83 ranger a/c question

[Farmall41]

I have an 83 ranger that I am adding a/c to. This truck came without air. I am using parts from an 88 ranger and all seems to be gonna work. I have gotten the dash hvac control from the 88 , but it has a cable operated switch to either turn vent on or off (max a/c). My 83 doesn't have this and I am wondering if that's gonna leave me without a way of cutting off the vent air and mixing with the cold a/c air.

 

[franklin2]

Did you put the complete HVAC box from the 88 into the 83? That cable operates a door at the passenger's feet behind the glovebox. Normally all heat/AC and vent air comes from the grille around the wipers, goes through the metal plenum to the passenger side, and goes down in the box through the fan and then the A/C coil and then the heat coil. That door behind the glovebox on A/C equipped trucks will block the outside air and let the fan draw air from the inside. It should be already in the duct if you swapped the whole box.

When it's really hot outside, cooling already cooled inside air lets the system work better than pulling in hot outside air.

 

[Farmall41]

No. I only swapped the box under the hood that contains the evaporator. Some post I read said that's all I needed, but I think you are correct about the inside box

 

[RonD]

AC just needs an ON/OFF switch on the dash

Regular slider switch panel should have had the vent open or closed switch, like this one: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XMAAAOSwLz5iJk04/s-l500.jpg

AC just added a push button, on/off, to the panel

Like this one: https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/VxwAAOSwtmtiocj4/s-l1600.jpg

Even without AC people still wanted to close the vent on say dusty roads or Skunk time, lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

AC just needs an ON/OFF switch on the dash

Regular slider switch panel should have had the vent open or closed switch, like this one: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XMAAAOSwLz5iJk04/s-l500.jpg

AC just added a push button, on/off, to the panel

Like this one: https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/VxwAAOSwtmtiocj4/s-l1600.jpg

Even without AC people still wanted to close the vent on say dusty roads or Skunk time, lol

83's are a different cat...

 

[Farmall41]

That's right. My 83 has no vent " on - off" slider. Looks just like the one above

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My '85 has a big door with a plastic cage around it outboard of the heater core under the dash to draw either fresh air from outside or recirculate air inside the cab. With it set to recirculate I can see the fan wheel thru the mesh screen from inside the cab.

You can kinda see it here:

Cowl Cleanout

Original Poster: Difficulty: 2 out of 10 Time to install: Disclaimer: The Ranger Station.com, The Ranger Station.com Staff, nor the original poster are responsible for you doing this modification to your vehicle. By doing this modification and following this how-to you, the installer, take...

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I have no idea how yours will be, I can try to remember to get pics of mine tomorrow if it helps.

My 91 parts book actually shows your style dash control, the housing looks a lot different than I think mine would look too... so you may need more parts if you want to recirculate.

 

[Farmall41]

Ok. Thanks

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Outside air:

Recirculate:

 

[Farmall41]

Is that door cable operated or vacuum ? I'm assuming it's cable from the vent on - off slider. Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Is that door cable operated or vacuum ? I'm assuming it's cable from the vent on - off slider. Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated

Cable from the lower left lever you don't have.

 

[RonD]

Fresh air or recirculate vent is not required for AC to work
In fact most vehicles always had a way of closing outside air off way before AC was even offered in vehicles
i.e. Vent on/off or recirculate, as said to prevent unwanted outside air from coming in to cabin, in traffic, smoky, dusty, skunky conditions

Odd the 1983 Ranger didn't have that

When AC started to be used regularly in vehicles auto makers saw a way to bolster THEIR AC over others
"Ours has MAX AC" lol
Most people with AC already knew if they closed the fresh air vent after AC had cooled down the cabin it would get even cooler since AC wasn't having to cool down 95deg outside air, it could recool 75deg air from inside the cabin, they just never named it
Car makers named it MAX AC

AC has two settings, on or off
MAX AC only has to do with vent open or closed, on some models it also shut off heater core circulation, on older vehicles that was done by selecting COLD on the temp slider

 

[Farmall41]

I am gonna try mine like it is. Haven't gotten everything put on it yet. If I am unsatisfied, I will change the box under the dash. Thanks to everyone who has responded. Very helpful

 

[Farmall41]

My truck is a diesel that I have completely restored and is my daily driver. If it weren't for that I wouldn't go to the trouble to put air on it. Thanks again everyone

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Trivial water under the bridge info I found per the 1983 Body Service book in my collection.







I have most of my stuff scanned here:

First Gen Literature

Kind of an obscure thing to know what is even out there and I have been collecting it for awhile. Pretty interesting to browse thru, if anybody else has any post it up. If you have other generation start your own thread to keep it kind of organized and keep this post First Generation (1983...

www.therangerstation.com