Heating and AC Options for Gen 3 Coupe

[CJK]

Hello.

I'm new to the forum but will be taking delivery of my Get 3 Coupe in June. I'm hoping someone has insight into heating and AC options. I have already reached out to Richard Oben at North Racecars but they do not have a product for the Gen 3. Any ideas? Thx for any help.

[Ltngdrvr]

Factory Five has a unit, it is very basic though, and kind of pricey for what you get.

I've been looking at Old Air products Hurricane, it's a very compact unit with heat/cool/defrost/floor heat vent direction control.
Google it and see.

And, you won't find anything made specifically for the Type 65, you will have to make a universal kit work for it.

[CJK]

OK, thx for the info. I will look up the Old Air product. Thx.

[edwardb]

The challenge with the Gen 3 Coupe is the evaporator unit has to be very compact to fit into the space in the top of the RH footbox. This is because of the Gen 3 space frame and all the different frame members in the area. Good for strength. Not so much for open real estate. You could go another way and install in another location. I've seen/heard of mounting it in the rear hatch area somewhere. Or even the rear fender well. But that brings up new challenges with heating and coolant lines plus ducting.

I installed the Factory Five kit in my Gen 3 per the instructions. It uses a Siroco Boreal 600 evaporator that just fits and all the connections work. I compared the dimensions of the Siroco piece to the Old Air Products Hurricane. Looks like the Old Air evaporator would fit into the opening but would hang down much lower plus doesn't look like the connections would line up very well.

We've driven our Coupe two seasons. The A/C won't freeze you out. But it works and makes the inside comfortable. Some tint the rear hatch glass. I haven't, but suspect that would help a lot. The heat works great.

Curious about the comment about the Factory Five system being pricey. I chose to do my own thing with my truck build because there is a lot more room and more flexibility. Most of the components from Vintage Air. Quite a bit more expensive. But to be fair it is a fully electronic controlled system compared to the more basic system Factory Five supplies. But I don't think the all inclusive Factory Five setup is a bad deal and may be the only real solution.

These links are to the system in my Gen 3 Coupe:

Top view Siroco Boreal 600 evaporator: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81930&d=1519953286

Side view: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81931&d=1519953296

How it locates into the top of the RH footbox. From the front: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=82179&d=1520475416

[CJK]

Thx for your thoughts and photos. It looks like the FFR unit may be the best option all things considered.

[Ltngdrvr]

Curious about the comment about the Factory Five system being pricey. I chose to do my own thing with my truck build because there is a lot more room and more flexibility. Most of the components from Vintage Air.

Well Sir, my comment as to price is due to the a/c heat option being $1849 on the Type 65 kit, compared to the complete Old Air Hurricane electronic controlled kit being $1318, makes the Factory Five kit pricey to me, especially for such a basic system.

Yes, it is taller and will hang lower, you might have to get creative with hose routing, but for $500 less money, I could do some monkeying around with it to make it work.

As to Vintage Air, they offer a number of different sized a/c heat units, some of the smaller ones are less than the Old Air unit, they are not as tall, but much longer. It is possible one of their smaller units could be made to work too. Both companies offer empty under dash cases for trial fitment.

Or, just buy the very basic Factory Five unit that is a known fitment, but not as effective as one of those other higher end lower cost options.

[edwardb]

Well Sir, my comment as to price is due to the a/c heat option being $1849 on the Type 65 kit, compared to the complete Old Air Hurricane electronic controlled kit being $1318, makes the Factory Five kit pricey to me, especially for such a basic system.

Yes, it is taller and will hang lower, you might have to get creative with hose routing, but for $500 less money, I could do some monkeying around with it to make it work.

As to Vintage Air, they offer a number of different sized a/c heat units, some of the smaller ones are less than the Old Air unit, they are not as tall, but much longer. It is possible one of their smaller units could be made to work too. Both companies offer empty under dash cases for trial fitment.

Or, just buy the very basic Factory Five unit that is a known fitment, but not as effective as one of those other higher end lower cost options.

You're right. The Old Air system without any add-on options is cheaper than the Factory Five setup. No doubt it could be made to work with enough creativity. Go for it. I didn't know about that source when I was doing mine. But since my Coupe installation was my first every exposure to installing A/C, I went with the Factory Five setup since they had done all the engineering and the instructions were very thorough on how to make it fit. Don't regret the decision. FWIW, it was $1596 when I bought it a couple years ago. Part number 60378. So price has gone up like everything else it seems. Mine was also a Coyote specific version, and included a new Ford OE compressor that directly bolted to my engine. But for those more experienced and willing to put in the work, the Old Air system looks like another option. I did very thoroughly look at all the Vintage Air options. None came close to fitting. I have one of their more compact units (Gen II ComPac) in my truck build, and can confirm it wouldn't fit in the footbox of a Gen 3 Coupe.

BTW, "sir" isn't necessary. I'm just a normal person. Trust me. :p

[SnakeBitten14]

I added electric heated seats. I don't think you need more than that unless you plan on driving the car in very cold temperatures.

[Ltngdrvr]

I added electric heated seats. I don't think you need more than that unless you plan on driving the car in very cold temperatures.

Heater and cold temps aren't the real issue for driver comfort on these cars, it is summer heat that is the issue needing addressed!
Now, if you live in The Great White North, and a/c isn't needed much, well, okay, but for those living south of there, where it gets hot in the best driving months, good a/c is a necessity!!!

[Discount Brain Surgery]

Anyone ever buy the FFR AC/Heat, and only hook up the AC? Any "simplicity advantage" in doing that?

[UpNorth]

Anyone ever buy the FFR AC/Heat, and only hook up the AC? Any "simplicity advantage" in doing that?

Challenge sits with the AC part. Heat is "built-in" if I can say so.

[edwardb]

Anyone ever buy the FFR AC/Heat, and only hook up the AC? Any "simplicity advantage" in doing that?

As already stated, the basics are already built in. Assuming the under dash evaporator also includes a heater core. Which they typically do. Likely the dash control has the heat function as well. Basically, the only thing you'd save is heater hoses and a control valve.