After much thought and a long hard look at the stock system in my '77, I have decided to install Vintage Air's system that uses the stock controls and mounts where the heater box resides. My stock system, while still operating, is on it's last legs.

Anybody do this conversion? Any thoughts good or bad?

I am, of course, retaining all the stock components in storage...

 

take a look at some pics off to the left here. Cools down to ~37 degrees. Instructions aren't the best, but it's fairly straightforward. Folks are very helpful via email and phone if you can't figure something out also. Took a while to receive the kit, and it was missing the hot water isolation valve....no big deal really, they shipped it right away when I mentioned it to them. None of the delays were a major concern to me since I had so much stuff going on, and the folks were really prompt with resonses when I asked questions.

 

You had a non-a/c 1968 car by looking at your controls. If so where did you get the center air outlets and what was the total cost in the end. Very nice

 

Another something I had been considering doing. The list just keeps growing. I guess that is why they call it a hobby.

I was looking at your pics and got interested in the Bronco fuel pump and then the pics dissappeared. Forum software must be having some problems.

 

The system in the 1977 was a pretty good and efficient system. I know mine would freeze you out of the car in no time, even here in eastern NC in the summer. It was also standard on all 1977's.
The bottom line is if you are going to reuse all of your controls anyway, why do you need to switch to the vintage air system. Everything else would end up being a one for one replacement but probably with at least some adapting to make it fit. Every major component for your system is available in the aftermarket, most of it GM. By the time you purchase and install this new system, I believe you could have your system operating as good as it did new and it would still be all original. But I would only use the best quality parts available for replacements.
I have replaced every component of the 1977 AC system over the years and while it's not the easiest job, it can be done with patience and a little skill. If you replace the lines, evaporator, condenser and drier the only thing left is the compressor. I believe there are some more modern, perhaps more efficient compressors that can be adapted to your system if you choose to do that. This might be where Vintage Air could be of real assistance, in advising which one they feel will work the best.
The real advantage of the vintage air system, and it is a good system, is in those vehicles that didn't come with AC. We have a friend here that has a 1963 coupe that has installed a Vintage Air system in it. He and his wife drive the car all of the time and often on long trips. They love it and wouldn't want to go back. But then few of the 1963's came with AC so for him it made perfect sense to do this.
Good luck and let us know how it works out... GUSTO

 

 

Not likely as it's not even 30 years old! Eliminating the underhood evap. box would be nice.

GM is known for excellent a/c systems. Aftermarket systems are to add A/C. Agree w/ GUSTO14 except it could work as good as new w/ very little parts replacement- mainly compressor & hoses.

I modified the wiring in the 70s so that Max. A/C had adj. speeds like Normal A/C instead of just High!
I have mainly only replaced the compressor (ND 6P currently) & hoses.

 

for something like 25 or 30 bucks. They are cheaper sometimes too. I had to replace the air deflector thingys and I think they cost me about 30 bucks for both.

I had to buy the heater hoses; I have no idea how much that cost. Hot Rod Air sells an add-on pulley for 40 bucks; but it didn't fit my L79 pulley assembly so I had to bought a deep groove add-on for ~100 bucks(ZIP)...the third groove drives my power steering pump...I suppose I could have done something else like 2 things with the same belt.
I didn't see how I could make the Hot Rod Air center ducting fit within the confines of the defrost ducting so I fabricated my own out of PVC...a couple of bucks. I also had to redo the passenger side ducting since my ECM is in the way...a little more PVC and a few more bucks.
I had to buy some R-134a, 32 oz required...whatever that costs locally.

The Hot Rod Air kit was ~1200 bucks including the shipping.

 

I decided to go with classic auto air. I'll let you know how that works out.

 

I have too at this point.

 

Especially how well the system cools...

 

I ordered the Hot Rod Air kit 9 weeks ago. Wayne promised a 2 to 3 week delivery. He has sent me the compressor and the compressor bracket. He has promised me it was shipping or had shipped at least 4 times. He sold me a 3 groove crank pulley and a 2 groove pwr steering pump pulley that wouldn't even line up with the compressor and compressor bracket he sent me. (38 each.) If you want, call him at 877 693 3200. Tell him what I said and write me if he denies one word of it. I've been really decent to him, but I will tell you do NOT buy Hot Rod Air. Go to Classic Air in Tampa, FL. Their number is 813 251 4994. Speak with Tim. Wayne has promised to send me the instruction manual on 3 occassions. It's never been sent. Wayne has told me 2 times that they were building my kit up and that he seen it. Well bull crap. I have a hole in my firewall and the passenger dash pulled open. Hot Rod Air is a piece of crap and their customer service techique is lie and tell the cutomer whatever you feel like. Do NOT buy Hot Rod Air. PM me if you want me to talk with you. I'll call you on my nickel.

 

Ouch.. I was thinking about going the Hotrod air route, however, I'm glad that this has been brought to my attention. From what I understand, there were some problems with the fitment of the stock controls in the console area with hotrod air (from what I had read in a previous post). Classic Auto Air has promised me that everything should arrive within two weeks.. we'll see how that goes over. I'll try to document every step of the process for my fellow CF'ers. I've already taken pics of the removal of the heater box, etc. etc., so I figure I'm off to a good start.

 

with shipping the kit; but I had so much stuff going on that I could only prepare to get ready to install it. AS it was, once I received it, it took me some time to squeeze in time to install it.
For me the folks at Hot Rod Air were very prompt to respond for my requests; as mentioned before they shipped my water isolation valve and it arrived promptly, they also faxed me some instructions within 20 minutes of requesting them, all around I was fairly pleased with their response.

I agree that if I had been in a real hurry it would have been annoying waiting for the kit. As it was it didn't matter much.

As far as intallation, my controls (using the original HVAC parts) fit just fine and I had to drill one hole in one of their brackets to install the condenser in front of the radiator. The modifications to the vent ducts for the center and the passenger side I made without even trying to use the equipment provided...it just didn't look like it would work with my arrangement.

 

TTT....

Got my kit in today (after 2 weeks) - a writeup as well as pictures and a statement on ease of directions will be up soon.

- Michael

 

Anyone ever put in climate control with a temperature setting in a C3 similar to a C5/6?

 

I have been looking at that. My friend has a 96 Olds cutlass that has a climate control setup that I'd like to try and retrofit. I haven't looked into it much, though. Let me know what you come up with.

 

I willl post when I come up with something, because I definitely plan to do that as part of my frame off. My previous car had it, and I love the convienence and a constant temperature. So far, I have not seen any aftermarket products for this for C3s. It looks like I may have to get something meant for a C5/6 and make it work...

 

Looking forward to the write up.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...756&forum_id=3

(pics of the kit)