installing AC in my 64 Dart

Note that the firewall is the same in the 1963 Dart and in the 64 dart until midyear when the v8 was introduced.

I posted this in this forum on 2-23-06:

I have a 1963 Dodge Dart GT convertible with a 225 cu in slant six.

I purchased the Classic Air system for my car and have installed all but the wiring.

Their catalog says that it's a "perfect fit" for a 1966 and up A body. Since the 63 to 66 A bodies are essentially the same, I thought I'd give it a try.

Their condenser was too wide for the narrow 63 radiator opening. All the lines are pre-bent for the 67 and up cars.

The installation kit for the compressor won't work on the 63 because it's driven by the outer part of a double pulley that's meant to replace the power steering pulley. The engine compartment is not long enough to accomodate that extra pulley. There's no way to reposition the compressor to drive off a pulley attached to the rear of harmonic balancer, like the factory air unit, because the compressor is too long and will not clear the intake manifold on the slant six.

The evaporator is configured so you lose the "summer door" on the passenger side. Doin't even consider the heater-delete summer door box because it will not fit.

The evaporator does bolt up to two of the holes in the firewall where the original heater motor once was, but the third hole will have to be drilled. I installed the evaporator with the entire dash out of the car. I think it would be nearly impossile to install it with the dash in the car. But the instructions suggest otherwise.

I solved the underhood problems by going back to the original Mopar Cool-Aire condensor, lines, V2 compressor and receiver/drier. It's a simple hook-up from that to the evaporator. Since I'm keeping the V2 compressor, I'll use R12 instead of R134a.

I haven't gotten to the wiring yet, but they assure me I'll be able to keep my oriiginal 3 knob heater/defroster controls. I hope they're right.

In the meantime, I've got a new Sanden compressor (polished) that's worthelss to me, plus brakets, and also the condensor and lines.

Installation is probably a cinch on your '71. Classic Air did warn me that I was on my own on the '63.

If I had it to do over again, I might try Vintage Air's compact unit. It's all servo controlled and much smaller in size. Maybe I could've kept the summer door on the passenger side using the heater-delete door.

--Walt Jackson