AC in 1973
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Hazerswoude-Rijndijk Zuid Holland
Disconnected comes in many ways!!
Could be just the belt (new belt $45 and 15 minutes)
Could be hoses (new hoses $80 and a refill $80)
Could be that it is standing still for a long time (ac overhaul $$$)
Worse case 1:renew key components (original $$$)
Worse case 2: renew and modernize (about $1250) check out vintage air
Corvette AC is not that great, if needed I would modernize.
Could be just the belt (new belt $45 and 15 minutes)
Could be hoses (new hoses $80 and a refill $80)
Could be that it is standing still for a long time (ac overhaul $$$)
Worse case 1:renew key components (original $$$)
Worse case 2: renew and modernize (about $1250) check out vintage air
Corvette AC is not that great, if needed I would modernize.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
The AC had did not work when I first bought my 73. I replaced everything and yes it was expensive, that was 12 years ago. I would change it out for a newer system if I were to start over again. The VIR valve has quit working on me several times and R12 is real expensive, (I get it from a freind for free though).
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg Virginia
My A/C
My A/C has been dead since I bought my car and just last week I finally got it fixed. It had been disconnected for so long that when it was charged with dye, everything leaked out immediately.
The servicing entailed seals, condensor and compressor and various other stuff (essentially an entirely new system). Cost about $1100.
(Frankly, I drive mine so infrequently that I have never needed the A/C. The only time that it was inconvenient was when there was a big storm coming home from a show. It would have been nice to have cold air blowing across the windshield as a defogger.)
The servicing entailed seals, condensor and compressor and various other stuff (essentially an entirely new system). Cost about $1100.
(Frankly, I drive mine so infrequently that I have never needed the A/C. The only time that it was inconvenient was when there was a big storm coming home from a show. It would have been nice to have cold air blowing across the windshield as a defogger.)
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You have to assume that you will need to replace all the critical components of the A/C system, if it doesn't work. That is the only way you can protect yourself with such a purchase. If it was a simple fix, the seller would have already fixed it to get a better selling price. Price the car as if it did not have the A/C system at all.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
AC Question II
Ok, thanks guys!!! This forum continues to impress me. I guess this should be my real question. I am in LA. My other car is a Honda VFR 800. Yes, a motorcycle!
So when looking for a car (my friends told me be practical and buy a Camry) I decided to be unpractical and look for a C3 or a Mustang (65-70). I thought AC would be nice, some small luxury. Yeah, it gets hot in LA but mostly you don't REALLY need it.
When looking for a car should I even worry if it has AC or not? Someone is selling a clean looking 70 near me but I avoided it because it has no AC. Is Corvette AC even good? Does it suck anyway?
This would be very helpful to know!
Gracias very big!
kyle
So when looking for a car (my friends told me be practical and buy a Camry) I decided to be unpractical and look for a C3 or a Mustang (65-70). I thought AC would be nice, some small luxury. Yeah, it gets hot in LA but mostly you don't REALLY need it.
When looking for a car should I even worry if it has AC or not? Someone is selling a clean looking 70 near me but I avoided it because it has no AC. Is Corvette AC even good? Does it suck anyway?
This would be very helpful to know!
Gracias very big!
kyle
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
If the car came with AC then it will not have any open air vents and it will get hot around you feet. The only outside inlet is up by the windshield.
If it did not come with air then at least you will have some air movement down there.
If it did not come with air then at least you will have some air movement down there.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you are in stalled traffic a lot [the rest of us see the national news and believe that everyone in L.A. gets stuck on the freeway for hours, everyday], might be a problem for any 35 years old car...A/C or not. In a warm envirnment, A/C would be helpful; but only if the cooling system was in very good shape so that the car can reject the engine heat successfully. The C3 design was marginal [at best] for heat rejection at idle. If you have extended periods at idle and have a C3 you will need to change to a larger, modern radiator and electric fan system as a minimum, IMO. Otherwise, consider a different car.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
I thought AC would be nice, some small luxury. Yeah, it gets hot in LA but mostly you don't REALLY need it.
When looking for a car should I even worry if it has AC or not? Someone is selling a clean looking 70 near me but I avoided it because it has no AC. Is Corvette AC even good? Does it suck anyway?
This would be very helpful to know!
Gracias very big!
kyle
When looking for a car should I even worry if it has AC or not? Someone is selling a clean looking 70 near me but I avoided it because it has no AC. Is Corvette AC even good? Does it suck anyway?
This would be very helpful to know!
Gracias very big!
kyle
