Re: air conditioning in 1953

Posted by HH56 On 2011/8/10 9:23:22

Since you are not adverse to 12v, I think the other two problems will be the crankshaft pulley and the compressor mount. Don't know how much install or turnkey Classic or Vintage does on Packards so you may have to supply or make your own mount or at least give them ideas. They probably can answer most if not all your other questions though.

Several different style mounts people have done for the inline 8's are on site here. Maybe you could search and print a picture of a few of them to show. The other thing will be the compressor drive pulley. Finding a true 53-4 Packard AC pulley may prove difficult or expensive. It's a different configuration so I don't think adding a second PS pulley would work on that engine like it does on the V8. Turbopackman did mention a complete Ford vibration damper assy and it's add on pulleys which would fit. That would require completely changing what you have on crank side and may be issue if you have a wide belt. Gen would be gone & new alternator or gen pulley but the problem might be if you have a wide belt fan pulley--don't remember when Packard made the change to narrow but probably not a big deal finding a different pulley to fit if needed--spacing might be though if the setup changes much. Also don't know if anyone ever tried the Ford or even if it does fit-- but still an option to consider if you have problems with a real pulley. That info is also on site. If yours is a narrow belt, it may be possible to use the same belt for all--I believe others have, but IMO, not the best way to go.

Depending on what the AC company says, before committing to any radiator or fan changes, one possibility might be to ask about a remote condenser assy with it's own built in fan. It most likely could be mounted in or near the conventional place but by having it's own fan, maybe no need to disturb anything else.