1939 90 series with A/C??? is it possible?

[Joeys1937]

Hey guys i have a 1939 90 series and i was wondering if it is possible to install AC in the car? Is there a kit that I can purchase or is there some parts that i can get off another car that will fit in the car thanks for any info!

[Steve Passmore]

You would have to heavily modify that car to do that.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Shouldn't be too difficult to do.   A simple underdash unit could be used if you just want cooling, or a Vintage Air system that is used for the tri-five Chevys should fit between the firewall and the Dash, and hide up oyt of the way.

Some of thew Japanese systems are reasonably compact as well.

I fitted A/C to my '37 Chev Hot Rod, and that was back in 1979.

Bruce.

[Steve Passmore]

A change up to 12 volts would be necessary I would have thought?   More difficult on a flathead not to mention trying to adapt everything to take an extra pully on these engines and somewhere to mount the compressor.  A bit more to it than on a Hot Rod  Bruce which probably had a more modern overhead engine.

[Bobby B]

Steve,
Hi. I bought a "parts" car from Joe Cutler a few years ago that had an AC set-up on the Flathead. It was definitely home-made, and it could have used a little bit of more in the thought department as far as engineering goes to make it pretty, but the concept was there. It had the additional pulley, brackets, etc. to make it work. And yes, the car was already converted to 12 Volts. I sold it to someone on the Forum because I had no use for AC in a Convertible, nor would I want to go through all that trouble and expense for a car that only gets used occasionally. Plus, I'm more of a "windows down" guy. It wasn't 100% complete, but it was enough to get the person started on their way to having AC in their car. Also note that the car was being driven in Sunny California......
                                                                                                                                                                        Bobby

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Yes Steve,

There is always a way to do something out of the ordinary

The compressor drive doesn't have to come off the crankshaft, and can come off the Generator/Alternator by using a double pulley, and a late model Sanden Compressor.

Being a Hot Rodder, I thrive on doing things that people say cannot be done.   I do Engine changes in vehicles that people say cannot be done.

But, in the case of a '39 Cadillac, I would have thought there would be some room available in there to add stuff.

Fitting AC to a 6 volt vehicle would need some thinking about, but, didn't Cadillac have AC in 6 Volt vehicles before the war? or immediately afterwards?

Bruce.

[Dan LeBlanc]

The problem with 6V A.C. then and now was the inability to come up with a compressor clutch to operate on 6V. The early 6V A.C. systems would've used compressors that ran all the time and a bypass solenoid for when cooling wasn't desired much like the 1953 Cadillacs I believe.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Joey,
Adding AC to Model A fords has become qu9ite common, so yours would be a piece of cake. It would in most cases require the services of a skilled machinist/mechanic/AV tech. I believe regardless of the manufacturer (of the compressor) a custom mounting bracket would be required, and a belt drive developed.  Not very complicated and there are several ways I have seen that done. 
As has been mentioned previously a conversion to 12 volts would allow you the power to run all the requisite fans and devices without having a battery the size of Montana and a generator bigger than Idaho.  That in itself is a major task, but the results, and I am assuming authenticity is not high on your priorities.

As far as a condenser I would not recommend placing the condenser in front of the radiator as overheating would be a given.  The condenser can be remotely mounted under the car with an electric fan. That is the common way Model A Fords have been done.
A trunk mounted evaporator fan can be used or an under dash unit, or a combination of both.

The project is quite doable, and shouldn't run much more than about $10K.
Greg Surfas

[35-709]

    

[Bobby B]

   

G,
Is this regarding the 10K price tag? 
                                             Bobby

[35-709]

You bet, unless the OP is an engineer and a machinist the price is about right. 

I saw a '46 or '47 Cadillac modified for AC at the Boston Grand National in 2013, Greg may remember it.  It looked to me like the fellow did a nice job but it obviously required a great deal of time and engineering.  As I remember he had a separate 12V alternator installed to run the AC components while the rest of the car retained its 6 volt system.  There were belts and pulleys going every which way.  Wish I had taken a picture of it.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Yes Geoff, however I would not put the condenser up in front of the radiator, that's asking for trouble (read overheating)/. A remote condenser would be appropriate in this case.
Greg Surfas

[Bobby B]

You bet, unless the OP is an engineer and a machinist the price is about right. 

I saw a '46 or '47 Cadillac modified for AC at the Boston Grand National in 2013, Greg may remember it.  It looked to me like the fellow did a nice job but it obviously required a great deal of time and engineering.  As I remember he had a separate 12V alternator installed to run the AC components while the rest of the car retained its 6 volt system.  There were belts and pulleys going every which way.  Wish I had taken a picture of it.

G,
I would take 10 of those jobs on for 10K apiece any day of the week.....
                                                                                               Bobby

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Bobby,
How many have you done like this 39?
Greg Surfas

[Bobby B]

Bobby,
How many have you done like this 39?
Greg Surfas

Greg,
Hi. None....But once you get through the first one, it'll be easy. I wouldn't go through all the aggravation for one car. There would have to be a market or buyers lined up, or I wouldn't waste my time. Anybody with some engineering/welding skills, knowledge of AC, and time to tinker, could take this on. Are you telling me that there's a market for this "Kit"? I think most Flathead owners don't care about AC, nor would want to spend that kind of money to take away from the originality of the vehicle, just to have AC. I honestly think you're looking at a very small percentage.
                                                                                Bobby

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Bobby,
No question that there would be a small market and the "learning curve" would add a bit to the cost. Realistically I put a pencil to this (to help keep my mind from rotting) and that s the figure I believe a responsible shop would get. No reason to exaggerate or monimize.
Greg Surfas

[V63]

AC was a factory option in 1940-1941! 6 volt. One year only. The compressor was fixed drive...on all the time. You would remove the belt in the winter. The system did not perform well and abandoned until 12v appeared (1953)

We converted a 47 flathead to under dash AC. For tours. (Power steering too) A separate 12 v alternator and battery was used to allow retaining 6v to the remaining car. Condenser in radiator front. Overall..It works comfortable and good.

I would recommend converting your car to 'Evans' waterless cooling.

[jackworstell]

V63.....would you post some photos and details about your conversion  ??    AC,  PS  and 12V alternator

Thanks     Jack Worstell         jlwmaster@aol.com

[Bobby B]

Bobby,
No question that there would be a small market and the "learning curve" would add a bit to the cost. Realistically I put a pencil to this (to help keep my mind from rotting) and that s the figure I believe a responsible shop would get. No reason to exaggerate or monimize.
Greg Surfas

Greg,
  I was dead serious. 10K would be a great price and I would take that on, but it would have to be a few cars to make it worthwhile.....
                                                                                                                                                                                 Bobby

[35-709]

I have to ask, how many are going to spend $10,000 to put AC in an antique car that in most cases is rarely used?  Unless maybe you are going to go the resto-mod route and plan to use the car as much as I use my '35.  If it is something the O.P. can do himself, maybe it is doable at a reasonable cost. 

And to answer the original question, no, there is no kit available to put AC in that car and no, there are no parts to be had off another car that will fit in the car.  Other than the AC components themselves which are, of course, readily available on the aftermarket, that will be a custom installation and a complicated one no matter the skill level.