'59 Plymouth Forum

Hey everyone.
I want to get an A/C unit installed under my dash like the dealers did back in the day. In doing so I want to make sure it it period correct. I have seen several old units come up for sale on Ebay but no one can tell me what year they were. There is also a company making reproduction Mark IV units but I do not know if they existed in 59?
Does anyone have an underdash A/C they could photograph and or tell me anything about? Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Good question Ernie! I am going to do the same myself but have not located the correct underdash unit. I heard it is suppose to be the Mark IV units but others said it could be an Chrysler Air Temp unit. I have a late 60's unit but it would not be correct for a late 59 or early 60's install.But then againm my car is not a show correct car but would do well (I hope!) at local un-sophisticated judging.

But if I were to score a set of AC control Push Buttons I would do a factory set up instead. But most people did the underdash way back in the day. Or just rolled down the windows and drive fast like my Dad did!


John Q.

I have the 4/60 A/C myself, as you know it's adequate on temperate days. John Q. your compressor mount is a Chrysler Air-temp model. Remind me to go out to the farm and check inside the 1968 A-108 white and blue parts barge and see what add-on A/C evaporator units We have hidden away out there.

Thanks Ricky! (Rick) Maybe after Turkey Day or whatever day you are free I will go with you to the Farm and rummage around your old parts stash! too bad it is not an A-100 but that would mean the rear would be exposed and no good for storage! Duh!

John Q.

I haven't had much luck trying to figure out exactly what model units were available for 1959. I bought this Mark 4 unit recently but I beleive it may be a little too new. Can anyone name the year?
I'm now looking for the compressor and or compressor mounting bracket for the 318 poly. Anybody got one laying around. . . . .
Also - Does anyone have photos of the engine compartment of a 318 with air conditioning installed?

Thank in advance.

Check these guys out, they can probably provide some answers, they provide model specific information for older cars.
Dick

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I tried to do some searching online, with only a few results.
http://www.ackits.com
http://www.autoacforum.com

I don't recall where I learned this, but Chrysler AirTemp was used in the '59s. I think they were the factory installed units. I had an AirTemp window decal which I was going to install on my cvt, but I never got around to it.
I don't know which companies were selling under-dash units in 1958-9. I've seen some wierd units in '59s in junkyards...no telling when they were installed, however.
The Mark IV shown is very attractive, but I do not think it is period-correct. I was unable to find out who made the Mark IV...may be a GM product?

The ONLY person I was able to find who would send me photos of his factory-a/c 1959 Plymouth was John Zastrow in Wisconsin. (fins59@charter.net). I sent most of his photos to Ron Keij when he bought my car (and now Ron's gone off-line to deal with his father's illness).
While John Z's car has a 318, my car has a 361, so I ended up with a slightly different looking engine compartment. I did my best to install factory a/c correctly. Beginning with the diagram pictured on 24AJ of the 1959 Mopar parts Book, and a belt diagram which came from an unknown source (sorry!), combined with photos taken at car shows, I also searched the Web, wrote letters and emails..I pulled pulleys and brackets out of a '64 Chrysler and several other cars, and came up with something which would 1) bolt to the 361, 2) support the generator
3) would align with crank pulley and p/s pump. It was quite a challenge! I ended up with a single belt system, which never got completed due to finances and lack of demand. (I live in the PNW).
I agree with Dick's advice...call the experts and pick their brain. Also try your local a/c shop...ask questions!

I've learned that back in the day there were a few different manufacterers of under dash units that dealers would choose from. The Mark 4 was made by John E Mitchell Co. out of Dallas Texas. I've tried to research them but came up with very little. Vintage Air is selling a reproduction of the Mark 4 but I couldn't learn anything about years or models. I have seen a photo of an older version of the Mark 4 and it had round vents on it. I'm thinking that may be the one I need but I haven't found any literature or seen one for sale anywhere.
Thanks for the leads so far. Please keep them coming and if I "crack the code" I'll be sure to share the news with you.

Years ago I pulled an after-market unit out of a '59 Ply. It had a black face with two or three round louvers. It was damaged...I think i gave it to a guy in Las vegas.

I've edited a previous post and added information.

If you need A/C Compressor brackets and aren't Too set on original MoPar, The sight I am going to list has bracketry for old A engine and B engine to use the modern Sanden compressors that are light and draw less HP and are 134 A compatible out of the box. They have line adapters and all other componentry. http://www.bouchillonperformance.com

Yes, Bouchillon kows what they are doing.
I was told that vintage A/c compressors such as York can take up to 40 HP from your engine when in operation. The modern units are much more efficient!
If any way can be found to blend/graft/disguise an old unit with a modern set-up, that is the way to go!

Here is a picture of my Mopar Dealer underdash AC add on unit that I picked up from someone on the east coast earlier this year. Took a long time to find this unit for my convert.

John Q.

That might be the unit I was speaking of...
not really attractive, huh?

I agree, not pretty at all... Trim and slim it is not. I still have to clean it up a bit but it is large unit. OSG (Old School Guy) AC unit is nicer but not period correct, I have one of those too new in the box but wanted one that people would have installed back in the day to go along with a car that was designed back in the day...

Big thing to do is to test mine first and see if it will be a functioning unit or not. If it does not work or can be repaired then the slimmer model will be used instead.


John Q.