AC on a Commodore 8 - with original 6V System?

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Question - has anyone fitted a Stepdown with a AC unit on a Straight 8? I have a 1949 Hudson Commodore and it still has the orginal 6 VDC system. I "think" I saw a 49 Commodore 8 with a AC System on it at the Arkansas HET Meeting in Hot Springs last year, but I think he had converted his car to 12 VDC.



Anyone know if this is possible and how to do it? I would assume you would need to find a way to put a dual groove pulley on the front harmonic balancer. Was this part ever available for a "8", or is this something you have to fabricate? Also, can a AC System run off 6VDC? If not, then I have a tough retrofit as my car has the 3 speed w/ overdrive unit and I don't know how I could change those solenoids from 6VDC to 12VDC. Any sources for an AC System that could be retrofited, or the usual Vintage Air, etc?



BST RGDS

GARY ( happychris )

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    as far as the OD solenoid, that's the least of your troubles... Click on Ken Cate's link in my signature, and scroll down. There is a step by step that talks about converting to 12V, I think By Park W. It explains what you need to do, and what you need to find. I think the 12V OD solenoid is an easier to find unit, than the 6V hudson one.



    I know we talked about this previous, try a search, you'll find some discussion by me on this in regards to doing it to a 6cylinder. I too would like to have AC, but unless I swap to a SBC, I'll just grin and bear it, suck up the heat. Drive fast, that'll keep you cool....
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    One of our members here in Northern Virginia, has a 6-volt setup on his '54 Hornet. I think he used a modern compressor but did something to the spring on the solenoid that kicks it in. Not sure. But it's definitely a 6-volt car and has air conditioning (and I think he drove it to the National this year).
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    happychris wrote:
    Question - has anyone fitted a Stepdown with a AC unit on a Straight 8? I have a 1949 Hudson Commodore and it still has the orginal 6 VDC system. I "think" I saw a 49 Commodore 8 with a AC System on it at the Arkansas HET Meeting in Hot Springs last year, but I think he had converted his car to 12 VDC.



    Anyone know if this is possible and how to do it? I would assume you would need to find a way to put a dual groove pulley on the front harmonic balancer. Was this part ever available for a "8", or is this something you have to fabricate? Also, can a AC System run off 6VDC? If not, then I have a tough retrofit as my car has the 3 speed w/ overdrive unit and I don't know how I could change those solenoids from 6VDC to 12VDC. Any sources for an AC System that could be retrofited, or the usual Vintage Air, etc?



    BST RGDS

    GARY ( happychris )
    To answer your question, Duke Marley in North Carolina did it to a 49 coupe. He had to modify it a good bit but it did work. I think the only problem he encountered was a lack of some power. He used a one wire alternator as he had switched to twelve volts. Still has the car and it runs fine.At the time he said he could find no one else he could turn to for this conversion so most of the modifications he dreamed up himself.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Possible if you can find an old 6 volt Nash compressor. Maybe Park W can offer some insight regarding the possibility of using a step up transformer to convert 6v to 12v to power a modern unit. I've heard about what JonB mentioned, something about using a clutch spring with less tension so that 6v can pull it in.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Then, too, didn't VW Beetles have AC while they were still in the 'six volt era'? (That era lasted into the late 1960's, as I recall). Unfortunately, there probably aren't a lot of those compressors around at this point...



    But, again, if merely 'stretching a spring' on a modern compressor can do the job, it would seem to be the way to go!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Jon B wrote:
    Then, too, didn't VW Beetles have AC while they were still in the 'six volt era'? (That era lasted into the late 1960's, as I recall). Unfortunately, there probably aren't a lot of those compressors around at this point...



    But, again, if merely 'stretching a spring' on a modern compressor can do the job, it would seem to be the way to go!



    True, there were several brands of 6v cars that had A/C back in the day. However, the compressors were large and are all but impossible to find. Maybe this is a call for you to start "JonB's Spring Stretching Service. :D
  • bartibog1
    bartibog1 Expert Adviser
    i bought a 12 volt solenoid on e bay a couple of years ago came out of a early 60's ford that had overdrive works real good using om 53 super wasp



    steve
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    HI GUYS, What I did on my 37 Terraplane. I have a dual voltage system. The 12 volt is totally issolated from the engine/chassis. This was done by ADDING a 12v single wire alt,about 80 bucks, no reg needed, and a small lawn mower battery, don't need a big one because you don't use it to start and everything basically runs off the alt output , just something to run the current thru. ALL mounting points were insulated with nylon spacers and washers from the hardware store. Just drill your holes oversize or use smaller bolts where they will get the job done and put in a nylon spacer and a nylon washer on each side. On the "T" I added another pully to water pump. The pully can be added where ever it works best on you car and of course the best/easeist is to get the compressor lined up with an existing pully and use a longer belt if you can. Used a Sandin compressor,they're small. You'll get far more air velocity from a 12v blower than a 6v. I mounted a hard plastic terminal block I made {availeable at hardware store}on the firewall that is also insulated from the firewall and used it as a means to route the neg/pos wires from the alt to and to hook up any 12v components I want to, another way to get FM radio in your old car, anything you want. Simply runs in it's own little circuit and works like a charm. My air I can freeze you out!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    WHOOPS, make sure your switchs are also isolated !!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    dont waste your time on old 6 volt compressors that need repaired and no parts available, go to 12 volt and vintage air you will be a lot happier with a one wire GM ALTERNATOR, my opinion BILL ALBRIGHT
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Some interesting ideas and inputs! I will forget the 6VDC AC System idea immediately. A 12VDC modern vintage air system seems to be the ticket. The idea of a dual voltage system was very interesting - my only concern was the need to isolate the + and - of the "12VDC" portion and the use of the water pump for the double pulley. Wonder where you would find another place to drive the AC Compressor. So you would have your normal belts driving the water pump, generator and a double pulley on the water pump to drive the 12VDC Alternator. Then you would need another double pulley somewhere to drive the AC Compressor. Sounds like a lot of belts - would an old straight 8 be able to turn all these accessory belts?



    Has anyone thought about using two six volt batteries in series and a modern 12VDC Alternator to charge them - you could tap of the middle of this configuration and obtain your 6VDC feed, and the end of the two in series for the 12VDC. That way, you just replace your 6VDC Generator with the 12VDC Alternator. That would allow you to retain your stock 6VDC stuff ( radio, clock, etc ) and yet have 12VDC for the AC System.



    BST RGDS

    GARY ( happychris )
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