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Manuel trans cars with A/C

Spare Parts

Spare Parts

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Why is it that the combo of 3 and 4 speed cars with factory A/C is such a oddity?
Was this option not recommended by dealers?
Did the A/C compressor not work well with trans?
Was it that 4speed considered performance and A/C luxury cars?
Just curious?
 
Well...I had a 1967 Coronet Wagon, Factory 4 speed and 383 HP with A/C - all factory and verified by Chrysler. But it was a 1 of 1 so yes, rare indeed. I think maybe over-revving and damaging the compressor? Just what I've heard, nothing I can state as a fact.
 
I had a 67 coronet. When I’d over rev, it would throw the a/c compressor belts. Sometimes they would flip over (invert) in the pulley.
 
My thoughts. 4 speed = performance. A/C = grandpa car and extra weight.
 
I would think most people going 4 speed didn't want to pay for A/C. :D
 
It also wasn’t an option on cars with hood scoops like the air grabber hood, as it didn’t clear the air cleaners. Lots of the 340/383 manual trans cars had the performance hoods so that had to cut down on the numbers as well I would think.
 
Ac compressor s weren't design to get high rpms not sure if that's why but even on my newer cars I used to race I've blown a few ac compressor s out when I'd hit 9000 rpms them jap cars really scream!
 
I recall a very original 69 road runner that was 383 4 speed with ac, thought it was pretty crazy
 
I had a 69 Charger 383 4-speed A/C car a few years ago that I wish I would have kept. Found out how rare it was after I sold it.
 
A/C compressor revs were an issue, and at least in 1969, Chrysler wouldn't put factory A/C in anything with a higher numerical rear axle ratio than 3.23. I know because I asked our dealer what the ratio was in his factory air conditioned GTX , and he told me why it was a 3:23. With 440 GTXs and R/Ts, the 3:54 Dana rear came standard with the 4-speed, which meant no air conditioning. But you could get air with a Road Runner 383 4-speed, if you took the 3:23 rear, and no air grabber. As pointed out earlier, they were extremely rare birds.

When the same dealership installed A/C in a '69 Hemi Road Runner, they removed the air grabber assembly, and installed a 1968 model air cleaner.
Air grabbers were standard on the Hemi Road Runners and GTXs in 1969, making the cars incompatible with the factory A/C components.
 
Mine is a 4-speed of 766 that came with a 383. Of those,roughly only 20 had factory A/C of which mine is. Good pickup when I need it, living in FL it's a must have.
 
Have a 71 Cuda 383 4-spd A/C in my shop.
A/C was available with a 4-spd on a 340 that revs higher than a 440.
 
The markets for those options are diametrically opposed for the most part.

I for one, love to see factory AC 4 speed cars, and would love to own one.

You can usually put PW on the same side of the coin as AC.

Both add to the weight and AC can detract from performance.

Back in the 60s/70s 4 speeds were considered high performance, despite the 727 being able to "outshift" almost all but professional manual trans racers like Sox and Mccandles.
 
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68BabyBlue said:
A/C compressor revs were an issue, and at least in 1969, Chrysler wouldn't put factory A/C in anything with a higher numerical rear axle ratio than 3.23.
Click to expand...

That is an interesting idea. Can that be verified in writing by way of dealer special order forms or other Chrysler literature aimed at the consumer? Usually we can find "N/A" in the columns where an option is not available with certain models/options.
 
Here you go - part of the answer anyway:

1969 Plymouth.jpg
 
68BabyBlue said:
A/C compressor revs were an issue, and at least in 1969, Chrysler wouldn't put factory A/C in anything with a higher numerical rear axle ratio than 3.23. I know because I asked our dealer what the ratio was in his factory air conditioned GTX , and he told me why it was a 3:23. With 440 GTXs and R/Ts, the 3:54 Dana rear came standard with the 4-speed, which meant no air conditioning. But you could get air with a Road Runner 383 4-speed, if you took the 3:23 rear, and no air grabber. As pointed out earlier, they were extremely rare birds.
Click to expand...

For 1969...there was no prohibition to 3:55 gears and A/C. One can find 383-4bbl four speed with 3:55 gears and A/C applications (rare...but they exist) as well as 440 automatic transmissions 3:55 gears and A/C. They are not common but the combination was not prohibited.

AFAIK...383 with A/C and manual transmission was never prohibited.

A 440 four speed with A/C was almost virtually prohibited (one exists).

As far as the over reving part that argument has not made sense to me.....Does a 383-4bbl 330 horse not rev as high as the 335 horse version? (69 B bodies with 383-4 and A/C got the 330 horse and not the 335). IF over revving and engine damage was the issue and warranty work costs were too high, then I think you would have seen a prohibition against A/C and four speeds.

To me...the most logical answer was stated above. Cost and application. The target buyers for RRs and Super Bees were young buyers with less money that wanted to go fast. A/C cost more and weighed more.

A36 with D21 and H51. Also notice the engine assembly is the 897 330 horse version.

RM23H9G_A36_D21_H51_800.jpg
 
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Regardless, one could always install aftermarket A/C (advisable to order tinted glass, heavy duty cooling with shroud, etc.). I think I have read somewhere that police package equipped vehicles had A/C cutout that was used during pursuit/high speeds (not sure how that feature was wired into the system).
 
The rev limit on an engine is the same whether its a slush box or stick so having ac in either is moot.
I imagine people tend to think of performance rather than comfort when ordering a 4 spd. Also imagine leaving a stoplight and driving normally and just as you let of the clutch the compressor engages. If you aren't quick to realize it the engine stalls.
My first car was a 67 Cutlass 330-2 4spd 3.42 rear with AC....and convertible top.
 
Slap Stick said:
The rev limit on an engine is the same whether its a slush box or stick so having ac in either is moot.
I imagine people tend to think of performance rather than comfort when ordering a 4 spd. Also imagine leaving a stoplight and driving normally and just as you let of the clutch the compressor engages. If you aren't quick to realize it the engine stalls.
My first car was a 67 Cutlass 330-2 4spd 3.42 rear with AC....and convertible top.
Click to expand...

Sort of. Sustained compressor rpm would be higher on 440 4 speed cars with the 3.54 or 4.10, more so than a 383 4 speed car with the standard 3.23 gears. Only crossover area would be the 3.55 vs 3.54 ratios, in which case I believe it goes back to the performance image as to why you could get it with one but not the other.
 
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