Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-10-2008, 01:04 PM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3
Year: 1952
Engine: 350
Rated Cap: 24
HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

I HAVE A 1952 CHEVY SHORT BUS HOT ROD I WANT TO ADD AC.
I DONT WANT TO PUT A ROOF AC ON !
IS THERE ANY THING THAT WOULD MOUNT UNDER THE FLOOR?
I HAVE ROOM BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE BODY FOR ONE I THINK.
I ALSO THINK I COULD FIND ENOUGH ROOM TO PUT A SMALL HONDA GENERATOR TO RUN IT.
I THOUGHT I COULD USE A BOAT AC BUT I THINK THEY CERCULATE WATER TO COOL.
THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING I HAVEN'T FOUND..
ANY INFO WOULD BE GREAT...JERRY

JERRY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2008, 08:30 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
Les Lampman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington (USA)
Posts: 465
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

I was going to make the same suggestion as Smitty. I know they've been used on some HDT fifth wheel haulers (essentially semi tractors with RV plates on them to pull really large fifth wheels). On a 1-ton (12,000 btu) unit you'll be right up against a Honda EU2000i's output; I'm not certain it would handle the starting load.

There's a Sanyo (and I'm sure more) that uses inverter technology to control the cooling so no starting loads as far as I can tell. It's here (and the EU2000i should just handle it):

http://www.minisplitsystems.com/cgi/dis ... num=12KS71

There is also Cruisair; which is like a boat A/C unit but air cooled. Here's a link:

http://www.cruisair.com/selfremote.html

Also I believe Sportyrick did a split install in his bus using (I think) a stardard window air unit as a base. You might look at his photo gallery.
__________________
Les Lampman
1982 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Pusher "Illusion"

Skoolie.net Gallery
Illusion's SmugMug site
Les Lampman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2008, 12:40 PM   #3
Bus Crazy
 
Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
Send a message via AIM to Steve
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

Here is what I did instead of installing a roof unit:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
Today I started installing the air conditioner, first I took out the window and then build a shelf for it to sit on.



I enclosed the rear of the airconditioner in one or more layers of insulation. This will be covered with wood later this weekend.



Here is a view of the inside.



Here is the louvered cover to allow the rear of the heat exchanger to exhaust heat and suck in fresh air. This works surprisingly well, you can really feel the hot air blowing out.

__________________
View my 1972 Ward: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1986 Blue Bird: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1960 GMC: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2008, 09:15 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
Send a message via AIM to Steve
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

It is gathered in the tray on the bottom of the unit and is evaporated with the hot heat exchanger and blown out as steam by the fan. Has it is changed to steam and blown through the heat exchanger it cools the exchanger making the unit more efficient.
__________________
View my 1972 Ward: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1986 Blue Bird: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1960 GMC: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2008, 10:01 PM   #5
New Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3
Year: 1952
Engine: 350
Rated Cap: 24
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

HI GUYS THANKS FOR ALL YOUR IDEAS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?
MY BUS IS 6x10 INSIDE AND HAS HAD 10" CHOPPED OUT OF THE ROOF.

http://www.compactappliance.com/on/dema ... cKoldfront


I TRYED TO POST A JPEG PICTURE BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT..
JERRY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2008, 11:51 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
lapeer20m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: near flint michigan
Posts: 2,657
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

why not use an ac system out of a chevy truck or suburban? You could find all the pieces at a junk yard for quite cheap....compressor condensor and evaporator, i think that's pretty much it.
__________________
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who will watch the watchmen?)
lapeer20m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2008, 06:29 AM   #7
New Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3
Year: 1952
Engine: 350
Rated Cap: 24
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

BIG ENGINES OVERHEAT IN LONG PARADE LINES.
NOTHING MORE EMBARASING THAN ANTIFREEZE SPEWING OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY....
JERRY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2008, 12:53 PM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
Send a message via AIM to Steve
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

I installed the unit in July of 2004 and have never had any water leaking into the bus.
__________________
View my 1972 Ward: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1986 Blue Bird: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
View my 1960 GMC: Topic from the Build : The Picture Gallery
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2008, 10:26 PM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
timbuk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: vancouver island bc
Posts: 1,028
Year: 1965
Coachwork: thomas
Chassis: chevy
Engine: 350
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

hey old skooler can you post a pic or 2 of your bus that sounds real skool tim
timbuk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2008, 11:05 AM   #10
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 9
Re: HELP AIR CONDITIONING ON 1952 CHEVY BUS

might want to look around at the newer short buses. I've got a account at work that takes care of the local transit buses most have the a/c condenser mounted underneath with fans on it. Running some sort of sandan or sanyo style compressor. That is the route I believe I'm gonna take on mine.
odee is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
how to add bus air conditioning? Excalibrate Heating, Cooling and Appliances 11 11-20-2020 07:54 AM
1952 Chevy Schoolbus, Roswell, NM area lornaschinske Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 0 01-18-2013 12:28 PM
1952 International skoolie with Ford 390 on Ebay Steve Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 0 09-11-2009 11:47 AM
air conditioning trainride Conversion General Discussions 4 08-28-2009 09:50 AM
1952 Carpenter Bus to Motorhome Conversion timbuk Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 0 05-31-2008 12:22 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.