Re: The A/C works!

Posted by HH56 On 2013/5/9 20:48:06

A few things will cause issues. If you do a search on site there are several threads on various things with older AC. Here's the pertinent items condensed.

First being voltage. Back in the day Packard did not use a larger generator for AC cars but many today say the existing generator is not adequate and the car should have an alternator. A few installed 6v alternators but most have just bit the bullet and converted to 12v.

If you want to keep 6v, there are no 6v units mfg'd today. You will either have to modify a very basic underdash hang on unit -- none with electronic controls will work -- or find an old 6v unit in decent condition at the junkyard or ebay. The modification part presents problems because most modern hang ons have a dual shaft motor driving the blower wheels and no dual shaft motors are made in 6v. You would have to figure out how to mount and use 6v single shaft universal heater motors which is a bit smaller than typical AC motors.

The 12 Sanden compressor has several reporting it will work on 6v so fabricating a mount and drive would be the biggest issue there. Mount or bracket is not too bad and a few photos with some ideas are spread around in various threads on site. The drive is the bigger issue because you would have to either find a Packard crankshaft AC drive pulley or else use a single belt driving all the existing pulleys plus the added AC. The Packard AC pulleys are somewhat hard to come by so are expensive but do come up from time to time. Your 51 wouldn't have power steering so although a bit larger than the AC drive, finding a power steering pulley setup could work for the AC. There is a report that some Ford components could be made to work but other than the person who made the statement, I don't know of anyone who has verified that. The single belt has been done by some but has to be carefully laid out to prevent long unsupported stretches which could lead to belt whip or belt flying off a pulley.