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440 4spd with AC?

FrnkNsteen

FrnkNsteen

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I was watching Graveyard Cars and they stated that Chrysler did not offer AC on 440 4spd cars. Does anyone know why that would be?

Reason I am asking is my car was originally a 383/727 auto car with factory AC. I am putting in a 440 and converting to 4spd and want to retain the AC. Before anyone jumps me,... my car is not numbers matching and has no fender tag, so I am not concerned with originality or doing an OEM "Restoration".

Am I in for any issues doing this? I can't honestly think of any issues that would be caused by this. Wondering if anyone can give specific issues that running a 4spd would have on AC?
 
Maybe Chrysler was worried people would be missing shifts and overrevving the compressor?
 
It probably had to do with sales. Having lived the era, I'll tell you the mentality. Anything added to a 4-speed car was considered by many to be unnecessary excess. Even power steering. Air conditioning ? Are you kidding, God forbid all that power sapping crap and the extra weight !!! Some even thought automatics were for sissies. And, first and foremost, you wouldn't be caught dead in a 4-door. Ever.
 
I think the no A/C issue had to do with the rear end gear ratio. 440 4 speed cars came with 3:54 Dana, which at high speed may over rev the compressor. The highest ratio available with A/C was 3:23.
I have a 67 Charger 383/4 speed with factory air and 3:23. No reason you can't install AC on a 440 if it has a 3:54, but 100 mph on the interstate for a few hours may shorten the compressor life considerably.
 
That's the most logical explanation I've heard yet.
 
pbiggs said:
I think the no A/C issue had to do with the rear end gear ratio. 440 4 speed cars came with 3:54 Dana, which at high speed may over rev the compressor. The highest ratio available with A/C was 3:23.
I have a 67 Charger 383/4 speed with factory air and 3:23. No reason you can't install AC on a 440 if it has a 3:54, but 100 mph on the interstate for a few hours may shorten the compressor life considerably.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. So it doesn't sound like I should have any issues then. Car will be a mostly stock 440, 4spd, with 3:23 gears. Both the auto and 4 spd have a 1:1 top gear, so with the 3:23's, I can't see why I would have any issues different than auto cars would.

Thanks guys!
 
look into an aftermarket A/C that hides the compressor down low...... stock stuff is huge and up top; and hides a beautiful 440
 
if gear ratio was the reason, why would they not just use a bigger pulley?
 
You may want to upgrade your cooling package with the 440. Do you currently have a 22 or 26 radiator?
 
eldubb440 said:
wasn't hood clearance on ram air cars also an issue?
Click to expand...

Yes compressor would interfere with air grabber base & A12 bases. Ask me how I know.
IMG_20170305_101432416.jpg
 
pbiggs said:
I think the no A/C issue had to do with the rear end gear ratio. 440 4 speed cars came with 3:54 Dana, which at high speed may over rev the compressor. The highest ratio available with A/C was 3:23.
I have a 67 Charger 383/4 speed with factory air and 3:23. No reason you can't install AC on a 440 if it has a 3:54, but 100 mph on the interstate for a few hours may shorten the compressor life considerably.
Click to expand...

And yet...you could get AC with 3:55 gears behind a 440, 383 or 340.
 
Ac down low. Stock fuel pump is a no go!

F7DC02F6-C170-4D89-A93D-4F88B07463CE.jpeg FFAE38F7-C65A-4D40-A5B5-680F79B3162C.jpeg D0E05618-9AE1-4229-A2F9-B04A632CF847.jpeg 41C3F478-5AB6-4A84-A0D7-7580714391EF.jpeg 108524AA-863F-4794-9E74-EBBCFF9D0851.jpeg 65350BEF-B07E-40CE-8C1F-A97CF208ABFB.jpeg
 
Sounds bad, but the car is up at the shop and I don't recall for sure. If my memory serves me well, I believe it had the 26" radiator. I say that because my Barracuda has the 22" and I swear the one that was in my Charger was larger. It was a factory AC, auto car, so I don't know if they came with the larger radiator. Like I said though,... I seem to remember it being larger than the 22".
 
FrnkNsteen said:
Sounds bad, but the car is up at the shop and I don't recall for sure. If my memory serves me well, I believe it had the 26" radiator. I say that because my Barracuda has the 22" and I swear the one that was in my Charger was larger. It was a factory AC, auto car, so I don't know if they came with the larger radiator. Like I said though,... I seem to remember it being larger than the 22".
Click to expand...
If it came with AC it has a 26"
 
Does anyone run a sub cooler on your cars.
 
69Coronetrt said:
And yet...you could get AC with 3:55 gears behind a 440, 383 or 340.
Click to expand...
Must have used different cut out switches so the compressor would not suck into vacuum at high rpm.
 
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