Re: [Chrysler300] 1957 Air conditioning

[Keith Boonstra <kboonstra@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wow!  Put a question out there, and get a thousand terrific words of 
advice in two hours.  I really appreciate it. 

My thought is that aftermarket air might be something like $1500 
installed (and that's without doing any checking on prices), and that 
for maybe double that (or so) I could end up with a complete, correct 
factory system installed.

Some years back I put a Vintage Air system in a '67 Ford. It worked out 
adequately, but you don't bring in fresh air through it. And if you open 
a vent you frost the coil up solid in no time.  So I see a factory 
system as being a better functioning unit to begin with.  And beyond 
that I don't think any monetary value or return is gained by the 
installation of an aftermarket system, and, of course it doesn't look as 
good.

It sounds from some of you (such as Rob Kern), on the other hand, that 
the factory way is going to be a bit of a nightmare at best.  And I 
understand that.

So let me think some more about the pros and cons of each way.

Thanks guys.

BTW if anyone is short on R-12 we should talk.  I can help.

Keith Boonstra

rob kern wrote:
> Keith,
>     Some thoughts on the A/C issue. My C has factory A/C and I added 
> rear A/C from Old Air Products in Fort Worth. I also added a 1100 cfm 
> condenser fan and a trinary switch to protect the Chrysler 
> compressor.  I'm running R-12 as refrigerant and have factory Solex 
> glass since it was a factory A/C car. The Model 900 HVAC system parts 
> are extremely hard to come by and the underdash componentry is a "Rube 
> Goldberg" scenario of Chrysler engineering at best.  Fortunately the 
> oil mechanisms and solenoids all work. Many previous owners found 
> getting the A/C system to be cold a venerable money pit with tepid 
> results. I spent countless $$$ thousands getting replacement parts , 
> etc. to get it keeping cold and working to parameters.  Starting off 
> with anything short of NOS will be a nightmare of a Stephen King novel 
> proportion.  George McKovich installed aftermarket A/C in his 
> non-factory C and is very pleased. Bill Woodman installed a '56 rear 
> unit with a Sandin compressor and is very pleased.  Merle Wolfer is 
> working on a factory unit for his D.  Jeff Carter knows these units 
> thoroughly and may be able to get you headed in the right direction if 
> you must have a factory unit.  My advice would be to contact George 
> McKovich and persue that route since you don't have a factory A/C car. 
> My 2 cents worth.  300'ly, ROB KERN
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* keboonstra <mailto:kboonstra@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>     *To:* Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>     <mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:34 PM
>     *Subject:* [Chrysler300] 1957 Air conditioning
>
>      
>
>     OK Folks, our '57 300C has sat in the barn way too much in the
>     summers just because I'm too spoiled rotten to ride around without
>     A/C anymore in a car that doesn't have a flip top. And besides
>     that, it needed a few improvements that are long overdue.
>
>     After owning it now (for the second time) for 26 years, I'm
>     finally taking care of a lot of the things I should have been
>     doing right along. I'm putting in seat belts, re-installing
>     correct carbs, finally putting on that right side mirror, fixing
>     up the armrests, and maybe I'll throw a set of WW radials on it so
>     it can safely hit the road.
>
>     So now I would also like to install a complete original A/C
>     system, and I don't know where to start. Who out there might have
>     everything I'm going to need to accomplish this (both the parts
>     and the knowledge)? I know this won't be cheap, but in my view it
>     will add that much long term value to the car. And it will add
>     immensely to our pleasure in heading halfway across the country
>     for a meet.
>
>     Who's got parts or ideas for a starting point? Your thoughts?
>
>     Many thanks,
>     Keith Boonstra
>     Holland, Michigan
>
>     
>


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