Do I have AC?
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
Do I have AC?
New to the Forum, but I've owned my '72 for about 12 years. It is a base model (the K in the VIN means base model, correct?) with 62k original miles, original War Bonnet Yellow paint, original engine and drive train (4sp). Almost unmolested except for the L88 hood, custom paint on the hood and lots of aftermarket chrome (under the hood), intake, hooker headers, and carb. I'm pretty happy with it since I didn't know much about vettes when I bought it.
Anyway, I always thought I had A/C, well because on the heater controls it has a position for 'Air'. Last weekend I was looking at the engine and noticed that it didn't have a compressor! If I did have A/C maybe the previous owner that did the engine modifications took it out.
How can I tell if the car was originally an A/C car?
Thanks
--eric
Anyway, I always thought I had A/C, well because on the heater controls it has a position for 'Air'. Last weekend I was looking at the engine and noticed that it didn't have a compressor! If I did have A/C maybe the previous owner that did the engine modifications took it out.
How can I tell if the car was originally an A/C car?
Thanks
--eric
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by ezeglen
New to the Forum, but I've owned my '72 for about 12 years. It is a base model (the K in the VIN means base model, correct?) with 62k original miles, original War Bonnet Yellow paint, original engine and drive train (4sp). Almost unmolested except for the L88 hood, custom paint on the hood and lots of aftermarket chrome (under the hood), intake, hooker headers, and carb. I'm pretty happy with it since I didn't know much about vettes when I bought it.
Anyway, I always thought I had A/C, well because on the heater controls it has a position for 'Air'. Last weekend I was looking at the engine and noticed that it didn't have a compressor! If I did have A/C maybe the previous owner that did the engine modifications took it out.
How can I tell if the car was originally an A/C car?
Thanks
--eric
Anyway, I always thought I had A/C, well because on the heater controls it has a position for 'Air'. Last weekend I was looking at the engine and noticed that it didn't have a compressor! If I did have A/C maybe the previous owner that did the engine modifications took it out.
How can I tell if the car was originally an A/C car?
Thanks
--eric
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Assuming that you have heater hoses hooked up, what does the firewall look like where the hoses enter, could you post a pix, I think that the "air" that you see on the control may just be for fresh air, not A/C. If the car had A/C originally there would be this big jumboat deally ( condensor housing ) where the heater hoses enter the firewall (heater core). And BTW, welcome to the best place on the web for Corvette information. Peace,,,Moosie 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
"Air" means outside air at foot level. Rotate the **** more and the pointer moves to "de-fog" which is half foot and half windshield. This includes the handwarmer which I think is the best part. The last position is "de-ice" which means all air is directed to the windshield. I guess now they use the little symbols because most graduates can't read anymore.
I think the A/C controls say "Max A/C" and "Norm A/C" or something similar.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 99
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
the above descriptions of "air" are correct. it implies fresh air control (outside forced air) fed through the footwells or defroster vent. as stated, an air conditioned car would have been marked something similar to a/c norm and a/c max. the norm being air conditioned fresh air, the max a/c being recirculated (and continually re-cooled) interior air only. in addition you would have additional hoses (even if they were blocked off) at the heater box on the firewall infront of the passenger compartment unless the heater box was changed out from a non a/c car. from what little information you provided, i would agree that your car probably was not equipped with a/c as an option.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
Thanks everybody. I'm going to assume that it did not have A/C but I'll check the firewall area (and get pics) this weekend anyway. It took me 12 years mostly because I've only put about 500 miles on the car in those 12 years and it is stored about 3 hours from me.
Also, next to the heater controls there are levers that open and close the vents on the floor (they say vents on them). What would the relationship be between these levers and the slide on the heater control. When I push the vent lever the floor vents open and I get a rush of the outside air.
Bashcraft, I noticed you're from Butler. I don't know how long you've been there, but that is where I bought the car 12 years ago. It had a few show ribbons it when I got it so you might have seen it at some of the local shows.
Thanks everybody. This board is great!
--eric
Also, next to the heater controls there are levers that open and close the vents on the floor (they say vents on them). What would the relationship be between these levers and the slide on the heater control. When I push the vent lever the floor vents open and I get a rush of the outside air.
Bashcraft, I noticed you're from Butler. I don't know how long you've been there, but that is where I bought the car 12 years ago. It had a few show ribbons it when I got it so you might have seen it at some of the local shows.
Thanks everybody. This board is great!
--eric
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by ezeglen
Also, next to the heater controls there are levers that open and close the vents on the floor (they say vents on them). What would the relationship be between these levers and the slide on the heater control. When I push the vent lever the floor vents open and I get a rush of the outside air.
--eric
--eric
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Originally Posted by ezeglen
Bashcraft, I noticed you're from Butler. I don't know how long you've been there, but that is where I bought the car 12 years ago. It had a few show ribbons it when I got it so you might have seen it at some of the local shows.
Thanks everybody. This board is great!
--eric
Thanks everybody. This board is great!
--eric
I parked my '69 convertible 12 years ago and literally took it completely apart. I was getting divorced at the time and was determined that the ex wasn't going to end up with it. Anyway, this past year I started putting it back together. Hopefully I'll be driving it next spring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
If you have an a/c car, the console will not have the levers on the sides. The a/c control will have 2 thumbwheels. One will move the selector from a/c to vent, to heat, to defrost (as I recall). The other thumbwheel adjusts temperature.
Under the hood, the evaporator core is housed in a large housing mounted on the firewall on the passenger side. The outlets for the heater core come out of the firewall below the evaporator housing - hard to see and to get to.
I think the console would be your best giveaway. Someone could go to the trouble to remove the evaporator but they would probably not replace the console plate, etc.
Under the hood, the evaporator core is housed in a large housing mounted on the firewall on the passenger side. The outlets for the heater core come out of the firewall below the evaporator housing - hard to see and to get to.
I think the console would be your best giveaway. Someone could go to the trouble to remove the evaporator but they would probably not replace the console plate, etc.
