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Hello
I have 1978 Toyota Chinook all original with a rebuilt original carb. I want to install an AC. I need to know if this carb for the 20r was setup for an AC kit to receive the vac lines and/or a solenoid?
I need to know what all the parts i should look for and what to look out for in terms of bad parts.
if i can't find 1978 parts what years and parts can i use?
i snagged this from another post somewhere down the line:
AC compressor(and brackets)
3rd front pulley ?
Underdash AC unit (don't forget all hardware)
AC Amplifier (Under the dash...like an AC computer) AC compressor On/Off button from the dash
Idle kickup solenoid/valve (On top of the motor... easy to miss)
condensor, lines, evaporator
anything else i need or dont' need from this list?
any hints or warnings?
thx
john
The pre-79s are a different deal...people here don't have much experience. I hate sending people to "toyota minis", since I get redirected to porn a lot when I try to look at threads there, but they will have more info...For a 79-83, your list is right. I don't remember now, but you either need a completely different main pulley, which has spaces for 3 belts instead of 2 (I think that's right), or you can bolt the 3rd pulley onto your existing pulley if you find a donor. Don't remember where we landed on that one...
But I'm not sure that the pre-79s ever had AC. So I don't think it's as "simple" as it would be if you just had a model made without AC, from a time that the same truck in an SR5 model would have AC. I'm sure it's doable, but it might take more fabrication.
I didn't realize AC connected into the carb in any way.
So...your list is a good start. I think you're going to have to find out what every little piece of an AC system would be, and buy them all. I'm not sure it'll tie into your current system in any way, other than electrically and with the pulley. And it's going suck whatever power you might actually be getting from an old, overloaded truck...
I had a 78 Chinook for about 5 years. I loved that thing. Drove all over the west, and even to MN and back in it.
Thx for the response. Out of all the information you mentioned I think im most concerned about how much power itll lose. It already can barely do 45 up certain hills. Do you know how much power loss it equates to by adding an AC? Does the power loss continue if the AC is off? Am I going to regret putting the AC on the truck?
Ive taken this truck around the country and back driving 8000miles in a month as well as smaller trips to the Appalachian mountains and Atlantic Ocean. The truck is great for adventures that don't require off roading. It's also a Newport like yours.
Nice. I took mine offroad quite a bit but I'll agree that's not its strong point. Got it stuck a couple times. But mostly it's just too much rattling.
I can't say for sure on all those questions. For us out here in the high elevation west, AC is for the weak. It's really just not necessary. If I have a truck with AC, I'll use it here and there, but I've been driving vehicles without AC for the last 20 years and it's fine. The south and southeast are a different deal...
You really won't know how much power you're losing until you try it out. If it's really worth it to you, go ahead and do it. What I've done on trucks in the past with AC is just remove the belt. Yes, even with the AC off, there will be a little more resistance because of the spinning pulley. Nothing huge...but then it doesn't take much to bog down an old 20R. If you couldn't take the power loss, you could always just pull the belt. Then you're just dealing with probably an insignificant amount of extra weight because of the AC unit.
But I'll admit that adding AC is a lot of work, for possibly just disconnecting the system down the road.
It's your call...obviously. I can't say how much you suffer without AC. Like I said, where I live, it's just really not necessary.
The pre-79s did come with A/C but it was a dealer-installed option and for the most part acted independently from the heater. Your list looks good. I believe the only thing that connects to the carburetor is a kick-up solenoid to prevent the engine from stalling at idle when the a/c is on. Honestly could probably get away without it if you made sure to turn off the a/c when you were stopping. My 78 (which was originally a motorhome) has the a/c, but i've yet to see if it works.
I don't really need the AC honestly. I drive the fj55 without AC as my daily driver. I wanted AC for desert trips and beach trips just for relief for everyone on the trip. We are always boondocking it and it's nice to escape the heat in the summer sometimes especially if you're living in the camper for months at a time.
I'll sign up on toyotamini and see what folks say as well.
Thx
The pre-79s did come with A/C but it was a dealer-installed option and for the most part acted independently from the heater. Your list looks good. I believe the only thing that connects to the carburetor is a kick-up solenoid to prevent the engine from stalling at idle when the a/c is on. Honestly could probably get away without it if you made sure to turn off the a/c when you were stopping. My 78 (which was originally a motorhome) has the a/c, but i've yet to see if it works.
thx for the vote of confidence. I so tempted to try it. I was told by an old Toyota mechanic that it was an option and he use to put them in all the time back in day but I wasn't sure about pre 78. And I really really need to know that my original carb is going to have the ports for the solenoid so that if I buy all this stuff I won't need a different carb. Ha.
If you're wanting it more for camping than driving, it might honestly be easier and make more sense to get a small generator and small 120V ac unit...though believe me I know how limited your space is...
I've considered adding AC to my 75. I was going to use an aftermarket kit like the Vintage Air kits or one of the cheaper knockoff ones. You can compare your list to the parts in those kits. I'd imagine finding original AC parts will be challenging if that's your goal, just finding ANY parts for these older model Toyotas is as hard enough.
If you go through with it I'm interested in seeing what it takes, I haven't found much info on adding AC to old minitrucks but I did see at least one over on toyotaminis. Can't imagine it robbing THAT much power from the 20r, but then again I'm not toting a motorhome behind mine.
thx for the vote of confidence. I so tempted to try it. I was told by an old Toyota mechanic that it was an option and he use to put them in all the time back in day but I wasn't sure about pre 78. And I really really need to know that my original carb is going to have the ports for the solenoid so that if I buy all this stuff I won't need a different carb. Ha.
From what I've been told the trucks did not come from toyota but you could option a/c at the dealer. I believe that changed in 79 as the trucks started coming with factory a/c. The one on mine is completely independent from the heater, they only thing it shares is two vents. In fact, you can actually turn on the a/c and the heat at the same time! The system would be fairly simple to add it looks like, but getting all the individual pieces will be the issue. Like I said earlier don't worry too much about the carb, I don't think thats really necessary. If anything just tweak your idle speed up for the summer and down for the winter.
I'm currently in the process of figuring out carb issues myself.
From what I've been told the trucks did not come from toyota but you could option a/c at the dealer. I believe that changed in 79 as the trucks started coming with factory a/c. The one on mine is completely independent from the heater, they only thing it shares is two vents. In fact, you can actually turn on the a/c and the heat at the same time! The system would be fairly simple to add it looks like, but getting all the individual pieces will be the issue. Like I said earlier don't worry too much about the carb, I don't think thats really necessary. If anything just tweak your idle speed up for the summer and down for the winter.
I'm currently in the process of figuring out carb issues myself.
this carb is original but rebuilt so I want to keep it because the truck runs perfectly and I've sunk money into it to get it that way. If you have the time could you snap a few pics of the pieces you have? Like the carb solenoid and its ports, under the dash, etc. Don't feel obligated. If I do this I want to document it and post it hopefully but any pre info is valuable.
I've considered adding AC to my 75. I was going to use an aftermarket kit like the Vintage Air kits or one of the cheaper knockoff ones. You can compare your list to the parts in those kits. I'd imagine finding original AC parts will be challenging if that's your goal, just finding ANY parts for these older model Toyotas is as hard enough.
If you go through with it I'm interested in seeing what it takes, I haven't found much info on adding AC to old minitrucks but I did see at least one over on toyotaminis. Can't imagine it robbing THAT much power from the 20r, but then again I'm not toting a motorhome behind mine.
good idea on the parts list. I'll see if they make an aftermarket kit for a 78 anywhere online. If you come across one post it please. And I'll document the install if I do this project.
If you're wanting it more for camping than driving, it might honestly be easier and make more sense to get a small generator and small 120V ac unit...though believe me I know how limited your space is...
yeah I've considered this too. Or making a DIY bucket AC as seen on YouTube. Ha.
If anyone finds the original install fsm instructions could they post those up?
This is the only picture I have right now and its of the inside
The A/C Unit runs clear from under the glovebox to the side of the vent. There are two knobs, the top is fan (hi/lo/off) and the bottom is thermostat. Under the glove box there is the cooling coils and a squirrel cage blower. There are also vents on the bottom and sides you can't see. Underhood is just the normal stuff- compressor, dryer, hoses, condenser. Honestly I have no idea where the CA emissions end and the a/c kick up begins lol. As far as the wiring, there is a wire splice from the heater control that runsto the a/c controls, and then the wire to the compressor clutch and blower fan runs from there.
^That AC looks different than the ones I've seen in pre-79 Hilux trucks. They all looked like this one:
Seems to be a standalone unit that works independently of the heat. That's what I interpreted all the aftermarket universal kits to be - I was just going to take a look at what's available and size it according to whatever will fit under the dash in this spot, there's a good amount of room there!
For these kits I figured install is straightforward: Install your compressor, AC condensor, inside cab exchanger, hook up power to everything and charge it
Thats interesting, I wonder why some units got different A/C units? As far as I can tell mine was installed a long time ago.... could be aftermarket though. The only real difference I see between mine and those is the vents in the middle of mine share the heater vent, and from what I can see looks like a plastic adapter that screws to the factory heater outlet.
Wow I really thought you were making a joke and saying all pre-79 AC units were...an open door/window. That's what I did in my 83...Just took the doors off in the summer
09-01-2016, 10:17 PM
I just recalled seeing them in this build: http://www.toyotaminis.com/forum/thr...-t-u-rd.20537/
