Adding ac

[ben82k10]

I have an 82 k10. No factory ac. Is it possible to add ac? I’m sure it is, but is it worth it? I don’t want to break the bank.

 

[Bloodhound1981]

I added AC with Vintage Air. Not sure what the definition of breaking the bank is for you, but it was very worth it for me on a non--AC truck. I have zero complaints about it. My advantage was that I was building the truck (again) from a bare cab so it is much easier than adding it to a complete truck.

 

[Ricko1966]

I have an 82 k10. No factory ac. Is it possible to add ac? I’m sure it is, but is it worth it? I don’t want to break the bank.

Depends on the selection at pick n pull or how creative you are. Damn near every Chevrolet small block in the salvage yard will have a compressor, pulley and brackets.Thats not truck specific. You'll need to find a truck for the evaporator and box,lines, control unit. Most of the other stuff will fit off of most any Chevrolet V8 you'll need to measure and use common sense for a condenser. Or go on ebay and look for a universal hang under dash evaporator kit. Use all the under hood stuff from the junk yard

 

[ali_c20]

Under dash evaporator and under hood donor parts would be the best option. If you would go with all original you need to swap air duct parts, temperature control panel, glove box, dash bezel and other stuff as these parts are different between non a/c and a/c trucks.

 

[ben82k10]

I appreciate it guys

 

[Smtty58]

Check out Sleeperdude on Youtube. He just put AC in his wife's old Riviera, using a cheap all electric kit. Not sure of the quality, but it's an option.

 

[Ricko1966]

The electric kits are nowhere near as effective or efficient as the engine driven compressor set up. And the amperage draw is huge. 5000 BTU electric vs. 20,000 BTU engine driven. 60-80 amp draw. Probably more draw than your current alternator can provide.

 

[NLD79K10]

Running an electric A/C compressor in an electric or hybrid car isn't an issue, the former has plenty of stored battery capacity to run it and the latter can use the motor-generator to provide plenty of power for both the A/C system and to charge both the high and low voltage systems.
On a normal car things become a bit more challenging. Power consumption on an 8~9000BTU electric A/C compressor is a little over 70A, which, combined with a set of halogen headlights and regular tail light bulbs taking a total of 11A, 4A for the HEI ignition system, 1A for the heating coil of an electric choke and a blower at high speed drawing roughly 14A, don't leave much more than a few milliamps to put some charge back in the battery even on a 100A rated alternator, so you can forget about turning on the radio, using the wipers or charging your phone through the lighter at night unless you install a 130A+ alternator, run a smaller alternator pulley and a shorter belt as well as doing some wiring upgrades to accommodate the extra power supply and drain.
On the other hand, a regular mechanical A/C compressor setup can handle nearly double the cooling capacity and won't drain the battery when you turn it on to defog your windscreen on a rainy night.
So yeah, an electric A/C compressor is technically an option, but it seriously reduces your A/C effectiveness and requires a host of other modifications to get it to work properly.

 

[ben82k10]

I talked to my buddy who added air to his 68 c10 and he used vintage air. That seems to be the way to go. I appreciate the help.

 

[Bloodhound1981]

I talked to my buddy who added air to his 68 c10 and he used vintage air. That seems to be the way to go. I appreciate the help.

Yup, well worth it.