[C1] Installing Air Conditioning
03-06-2017, 09:40 PM
#61
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Inverness FL
Posts: 17,891
Received 727 Likes
on
621 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07
I went with the Hot Rod Air (no longer in business) because I too did not want to cut the brace, nor did it want to mount the compressor on the driver's side.. I also used the push/pull cable wipers; I mounted my drive box behind the driver's side kick panel.
Bill
Bill
03-06-2017, 10:50 PM
#63
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 4,833
Received 931 Likes
on
533 Posts
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I've almost completed my C1 Restomod - except for the AC. It's been waiting patiently in the box for two years.... Went with Classic Air because I didn't want to cut the brace in the passenger kick panel.
Anyway - I wanted to add something on the wipers - mine were shot when I got the project (towers locked up, motor no turn, no sign of cables) - so
I installed a cable drive system with new towers. The motor is mounted in
The passenger kick panel area, so I'm hoping the AC will be a little easier.
The wife would really like to ride with the Hard top on - so I understand that Air Conditioning is a requirement. I'm also not crazy about loosing the Cross braces, but will have to see. The instructions don't indicate that they have to be removed.
Good luck!
Anyway - I wanted to add something on the wipers - mine were shot when I got the project (towers locked up, motor no turn, no sign of cables) - so
I installed a cable drive system with new towers. The motor is mounted in
The passenger kick panel area, so I'm hoping the AC will be a little easier.
The wife would really like to ride with the Hard top on - so I understand that Air Conditioning is a requirement. I'm also not crazy about loosing the Cross braces, but will have to see. The instructions don't indicate that they have to be removed.
Good luck!
I went with Vintage because it was highly recommended on here. However, if I had realized Classic is only about 25 miles from me, might have gone with them. Made a list of questions and called Vintage about once a day, mostly just to verify things. They were always there and very helpful.
You don't have to cut that brace, BTW, just remove it, it's bolted in. One of the things I was hesitant to do was cut a big hole in my new kick panel. You know how much they are! Do you have to do that with Classic Air?
03-07-2017, 06:18 AM
#67
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Inverness FL
Posts: 17,891
Received 727 Likes
on
621 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07
i'm sure VA and others have separate eyeballs that can be ordered
http://www.vintageair.com/2016%20Cat...talog%2054.pdf
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; 03-07-2017 at 02:08 PM.
The following users liked this post:
59BlueSilver (03-07-2017)
03-20-2017, 10:38 AM
#68
Safety Car
I posted this in another thread but it's old and may not get a responce, do you have to remove the 45* brace behind the kick panel. I have mine out for powder coating and nows a good time if I have to do it.
03-20-2017, 12:01 PM
#70
Melting Slicks
I cut mine off....and threw it away...
....I have a GM repop radiator support anyway on it...Besides living in Florida...It gets HOT here and I got tired of driving my Corvette and sweating my *** off.. 
Cut that X brace off and don't look back...
05-18-2017, 08:07 AM
#71
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 4,833
Received 931 Likes
on
533 Posts
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Just to wrap up this thread, got the system charged with the correct amount of freon. Temp at duct was 50 deg. at the time, said they couldn't do any better than that as the compressor was cycling on & off.
Yesterday drove it at 88 ambient, duct temp got to 39 deg. with closed cabin, hardtop on. It was very comfortable. At 65 mph, engine temp got to 190 and stayed there. Around town sees about 185. Hope it stays there when temp gets to 95-100.
I think I'm good to go, looking forward to some cool cruisin' this summer! Thanks to all who helped me getting there!
Yesterday drove it at 88 ambient, duct temp got to 39 deg. with closed cabin, hardtop on. It was very comfortable. At 65 mph, engine temp got to 190 and stayed there. Around town sees about 185. Hope it stays there when temp gets to 95-100.
I think I'm good to go, looking forward to some cool cruisin' this summer! Thanks to all who helped me getting there!
Last edited by 59BlueSilver; 05-18-2017 at 08:08 AM.
05-18-2017, 09:02 AM
#72
Team Owner
Those are good A/C numbers. Of course a midyear coupe is a different deal entirely but my Vintage Air system will get down to 39* nozzle temp on an Orlando summer day at speed. What more can you ask for ? That is as good as my Toyota Tundra.
In a C1 I think you've got it about as good as it can get. The rest is about insulation and hot air intrusion IMO.
In a C1 I think you've got it about as good as it can get. The rest is about insulation and hot air intrusion IMO.
05-18-2017, 04:25 PM
#73
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 4,833
Received 931 Likes
on
533 Posts
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Those are good A/C numbers. Of course a midyear coupe is a different deal entirely but my Vintage Air system will get down to 39* nozzle temp on an Orlando summer day at speed. What more can you ask for ? That is as good as my Toyota Tundra.
In a C1 I think you've got it about as good as it can get. The rest is about insulation and hot air intrusion IMO.
In a C1 I think you've got it about as good as it can get. The rest is about insulation and hot air intrusion IMO.
My Tundra gets nice & cold also.
05-18-2017, 05:39 PM
#74
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Inverness FL
Posts: 17,891
Received 727 Likes
on
621 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07
Just to wrap up this thread, got the system charged with the correct amount of freon. Temp at duct was 50 deg. at the time, said they couldn't do any better than that as the compressor was cycling on & off.
Yesterday drove it at 88 ambient, duct temp got to 39 deg. with closed cabin, hardtop on. It was very comfortable. At 65 mph, engine temp got to 190 and stayed there. Around town sees about 185. Hope it stays there when temp gets to 95-100.
I think I'm good to go, looking forward to some cool cruisin' this summer! Thanks to all who helped me getting there!
Yesterday drove it at 88 ambient, duct temp got to 39 deg. with closed cabin, hardtop on. It was very comfortable. At 65 mph, engine temp got to 190 and stayed there. Around town sees about 185. Hope it stays there when temp gets to 95-100.
I think I'm good to go, looking forward to some cool cruisin' this summer! Thanks to all who helped me getting there!
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; 05-18-2017 at 05:43 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Loren Smith (09-08-2022)
09-07-2022, 03:59 PM
#75
2nd Gear
Member Since: Sep 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C1
I have installed AC in many C1&C2s every owner tells me it was the best thing that they have ever done to their cars and can't believe they waited so long to pull the trigger. Most of them don't worry about devaluing their car because they enjoy driving it instead of just looking at it thinking it's to hot out to drive it.
Mark
Mark
09-07-2022, 05:03 PM
#76
adding the AC to the C!
I burned up last summer and swore I wasn't going to go thru another summer w/o A/C. Now that I've bought my system I'm having second thoughts. Maybe this is common, I don't know. I had to cutout the radiator cross braces today to make room for the condensor and just didn't feel good about it. I still have a long way to go and a lot of revisions to make, just wonder if I'm doing the right thing.
For those that added A/C to their C1, are you glad you did it and would you do it again?
For those that added A/C to their C1, are you glad you did it and would you do it again?
09-08-2022, 05:24 AM
#77
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 4,833
Received 931 Likes
on
533 Posts
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
if you are reasonable good on meçhanical things then I would consider doing it myself, you’ll save a ton of money. Vintage instructions are pretty detailed and they have great technical support. I think I only called them twice. You can get a lot of help here also. I allowed myself plenty of time and a heated shop big enough to move around in. Really enjoyed installing it.
09-08-2022, 11:43 AM
#78
Melting Slicks
Now is the time
There are numerous options/changes/upgrades you will want to do during this because afterwards working under dash becomes immensely more challenging. Same with routing the AC lines and your battery. Check out all the threads. A quick list is new carpet and how you trim the sides, upgrade/repair wipers-radio, dash replacement, engine cooling, heat insulation, electric fans, alternator, glass replacement, use a universal VA instead of the C1 air and route lines very close to the fender, change out battery now or relocate, replace wiring, refurbish gauges, etc etc etc. Seize the day-do it now.
The following 2 users liked this post by toms silver 60:
59BlueSilver (09-08-2022),
Loren Smith (09-08-2022)
09-08-2022, 11:45 AM
#79
Melting Slicks
Now is the time
There are numerous options/changes/upgrades you will want to do during this because afterwards working under dash becomes immensely more challenging. Same with routing the AC lines and your battery. Check out all the threads. A quick list is new carpet and how you trim the sides, upgrade/repair wipers-radio, dash replacement, engine cooling, heat insulation, electric fans, alternator, glass replacement, use a universal VA instead of the C1 air and route lines very close to the fender, change out battery now or relocate, replace wiring, refurbish gauges, etc etc etc. Seize the day-do it now.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1605650170
The install is one of the best things you can do to improve the driving pleasure of the car. You can do it yourself.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1605650170
The install is one of the best things you can do to improve the driving pleasure of the car. You can do it yourself.
09-08-2022, 02:31 PM
#80
2nd Gear
Member Since: Sep 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you are reasonable good on meçhanical things then I would consider doing it myself, you’ll save a ton of money. Vintage instructions are pretty detailed and they have great technical support. I think I only called them twice. You can get a lot of help here also. I allowed myself plenty of time and a heated shop big enough to move around in. Really enjoyed installing it.