I hope someone can help me out with a few ??'s I have about AC. I have removed the systems to save weight in Porsches, but never put them in! What I want to do is put in AC and extra heat into the DoKa cab that I am putting on my 406. At one time this cab had an extra diesel fired heater under the back seat, so the vent work is there still. My thoughts were to run another heater back there by just Teeing off of the heater lines and putting another heater core and fan in the back. Then I thought why stop there I could put in AC as well! I am not putting all the Hydro stuff back in, I could just add an AC compresser where the pump was! Plus I have all the room up front where the tank sat in the left front fender. Now can I tee off of the evaporator lines and put in two evaporators, one in the front and one in the back? Will I have to just run a bigger compressor and condencer for the larger system? My thoughts are the front one would tie into the excesting heating system up front. And the rear system would be plumbed up the hollow center door post via the hollow outside box section that runs the length of the cab. I can block off the ends of the box section with expanding foam to control where I want the cold air to go. Or is this not a good idea. Am I setting myself up for more RUST!? I have to repair the bottom of the post as it is, so this is the time to put in any duct work if I do this. I have added some photos, so please let me know if you think this will work, or if I'm crazy! Thanks, Von
This maybe a little long.
First about your heater, yes you can run a second heater, T-off from your heat hoses, my 406 was done that way, it was a snow plow truck upstate NY, the second unit was located on the foot well for the passenger, is a small box about 7x7 (smaller than the Hornkohl & Wolf) made by Mobile products Div of Hupp. Co, Cleveland Ohio Model 356 heater.
The engine should have enough BTU’s although remember that diesels run cooler so in very cold days they may need a cover on the radiator like you see on some 18 wheelers on the road.
I eliminated it because it made for very little room for the passenger feet, and here in Louisiana does not get as cold. Anyway is a very little box, it lends itself to be installed in several places, with your DoKa you should not have problems finding a place.
About the A/C.
I have researched it hard, the way I am going is with Red Dot, they make all kinds of configurations for truck cabs, look at their site and then talk it over with your closest dealer, also they are very reasonably priced.
One problem is that we don’t have enough room to install a condenser in front of the radiator therefore I went with a remote condenser to be installed on the side under the bed, check, R-9720.
I did not want a unit on top of my cab, I want the clean lines of my Mog with no junk protruding on the roof, the Mog is tall enough as is and a branch my swipe the whole thing off, I decided to go with a back wall unit, there is so little room in the cab that I found it the way to go, the unit is extremely small, check the dimensions on the second link. Is a 17,000 BTU with the blower, more than enough to chill the cab.
Also they offer other options like A/C and heat and many ways to mount it inside the cab.
With the back wall I can run the lines into the cab from the holes under the cab and then directly to the evaporator, no unsightly mess, it lends for a more custom installation.
The compressor is the good part, just like you I eliminated the hydraulic pump and installed one on the rear, a couple of compressors were selected, they have to be short because you have the steering link right behind and don’t want to smack it when the spring is on compression.
A bracket has to be made regardless so it does not hang down and is a little to the left, another possibility is since we eliminated the big hydraulic tank is to make a bracket attached to the shock absorber mount, the compressor in this way will mount high which is preferable, you will see better when you have your cab back on.
Also that room could be utilized to add the second heater, at least an idea, right now I don’t have a heather I just looped the lines until I restore my original heather which is now a can of rust.
You can check also Red Dot for just heathers. Check their web site and see all the combinations they offer.
I was looking again the pictures of your cab, you know is hard to tell how bad is your roof, maybe the easiest thing to do is hammer out the dents and weld metal around, seems like you are going to have to do that on other places, must as well do it all like that in one lick.
Just in case you missed it I sent you a private message on an unrelated item..
That's a good resource Andrew, thanks. They have a dealer nearby me in Baltimore too!
It looks like to me there would be several options using the Red Dot equipment for a doka cab. One that appeals to me off the cuff, is the headliner AC unit. I have a high cab in my 406 and it would work well, except of course in mine there is no room in the engine compartment. But given that Von has to replace the roof, he could customize it to except this unit. Then he could use a compact heating unit in the tray and or under the front passenger seat. What do you think?
Daniel
And Von: At the pace you are going the $75/hr rate you quoted would be a bargin. That is unless you are working without sleep?
Yes, Red Dot has a good variety affording many possibilities, there are other companies offering aftermarket A/C’s for truck and equipment in case nothing suitable is found although Red Dot is considered the first choice.
I first considered a headliner unit also but if I can fit the unit in the back wall between the seats it will make the plumbing ’cleaner’
Yes, I have to agree with you, Von is a real fast worker, I am pretty sure the cold weather is no help either, I am impressed with the amount of work he has done since he started his project, my best wishes go to him.
Von,
If you don’t mind me sticking my foot again, I would not worry about an A/C for now, just concentrate on the basics, after you get your Mog rolling and recouped a little from the expenses of restoring your truck then worry about an A/C.
For what I see a hammer, a wise, some 19ga steel sheet and a 120Volt Mig welder for thin ga metal and you have that cab looking like new, just cut all the rot and shape the new metal and weld it on.
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