Air conditioning
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Midway Georgia
Air conditioning
I would like to know which air conditioning kit is the best functioning and easiest to install between the vintage air and classic air. The price I had quoted for installation was 600.00. Any suggestions or recommendations
Thanks
Greg
Thanks
Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
There are three kits that are head and shoulders above the rest:
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jul 2, 2015 at 10:18 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Midway Georgia
There are three kits that are head and shoulders above the rest:
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Yes they are actually. There is an advantage in our 2 seater cars as they A/C only has to blast the front seat passengers. In fact, if I leave my hand dangling over my center arm rest for long I have to move it or the cold A/C blowing from the console side vents makes it cramp. I usually wind up turning the fan speed down to 1/2 to 3/4 of full once the cockpit temperature gets comfortable (usually about 15 - 20 minutes)..
I should also say that I run this setup with a heavy duty Hayden truck fan clutch and a larger stock-looking water pump fan.....no restomod-looking electric "pusher" fans. Car stays at 170* with a side trip to 180* at long stop lights...
The Vintage Air unit is nice because it has "stepper motor" controls....no funky cables or vacuum lines..
I should also say that I run this setup with a heavy duty Hayden truck fan clutch and a larger stock-looking water pump fan.....no restomod-looking electric "pusher" fans. Car stays at 170* with a side trip to 180* at long stop lights...
The Vintage Air unit is nice because it has "stepper motor" controls....no funky cables or vacuum lines..
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 24, 2015 at 03:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Midway Georgia
There are three kits that are head and shoulders above the rest:
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
1. Vintage Air
2. Vintage Air
3. Vintage Air
That about covers it.
This picture is a 95* Orlando day with about 90% humidity...
I turned the A/C down twice after this picture because I was too cold...
Put the kit in myself but had the unit professionally charged with freon...
I have replaced the Harrison radiator with the 1965 sure fit Dewitt's high performance aluminum radiator and an under dash temperature gauge because I didn't trust mine. It stays around 190 and around 200 in stop and go traffic. Will I have to move gauge and will radiator be enough or do I need to Change clutch or anything else. How about being able to change battery. Any significant under hood changes mechanic should know about?
Thanks again
Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Not much really to change....I'd say run the system a while and see if your cooling system tolerates it - that's what I did. As far as underhood you'll need to move the alternator from the PS to DS of car. Lectric Limited makes a special harness that makes this a breeze while keeping the horn relay and voltage regulator in their original locations.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 989
Likes: 13
From: Gloucester Point VA
See my post from today.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Midway Georgia
Not much really to change....I'd say run the system a while and see if your cooling system tolerates it - that's what I did. As far as underhood you'll need to move the alternator from the PS to DS of car. Lectric Limited makes a special harness that makes this a breeze while keeping the horn relay and voltage regulator in their original locations.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 323
From: San Antonio Texas
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Vintage Air....San Antonio, Texas.....If there is one thing we know about here in South Texas it's about how to beat the heat....Vintage Air has it down to a science....All of my cars are equipped with Vintage Air.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,226
Likes: 399
From: Northern CA
Funny how every Summer...the Vintage Air posts start popping up.
The install is tedious...but not really that hard. Like a lot of mods...you have to take your time.
If you have average mechanical skills I would save the 600 bucks and do the work yourself. You'll learn a lot about glove boxes and vents and cables and hoses and heater cores and get a really good look at your car upside down!
Seriously... not that bad...and the minute you flip that temp and blower switch to full blast...you'll be glad you did it.
The install is tedious...but not really that hard. Like a lot of mods...you have to take your time.
If you have average mechanical skills I would save the 600 bucks and do the work yourself. You'll learn a lot about glove boxes and vents and cables and hoses and heater cores and get a really good look at your car upside down!
Seriously... not that bad...and the minute you flip that temp and blower switch to full blast...you'll be glad you did it.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 7
I installed a VA system into a 65 in 2005 and put the compressor on the drivers side. I had to modify the compressor mount to eliminate the belt from rubbing the top radiator hose. Mine is a 350 hp engine and the thermostat housing is different than the 300 hp version, not sure if that changes the angel of the top hose. I installed the unit myself and I didn't find it to be very difficult. I left the stock battery configuration and wiring harness in place. I installed the eye ball sockets near the door jams and found the quality of those to be pretty poor, maybe they are better today. I had to trim the plastic on the new glove box as it didn't fit well, other that that, I'm happy with the system after 10 years.
I am looking for replacement bezels for the dash ***** because the purpose of the new ***** is different than stock and I can never seem to remember which **** does what until I play with them. If anyone has a source, that would be great to share. Best of luck!
I am looking for replacement bezels for the dash ***** because the purpose of the new ***** is different than stock and I can never seem to remember which **** does what until I play with them. If anyone has a source, that would be great to share. Best of luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
I installed a VA system into a 65 in 2005 and put the compressor on the drivers side. I had to modify the compressor mount to eliminate the belt from rubbing the top radiator hose. Mine is a 350 hp engine and the thermostat housing is different than the 300 hp version, not sure if that changes the angel of the top hose. I installed the unit myself and I didn't find it to be very difficult. I left the stock battery configuration and wiring harness in place. I installed the eye ball sockets near the door jams and found the quality of those to be pretty poor, maybe they are better today. I had to trim the plastic on the new glove box as it didn't fit well, other that that, I'm happy with the system after 10 years.
I am looking for replacement bezels for the dash ***** because the purpose of the new ***** is different than stock and I can never seem to remember which **** does what until I play with them. If anyone has a source, that would be great to share. Best of luck!
I am looking for replacement bezels for the dash ***** because the purpose of the new ***** is different than stock and I can never seem to remember which **** does what until I play with them. If anyone has a source, that would be great to share. Best of luck!
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 25, 2015 at 07:25 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 16
From: Amelia Island Florida
I used Clasic auto air this time. I have installed Vintage air many times. What I wanted was a clean look under the hood and interior. You can see from the pictures it came out very clean. I did not like alot of hoses showing.My is on my 62.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 534
From: Witness Protection Program Somewhere, USA
2026 Restomod of the Year Finalist
I have VA in all three of my classic cars and they work awesome. Just put a Gen 4 system in my 56 Chevy wagon and was concerned about cooling such a large area. No problem as I usually have to turn down the fan because it's so cold. Great systems.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Wonder if there is a way to make a hybrid...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 989
Likes: 13
From: Gloucester Point VA
Black Compressor
The black compressor really looks good. Did you just paint it did you buy it that way?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 16
From: Amelia Island Florida
I painted it black. I have don that alot on Classic car where they don't want to see the aluminum compressor. I use Duplicolor low gloss engine black. Also used on the A/C lines through out. The Generator is a PowerMaster Alternator 95 Amp same paint. I rivited on the delco tag for effect. Also using a 2500 cfm Spal fan. The A/C vents you don see looking into the car, unless you get down and look under the dash. Blows very good and cold. The large suction line is the black tube under the cowl part behind distributer, thats one on the reasons I chose Classic air for the tube. "Hide It" My out of pocket cost $1572.00