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My son has a $250 gift certificate from Vintage Air that he traded another EMCC member for. It was a door prize from last years Camaro Superfest and he doubts he will have the cash to purchase one of their kits this year due to the extra body work that his Camaro now needs.His Berlinetta did come with the factory A/C but he wants to convert it over to a lighter new style system that will accept a serpintine belt and the small block engine brackets will not work on his big block.The problem is that the certificate expires July 2004. I hate to see it go to waste. Anyone else thinking of purchasing one of these kits? Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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Any idea what a set-up would cost? My dad's '61 Corvette could be nice with A/C ...
Posts: 142 | From: Kansas City | Registered: Oct 2002
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Well, dad's not interested. Hopefully someone else can get some use out of it. Posts: 142 | From: Kansas City | Registered: Oct 2002
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I had a Vintage Air unit installed in my '71 pickup. It goes under the dash well, which cleans the firewall up great. The control panel is stock, which is perfect for the look. Their service department helped up with the minor problems we've had including sending the needed parts for no charge. I'd recommend them! Did I give you any information you asked for? I feel like I rambled...
BTW...spent around $1500...a lot, but I'm very satisfied.
quote:Originally posted by twobratSS: I had a Vintage Air unit installed in my '71 pickup. It goes under the dash well, which cleans the firewall up great. The control panel is stock, which is perfect for the look. Their service department helped up with the minor problems we've had including sending the needed parts for no charge. I'd recommend them! Did I give you any information you asked for? I feel like I rambled...
BTW...spent around $1500...a lot, but I'm very satisfied.
My son is looking for that cleaner look to otherwise we can buy big block compressor brackets and just reuse his existing system.So that system works fine? That is good to know. Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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If his car already has a/c, keep the factory stuff. It will work 10 times better than the vintage air stuff.
Just have new hoses made for the new compressor he wants to use. Which compressor you use has nothing to do with the dash/firewall components.
The Vintage air stuff is great for a street rod that isnt sealed up very well, and is not driven much. It DOES NOT work well in a daily driven or enclosed car. It has no provisions for outside (fresh) air. It only works on recirculated air. This is fine for when you want max a/c or max heat, but the rest of the time it is bad. The windows fog up very easily, unless you run the a/c all of the time. The controls are very poor (if you use the stock ones like the "conversion" kits do). It is next to impossible to get it to operate like you would in a normal car.
Keep the factory stuff, and you will be far happier as the a/c will get much colder, you will have far better air flow control and volume, and the heater will work much better as well. Just my 02 cents worth. I have worked on a few of these, and have one in one of my cars.
If I had to do it again, I would find a factory kit, and install it.
BTW, my 68 retained all of the factory a/c stuff, and I just used the newer 508 style Sanden compressor when I did the LS1 swap, and it all works perfect
quote:Originally posted by Steve da Wrench: If his car already has a/c, keep the factory stuff. It will work 10 times better than the vintage air stuff.
Just have new hoses made for the new compressor he wants to use. Which compressor you use has nothing to do with the dash/firewall components.
The Vintage air stuff is great for a street rod that isnt sealed up very well, and is not driven much. It DOES NOT work well in a daily driven or enclosed car. It has no provisions for outside (fresh) air. It only works on recirculated air. This is fine for when you want max a/c or max heat, but the rest of the time it is bad. The windows fog up very easily, unless you run the a/c all of the time. The controls are very poor (if you use the stock ones like the "conversion" kits do). It is next to impossible to get it to operate like you would in a normal car.
Keep the factory stuff, and you will be far happier as the a/c will get much colder, you will have far better air flow control and volume, and the heater will work much better as well. Just my 02 cents worth. I have worked on a few of these, and have one in one of my cars.
If I had to do it again, I would find a factory kit, and install it.
BTW, my 68 retained all of the factory a/c stuff, and I just used the newer 508 style Sanden compressor when I did the LS1 swap, and it all works perfect
Thanks for the info. I believe even the a/c hoses would still work, just need the compressor mounting brackets. I just remembered...I will have to fab some of those up since the engine has tall valve covers. Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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