I have a 63 dart wagon. it has an aftermarket A/C unit in it. I'm trying to get an age and maker. I cannot find any corporation identification on it, other than the nameplate "mark V/ultra". It is a black, under the dash unit with four chrome-plated vents and two rotary knobs. In the same style as the chrysler 'cool aire' units of the 60's vintage.

I have one piece of paper on it (that is the installation instructions) that also have no company or identifying maker. The compressor is not like the york-style two piston compressors. It's a compressor which looks like it's got a single piston laid on it's side that has a horizontal motion to it. According to the instructions, this a/c system is clearly for cars WITHOUT power steering (as the mounting bracket for the compressor would interfere with the traditional location of a power steering pump).

I don't know if this is enough to go on to identify this unit, but I'm hoping someone out there has seen another. The unit is not working correctly right now - seems like some of the electronics have been bypassed, and I'd like to get it working right...or replace it with a '63 cool aire unit, or a '64..if i can't find the '63.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Evan

Evan:

In your last thread on this topic, I answered your first question. Mark IV was a maker of aftermarket A/C kits in the '60s and '70s, and as a subsidiary of other companies after that. You can read up on the history and present status of Mark IV at the successor company's page, here.

It's not possible to identify your compressor or other components without some pictures. Can you take photos and post them? I don't think you've got the right idea in mind when you say your compressor is "not like the York style". It sounds to me as though you're thinking of the Chrysler-built V2 compressor. The York/Tecumseh compressors are rectangular, frequently mounted "on their side", were the ones used in the Mark IV kits, and do have two pistons (one right next to the other in the cylinder block—an "inline 2" rather than the Chrysler V2.).

Here's a York compressor like the one you've probably got:


Did you see the "almost looks like a '61-'63 Mopar unit" evaporator I pointed you to in your last thread?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan-

Your help is invaluable. Thank you. I had not seen your last post on my previous topic about the '63 cool aire unit, nor had I seen the new unit that looks similar to the '63. Yes, I agree, quite a lot of trouble for no real benefit to replace the knobs with buttons and a temp slider.

Thank you for answering my question about the Mark IV a/c units. I must have been mistaken about the brand of compressors officially christened by Chrysler. Some A/C man told me the V-2 design of compressor built by Chrysler was called a York compressor, so I have certainly been disseminating wrong information!

I have a couple of photos of the Mark IV evaporator unit in my 63 wagon that aren't super great, but at least you can see part of it. Since I don't have the photos in albums that I can HTML on this site, should I send them to your 'torque.net' email address for viewing? The evaporator is big, black, and generally ugly in appearance compared to the nice chromed cool-aire units.

After some digging in my records, I did come up with a metal tag (believe it or not) that I took off the unit years ago. It reads "Automotive Air Conditioner" Model #: A-8011026 S-470. 47423. Could that possibly help in determining the year manufactured?

Also, the picture of the York-Tecumseh compressor you posted is nearly exactly like the one in my wagon, so you're right on there. I'm wondering if it's worth it to fix up the Mark IV unit or just look for the Cool-Aire '63 unit to replace it.


your thoughts on all these subjects?

Evan

Remember, most of the Mopar underdash units weren't chromed. Most of them were mostly black or grey plastic. Some of them had little chrome decoration strips and a few of them had plasti-chrome front bezels (but not air director vanes). This auction for a '60 Dart shows the larger-car version of the evaporator you're looking for (this makes pre-'64 Mopar evaporator number THREE that I've ever seen, in pictures or in person, since I started looking in the late 1980s.) I have seen more factory Hyper-Pak intake manifolds than I've seen pre-'64 Mopar evaporators.

Practically speaking, your choice comes down to "now or later?". You will probably not find a pre-'64 Mopar underdash unit in usably good condition without a long and very difficult search.

I think I'm stickin' with my original suggestion: Get the aftermarket evaporator unit I pointed you to in the last thread, use your computer to knock together some "Mopar" "Airtemp" and "Cool Aire" artwork, print it out using your own printer on water-slide decal paper such as This stuff, or take/send it to one of the decal specialty houses for printout on that "looks like brushed aluminum" decal material, apply the decals...and have an appearance really close to original (certainly much closer than any of the Mark IV units would look). If you're dead-set on Chrome, the same company I pointed you at has a chrome unit, or you could send the bezel from the black unit to Custom Coatings in Florida for real, actual, metal chroming.

I'm not sure if Frigette would still have records and info on their old stuff, but you could contact them and find out...

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

That's pretty neat, the AC compressor is mounted on the right side of the engine where later engines have the alternator mounted. It would be neat to see the mouning brackets.

Thanks Dan. I did happen to see that auction for the '60 Seneca and saw the evaporator, which is the one I'm looking for. Wow...it really does extend far over and leave little room for your foot/leg to reach the gas.

Given I'm in no real hurry regarding the a/c unit, perhaps it's worth it to begin a search for the original. But you're right - they certainly are unusual.

Evan

Well...no, not really! The bigger cars like this used a bigger evaporator. The A-bodies got a more compact unit. The cosmetic aspects of the design are similar, but that's it.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The bigger evaporator in a 63 will interfere with either the ashtray opening or the glove box opening. Or both. You will also need to find a solution for the under dash heater controls (at least in a Valiant). I moved mine into the dash like in a 64.

Ok, so in '63, when someone wanted a/c put in their new Dart, the dealer installed a compact version of the evaporator unit seen in the eBay Seneca auction. Are you saying even the compact version interferes with the opening of the ashtray or glovebox? Or are you referring the the larger one in the Seneca?

The controls in my Dart wagon have already been moved to the location of those on the '64. When the Mark IV/ultra aftermarket A/C evaporator unit was put in sometime (I would guess) in the '60's, the dealer removed the under-dash temp control box, cut the faceplate nicely and put it on the dash in the new location with the relocated knobs & cables. Pretty convenient; now all I have to do is find a correct unit.

Correct.
No, interference could result from installing the larger-car unit in the Dart.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Gotcha. Thank you to everyone on this.

Well this is a long time coming, but to complete this discussion, here are some pictures of the current Mark IV Ultra unit in my '63 Dart. It looks ok, but not as nice as the Mopar Cool Aire units, and I do have most/all the components of the '64 Cool Aire setup for a Dart. Thinking I will swap these units out for each other. Should I be concerned about spilling refrigeration oil when disconnecting/removing hoses? I sincerely doubt there's any leftover R-12 in the system. I'd be very surprised if it all had not leaked out years ago.

Does the "Cool Aire" system work as well/better than the aftermarket version I have in the car currently? Or about the same?

Evan. If you're not concerned about "period correct", I would suggest converting to a Sanden style compressor (does away with most of the A/C vibration), and using a Parallel flow condenser. There is a bracket kit that mounts the Sanden compressor to the mount for the York compressor. I also have a Sanden compressor mount.
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic ... rol#221807

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Charlie-

I'm concerned about period correct inside, but under the hood, and when it comes to something like efficient A/C, not as much.

Perhaps you can let me know: is one able to use the original Cool Aire evaporator box + controls inside the car with the newer Sanden compressor + your bracket, and a new parallel-flow condenser under the hood without any problems?

Thanks!

Yes sir. You can leave the inside alone (however I would use a R-134a expansion valve). You can use your "York" compressor mount, with this bracket http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/air-co ... nt-177.php Or you can get one of my mounts (as shown in the other links). The parrallel flow condensor increases the effiency of the system. You will also need a new drier for R134a. If you wish to call me, I can give you more detail. 352-502-0988 9:00 am to 9:00 pm eastern time 7 days/wk.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225