Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Interested in knowing if anyone has tried installing aftermarket AC on this motor. With all that room under the hood it should be doable?

Unless your car has been converted to 12V, don't think the issue is room but rather nothing aftermarket is available for 6V. Several people have been interested in adding AC to various models and all run into that fact.

The other problem you're going to encounter is the driving pulley arrangement for the compressor. The original prewar AC (which is the only factory application I know of for that engine) apparently drove the compressor via an added groove on the fan/waterpump pulley. Someone was reproducing those but haven't seen any advertised for some time, although the one I bought appears to have been turned so probably not an issue with your shop if you wanted to go that way.

Turbopackman has identified a Ford damper and pulley arrangement that replaces the Packard crankshaft setup on the later straight 8's but I don't know if that would work on the 356--unless you can make some sort of adapter and just use the single drive pulley on your existing damper. If that complete assy were to fit though, then you'd have the problem of the wide fanbelt no longer available for the gen & fan pulleys.

The comp bracket was just a cast essentially flat plate that mounted on a couple of head studs and a couple of side bolts. A modern Sanden could easily be added to that & plate would be easy enough to fab. Could supply pictures of pulley & bracket should you be interested.

Someone finally put This on the I'net:


blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/11/14/icyba ... -refrigerator-for-farm-or-camp-use/

Run it off of the exh. manifold.

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LMFAO!!! NO!

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I would assume that it would, and I might be able to tell you in a few months if I end up getting ahold of a 356. The Ford 300 6 cyl engine has the same size crankshaft as both the Packard straight eight and the V8, and is internally balanced like the Packards are. As for the wide belt, that's partly true, as some of the Ford 6's were used as irrigation motors, and MAY have a pulley with a wide belt on it, I honestly don't know and would bet not, but it's a chance. The modern Sanden is a good idea, as it's small and doesn't take much power to drive.

Thanks for the response! My car has already been converted to 12 volt. If you have dimemsions on workable replacement pulleys I could make one as I work in a machine shop.

I would start with the stock Ford pulleys and go from there. I don't have any dimensions yet as I haven't put one on permanently.

I'll get together some info on the stock Packard setup, but probably won't be before the weekend.

As promised, here are the pictures of pulley and bracket pre war Packards with AC used. The repro pulley appears to be out of aluminum, while the original (black one) is steel or cast iron. The AC drive side looks like for a 3/4 wide belt--slightly narrower than the somewhat wider fan belt. Pulley is 3/8" longer than original and back side recess which provides area where extra groove is located starts about 5/8" down and is just slightly larger than pump hub--about 3" and 1 1/2" deep. Otherwise, all dimensions same as regular pulley. One thing to consider is pump hub location on the shaft though--I don't know how much clearance is available at rear without relocating it. If the Ford setup would fit or be adapted to your original damper, probably easier way to go.

Bracket mounts to bolts holding thermostat hsng and a couple of longer head bolts.. The York to Sanden adapter would be a way to adapt a modern compressor, although the factory bit of using the thermostat hsng bolts, (as does the 55-6 bracket), is a PIA. Surely something else could be made.

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Sorry for the inconvenience, but just think how much easier it will be to convince him to buy one for himself.

Thank you HH56! Those pics are fantastic. Especially like the ones with digital calipers. You've given me a great starting place.