Air Conditioning

michael a

michael a

Senior Member
How many of you are running A/C, what do you think of it, was it worth the expense and where did you purchase it?
 
I installed a Ken Davis unit in my 31 S/W in May, We drove the car to and from Branson a few weeks ago when the temps were near or at 100 degrees. I installed good insulation in the car and it worked very well. It even keeps the back seat area of the car very cool. I installed it for my wife's comfort...but find I am using it when she is not along. Well worth the investment for us!
Ken Davis supplies a kit with all the components pre-fit.
Good Day!

See post #18 for some photos of my AC installation. Link below:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220251

The photos below show the sound mat and insulation installed to help keep the car cool. All areas shown were covered with two layers of 1/4" foil faced insulation except the floor which only received 1 layer. Seams in the insulation were over lapped.
 

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Installed one in my '30 Town Town Sedan and my son installed one in his '31 Slant TS. Built our own kits. Drove them Texas to Eureka Springs, Branson, Nashville, Vicksburg via Natchez Trace and back to Texas. Worked very well.
 
AZ resident requires A/C unless you like to suffer in the heat. I have 2 of Ken Davis' units. My only complaint is you have to have a 12V system.
 
I have a Ken Davis unit in my pickup. This particular unit serves as a heater as well as an air conditioner. Believe it or not, both phases get used a lot here in Alaska, sometimes both in the same day.
 
Seriously considering a Ken Davis unit for my Town Sedan. I have seen photos of compressor mount on Model A engine. What I am curious about is how is the evaporator unit mounted? Could anyone post a photo that shows how that mount is accomplished? The info says bolt in, but for the life of me, I can't visualize that!
 
See post #10 ...


The evaporator is inside the unit under the dash.

The condenser is behind the rear axle with an electric fan to cool it.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?p=320592&postcount=4

Recently I saw a photo of a compressor that someone chose to mount near the EXHAUST manifold on passenger side. I think that is a very bad location.


I would think that the boiling freon will send the pressure sky high and maybe damage the system.

Seems to me that the freon would be boiling in the lines all of the time ... even with AC
compressor turned off.

Also system would not work very well with all that heat being introduced into the the system.
 
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Re: Post 12.
Installed one in my '30 Town Town Sedan and my son installed one in his '31 Slant TS. Built our own kits. Drove them Texas to Eureka Springs, Branson, Nashville, Vicksburg via Natchez Trace and back to Texas. Temp in high 90's to 100. There were 3 Model A's with the same installation on the trip and they all worked very well. Mine has been installed for over 5 years. So far no problems and system pressures are normal. Using 134 not freon.
This may be the photo you are referring to:
 

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To give more detail for Del in NE Ohio on the evapaortor installation.
A flat bar with a thinner curved section to go around the fuel tank tunnel, bolts to the cowl side supports that the cowl lamps bolt to. Hope this helps.
 
OK good to know that the location does not seem to affect the operation.

Thanks ...



MAG said:
Re: Post 12.
Installed one in my '30 Town Town Sedan and my son installed one in his '31 Slant TS. Built our own kits. Drove them Texas to Eureka Springs, Branson, Nashville, Vicksburg via Natchez Trace and back to Texas. Temp in high 90's to 100. There were 3 Model A's with the same installation on the trip and they all worked very well. Mine has been installed for over 5 years. So far no problems and system pressures are normal. Using 134 not freon.
This may be the photo you are referring to:
Click to expand...
 
Im just amazed the A is still driveable with an AC system. The ol 60 hp chevette engine had to have the AC shut off to make it up hills. My 3.0 (3.slow) ranger theres a noticeable difference with the AC on or not.
 
Today's compressors do not take near as much power as the older ones did. I can't tell the difference in speed when the compressor kicks in. While idling at 1,000 RPM, when the compressor kicks in, it takes the idle down to a little over 900 RPM
 
I may not have figured it right, but my math told me the it only required about 2-3 hp to run the Ken Davis A/C. I have a 6:1 Snyder head, B carb, and the only indication I get when the compressor kicks in is when I am at idle. RPM drops slightly. At driving speeds I can not tell except by looking at ammeter. It is not notable at all at any driving speed. I get about 16-19 mpg cruising at 60 mph depending on head winds or hills.About 16 in town driving in my Fordor
 
My engine is equipped similar to post 18 with B cam. Hardly notice the compressor start and stop. Installed a 3 1/2" SOS Crank (2 groove) Pulley and 5 1/2' clutch. Reduces the amount of HP to run the compressor. Uses original fan belt for Alt. and water pump. 1/2' belt for AC. Averaged 17.5 mpg cruising 45 to 50 on 2300 mile trip.
 
CarlG said:
Today's compressors do not take near as much power as the older ones did. I can't tell the difference in speed when the compressor kicks in. While idling at 1,000 RPM, when the compressor kicks in, it takes the idle down to a little over 900 RPM
Click to expand...

Not bad.im used to modernish cars feeling like it shifted gears when the ac kicks in.

Random question for anyone - i know your supposed to pull a vacuum on the system to properly recharge the ac system. If you dont and just use the refrigerant cans to add enough does that affect how hard the ac system kicks in?
 
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