Re: [Chrysler300] 1957 Air conditioning

[John <spiers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keith - 

Another alternative is to contact one of the firms that specialize in A/C installations in old cars: 

http://www.vintageair.com/

http://www.classicautoair.com/ - can also rebuild old A/C components.

http://www.oldairproducts.com/

I'm sure there are more similar firms out there. Maybe even a local shop with a good reputation could help.

They will not likely have complete factory setups, but can supply under-dash or rear-package-shelf A/C installations that would likely out-perform anything designed in 1957.

I had contacted Classic Auto Air [the closest to me of the three I know of] about a ballpark figure to install A/C in my 300-D - they rather intelligently stated that they would not quote without seeing any components up front (makes sense, really) - but DID say they installed front & rear A/C in a late 50's Mopar, using all original components.  They removed the parts from the donor car, completely rebuilt/refurbished the parts, and installed the parts in the customer's car. The customer left with a working system with both front and rear A/C. The cost was in the $4000-$5000 range.  I asked what it would be just for front A/C using them to refurbish original parts - and they gave a figure of $2000-$3000 (and I'd expect it to be closer to $3K, since the bulk of the work on the F&R installation was under the dash and around the firewall area).

300ly,
John Spiers




________________________________
From: keboonstra <kboonstra@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, October 27, 2009 1:34:19 PM
Subject: [Chrysler300] 1957 Air conditioning

  
OK Folks, our '57 300C has sat in the barn way too much in the summers just because I'm too spoiled rotten to ride around without A/C anymore in a car that doesn't have a flip top. And besides that, it needed a few improvements that are long overdue.

After owning it now (for the second time) for 26 years, I'm finally taking care of a lot of the things I should have been doing right along. I'm putting in seat belts, re-installing correct carbs, finally putting on that right side mirror, fixing up the armrests, and maybe I'll throw a set of WW radials on it so it can safely hit the road.

So now I would also like to install a complete original A/C system, and I don't know where to start.  Who out there might have everything I'm going to need to accomplish this (both the parts and the knowledge)?  I know this won't be cheap, but in my view it will add that much long term value to the car. And it will add immensely to our pleasure in heading halfway across the country for a meet.

Who's got parts or ideas for a starting point?  Your thoughts?

Many thanks,
Keith Boonstra
Holland, Michigan


   


      

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