Front and Rear System

[lnirenberg]

I am the proud new owner of a monster 9 passenger '57 Pontiac safari wagon and am in the planning stages of the modifications. There is no way a front system will cool the entire car. Anyone have any experience installing AC with a rear system I would appreciate some tips. thanks.

[Twentyover]

What specifically do you want to know?

[lnirenberg]

I'm not sure all the options, but I am going under the assumption that the best way to do this is with a rear overhead evaporator and a compressor large enough to handle the load. The only rear evaporator unit I could find was a 12v system from ProAir used for shuttle vans. Just looking for some ideas and feedback from anyone who has installed a 2 evaporator system.

[Twentyover]

Haven't installed one on my car, but I do work with them.

May want to look at some of the OEM stuff- they are usually mounted between the outer fender and the upholstery card.

Big compressor and condenser. Spit the lines with a T, usually the rear TXV's are set to starve the rear a little so they won't freeze.

[INTMD8]

Mine is far from being finished but I can tell you what I did.

Vintage air gen IV up front. Built a fresh air/recirc housing for it as well.

Used a 63200-VUX-A in the rear.

Also a refrigerant shutoff solenoid so nothing goes to the rear evaporator unless it's on. 46200-VUH

"Monster superflow" condenser 037030-OVR

I don't remember the compressor part number but it was the same displacement as a SD508. SD7 is too small for dual air.

Also removed the a/c vents that were at the base of the windshield and installed 63 cad vents in the dash as they are switchable on/off and adjustable direction.

[lnirenberg]

Now that's what I was asking about. Thanks you very much for your detailed reply and pics.

[sccacuda]

I am the proud new owner of a monster 9 passenger '57 Pontiac safari wagon and am in the planning stages of the modifications. There is no way a front system will cool the entire car. Anyone have any experience installing AC with a rear system I would appreciate some tips. thanks.

Hi Larry,

My shop works on only late model Chryslers, so I can offer some suggestions based on that. I would't reinvent the wheel. I'd use a proven OEM setup. The Caravan or Durango dual systems would both work well. The older Durango 98-2000 used an overhead evap and the later used a wheel well mount. The Caravan system is behind the rear passenger wheel well as well. I'd recommend the late 90's through early 2000 NS Caravan setup. The rear evap box is small and contoured to the wheel well. It has a heater core as well. This would let you put air all the way in the back and the connections are on the bottom so you could run the lines underneath. It uses a simple H-valve like the front unit. The front box is relatively small as well. You can buy these vans complete for under $500 not running. This gives you all your a/c in one package. The manual control heads are stand alone as well on the early ones, not requiring a body computer.

Hope this at least gives you some ideas of where to find an a/c system.

[MonzaRacer]

Just replaced later to mid 2000's Grand Caravan HVAC unit evap core. Sits in right rear corner of cargo area and is very easy to adapt to most cars. As stated it has fan, heater and evap core with H Block. Simply T off lines and run then under car. Need to figure out where my info is but I had place to pick up aluminum AC lines. and you can get SUR&R kit parts to connect rubber and metal lines. I am working on getting one of these its and should be able to fab lines later on.
I also have illustrated parts guide from NAPA,,, comes in handy. had Jeep Liberty come in with less than yr old AC repair(compressor,etc) had bad clutch coil. so we ordered one from Chryco. Books and computer and dealer had it using Visteon HS18, Had Denso 10S17.
WELL started looking in AllData and it sated that two different compressors were used, so found the Nippo(Denso) 10S17R clutch/coil kit in stock at NAPA,,well blow me down, as Popeye used to say, the coil fit perfect, all I had to o was swap over Chryco connector and slip compressor back on(left lines connected, just used new clutch removal kit and puller to remove clutch.
should have been less than hr job but pulling shops bacon out of fire AND sending lady back home without air, well not my cup of tea.
Now just need to locate a 4 seasons AC clutch coil and can return whole kit if I wanted.
Most people have no clue how much stuff will interchange.
Did you know you can use a GM/Ford A6 or one of the York/Tecumseh AC compressors as air pumps? Ran an A6 on my 78 C10 for over 2 yrs, now it has Y/T unit. Really need to get truck running again, miss driving my air ride equipt truck.

[liquidh8]

Good info on the caravan stuff, thanks!

[Twentyover]

Any information on that cool 508 compressor mounting bracket?