lil compact unit called a Hurricane...you could replace the whole heater system (which sucks anyhow

)

**Luva65wagon** · July 1st, 2008, 12:25 PM

Wow! I could have AC for a thousand bucks! Man I wish I hadn't seen this. That would be nice for the trip to Oregon...

**pbrown** · July 1st, 2008, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Luva65wagon

Wow! I could have AC for a thousand bucks! Man I wish I hadn't seen this. That would be nice for the trip to Oregon...

It's a lot easier with the interier out. (I need a Devil smiley).

**Jeff W** · July 1st, 2008, 10:35 PM

If you were creative with the duct work and vents, one would never see the hurricane system mounted in your car. Now I'M thinking about it!

Darn you justahairFalconloopy!