Hi 300 folks, I have to revisit the '57 A/C issue. Since the last time we kicked this subject around in October I've been picking up parts and scratching my head. And I think we're going to come up with a pretty neat setup. I bought a complete factory system off of Ebay that came from a '59 New Yorker. Turns out the compressor had thrown a rod. So that was out of the picture, but I bought another used one from a '57. I will use the condenser coil from the '59 which bolts in perfectly. I won't admit how many hours it took at the kitchen table to straighten all the fins with a tweezer, but it did come out pretty. The setup also came with a neat crazy shaped finned high pressure line that goes behind the grill, and which must be intended to augment the condenser. I also bought an aftermarket underdash evaporator from the sixties that will look - and should work - pretty cool. So I think the at least the planning is on the home stretch. But here's my question - Should I just clean up and mount this '57 compressor in unknown condition, using the crossed fingers method of preventing problems? Or should I at least pop the heads off and replace the leaf/reed valves? Is there any easy way to test its condition before I mount it? If I open it up, where might I get new gaskets and the reed valves? I have spent a ton of time searching and can't find anyone selling the parts I think I need. Your expertise, knowledge, advice appreciated. Thanks. Keith Boonstra Holland Michigan 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 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/