AC cooling capacity

[john]

I have a 1981 F150 custom with what I believe is dealer installed AC system.

It has a blower motor under the hood and a second blower motor under the glove Box.

My question is will this dealer installed AC system have enough cooling capacity for a fat boy in the desert southwest of Odessa Texas?

Assuming it’s working at 100% capacity.

[old55pete]

Here is what my Bronco was running at with an outside temp if 111 deg, idling in my driveway. I live in centrial AZ, so you can judge if that will work in Odessa Tx.

[kramttocs]

Nothing wrong with a good working dealer AC setup

What compressor do you have on there?

[john]

Nothing wrong with a good working dealer AC setup

What compressor do you have on there?

I have the square body compressor made by “4 seasons “.

[john]

I have the square body compressor made by “4 seasons “.

The Ac hoses have been cut and the compressor is in unkown condition. So if I don’t have a good quality setup nows the time to recommend changing to something neater and sweeter.

 

[kramttocs]

The Ac hoses have been cut and the compressor is in unkown condition. So if I don’t have a good quality setup nows the time to recommend changing to something neater and sweeter.

That York is what was on my 1980 with dealer installed air (actually there were two with one being an air compressor). My grandfather's 85 also had the York and it worked really well when that truck was on the road. Solid units from what I've read.

I'll rely on others if it's worthwhile to source brackets for the fs6 or not since you may be replacing the whole setup. I don't know enough about the 300 to know what the brackets are like.

 

[FuzzFace2]

That York is what was on my 1980 with dealer installed air (actually there were two with one being an air compressor). My grandfather's 85 also had the York and it worked really well when that truck was on the road. Solid units from what I've read.

I'll rely on others if it's worthwhile to source brackets for the fs6 or not since you may be replacing the whole setup. I don't know enough about the 300 to know what the brackets are like.

My 81 F100 parts truck with factory AC came with the York compressor.

I think 82 was the change over year because if toy look up compressors they list both types.

Ebay has brackets to change over the York brackets to use the newer type compressor and that would be the best way I think to go if you want to go for the newer type.

I say this because I did not have a full York brackets and was lucky a member found brackets for the newer compressor.

One reason to change from the York to the newer one is the York is a piston type and shakes bad when working. Both work just as good. Think they say the new type uses less power to run.

I can also tell you it is not so easy to install factory AC in a non-factory AC truck don't ask how I know

Dave ----

[86 12 Brutus]

My 81 F100 parts truck with factory AC came with the York compressor.

I think 82 was the change over year because if toy look up compressors they list both types.

Ebay has brackets to change over the York brackets to use the newer type compressor and that would be the best way I think to go if you want to go for the newer type.

I say this because I did not have a full York brackets and was lucky a member found brackets for the newer compressor.

One reason to change from the York to the newer one is the York is a piston type and shakes bad when working. Both work just as good. Think they say the new type uses less power to run.

I can also tell you it is not so easy to install factory AC in a non-factory AC truck don't ask how I know

Dave ----

If you want to retrofit everything over to factory ac spec, i may be able to help you. We just totally redid the factory ac in Brutus from condenser to blower motor and everywhere in between

[85lebaront2]

My 81 F100 parts truck with factory AC came with the York compressor.

I think 82 was the change over year because if toy look up compressors they list both types.

Ebay has brackets to change over the York brackets to use the newer type compressor and that would be the best way I think to go if you want to go for the newer type.

I say this because I did not have a full York brackets and was lucky a member found brackets for the newer compressor.

One reason to change from the York to the newer one is the York is a piston type and shakes bad when working. Both work just as good. Think they say the new type uses less power to run.

I can also tell you it is not so easy to install factory AC in a non-factory AC truck don't ask how I know

Dave ----

Newer aftermarket systems (dealer installed falls in that category) use a Sanden or similar multi-cylinder axial style. The first round of Ford units were an FS6 which used an axial 6 cyl unit (3 double ended pistons), the later ones are a FS10 which has 5 double ended pistons. If you can find it, the AC casing under the dash may have a label on it saying who built it. The York and Tecumseh compressors will tolerate R134, but the system needs to be flushed and will need the correct oil for a conversion.

As for cooling, my 1986 F350 crew cab was decent with the original system, unless it hot soaked at a stop, then it would take a bit to get cold. Yours being a recirculate only system (unless it's one of the real good ones that can pull air from the cowl vent area) should be more than adequate working correctly.

[FuzzFace2]

Newer aftermarket systems (dealer installed falls in that category) use a Sanden or similar multi-cylinder axial style. The first round of Ford units were an FS6 which used an axial 6 cyl unit (3 double ended pistons), the later ones are a FS10 which has 5 double ended pistons. If you can find it, the AC casing under the dash may have a label on it saying who built it. The York and Tecumseh compressors will tolerate R134, but the system needs to be flushed and will need the correct oil for a conversion.

As for cooling, my 1986 F350 crew cab was decent with the original system, unless it hot soaked at a stop, then it would take a bit to get cold. Yours being a recirculate only system (unless it's one of the real good ones that can pull air from the cowl vent area) should be more than adequate working correctly.

I think with either factory or dealer AC one of the best up grades is the heater core shut off valve.

Before I got the AC working I added this and was nice to put the control to vent (my case because of the year of the control AC MAX) and get cool air blowing out.

Now when on MAX AC it gets pretty cold in the cab. I don't have much street driving before I hit the high way but there was 1 time I took the wife out and she wanted me to warm it up and we were on streets.

Dave ----