Air Conditioning discussion.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
Air Conditioning discussion.
Should I remove my broken A/c or not?
My 74 came with A/C originally but is now far far from original. The condenser and compressor are missing and I imagine the rest of the system would need to be completely rebuilt all the way down to the ducts.
I am in Texas. However, this is a fair weather car. The T-tops will probably only be attached in the garage.
First question: How effective is the stock A/c on these cars ? is it worth repairing if originality is no concern?
has anybody had experience with the Air Conditioning mod Kits? do they have everything all the way to the ducts? More importantly, do they work well, are they worth it? (after all, this is a hot rod)
I am thinking about removing the stock a/c parts and getting an a/c delete kit for engine compartment. The duct work on the inside is so bad that hot air comes through even with a hot water shut off valve.
If anybody has a pic of what the passenger compartment ducts look like on a NON a/c car, i would like to see that if you can.
thanks for the feedback.
My 74 came with A/C originally but is now far far from original. The condenser and compressor are missing and I imagine the rest of the system would need to be completely rebuilt all the way down to the ducts.
I am in Texas. However, this is a fair weather car. The T-tops will probably only be attached in the garage.
First question: How effective is the stock A/c on these cars ? is it worth repairing if originality is no concern?
has anybody had experience with the Air Conditioning mod Kits? do they have everything all the way to the ducts? More importantly, do they work well, are they worth it? (after all, this is a hot rod)
I am thinking about removing the stock a/c parts and getting an a/c delete kit for engine compartment. The duct work on the inside is so bad that hot air comes through even with a hot water shut off valve.
If anybody has a pic of what the passenger compartment ducts look like on a NON a/c car, i would like to see that if you can.
thanks for the feedback.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Yes, the A/C works fine for some 
of us.
The heavy A6 compressor that came on yours is the main thing to change for less weight & less HP drain.
I replaced the R4 compressor with a ND 6P (8.2 C.I. & similiar to Sanden 508) which uses less HP & works great. Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
of us.The heavy A6 compressor that came on yours is the main thing to change for less weight & less HP drain.
I replaced the R4 compressor with a ND 6P (8.2 C.I. & similiar to Sanden 508) which uses less HP & works great. Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Yes, the A/C works fine for some of us.
The heavy A6 compressor that came on yours is the main thing to change for less weight & less HP drain.
I replaced the R4 compressor with a ND 6P (8.2 C.I. & similiar to Sanden 508) which uses less HP & works great. Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
of us.The heavy A6 compressor that came on yours is the main thing to change for less weight & less HP drain.
I replaced the R4 compressor with a ND 6P (8.2 C.I. & similiar to Sanden 508) which uses less HP & works great. Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
Would you have a pic of that Nippon Denso setup with brackets, hoses, and belts? My A/C did not work last summer and I was thinking of replacing the A6 and going from there. We can't use R12 here so I will have to convert to R134.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
I put the Vintage Air system in my 76. Not a difficult job.
You are close to Vintage Air's plant, drive over and talk to them, they may have car in their shop you can see. I'm in Sealy if you ever get near the west side of Houston, you can look at mine.
Evaporator/heater/fan unit under the passenger dash:
You are close to Vintage Air's plant, drive over and talk to them, they may have car in their shop you can see. I'm in Sealy if you ever get near the west side of Houston, you can look at mine.
Evaporator/heater/fan unit under the passenger dash:
Last edited by ccs96; Nov 9, 2009 at 06:07 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
I put the Vintage Air system in my 76. Not a difficult job.
You are close to Vintage Air's plant, drive over and talk to them, they may have car in their shop you can see. I'm in Sealy if you ever get near the west side of Houston, you can look at mine.
Evaporator/heater/fan unit under the passenger dash:
You are close to Vintage Air's plant, drive over and talk to them, they may have car in their shop you can see. I'm in Sealy if you ever get near the west side of Houston, you can look at mine.
Evaporator/heater/fan unit under the passenger dash:
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
When I bought my 1980,The belt for the AC was off..The guy told me he took it off more horse power
A few weeks later when I was really wondering why he took it off,I realized the pump had leaked and oil was splattered inside the hood...Figuring that's how the refrigerant got leaked..
So that's when I decided to take everything out...Dryer,compressor,evaporator,conden ser,hoses ,etc...Where I come from when it's nice and hot we take the tops off.So no need of AC here!!
It does give you lots more room underneath the hood
80_vette
A few weeks later when I was really wondering why he took it off,I realized the pump had leaked and oil was splattered inside the hood...Figuring that's how the refrigerant got leaked..So that's when I decided to take everything out...Dryer,compressor,evaporator,conden ser,hoses ,etc...Where I come from when it's nice and hot we take the tops off.So no need of AC here!!
It does give you lots more room underneath the hood
80_vette
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
CCS96- Any chance you have a photo of the control unit? I went to BHS. May have to ride down to visit them.
80_vette- We had over two months in the 100's here. Did you buy an A/C delete kit? http://www.acdelete.com/pages/68-82_Y-Body.htm
80_vette- We had over two months in the 100's here. Did you buy an A/C delete kit? http://www.acdelete.com/pages/68-82_Y-Body.htm
Last edited by johnt365; Nov 9, 2009 at 09:19 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/77ACs.JPG
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
CCS96- Any chance you have a photo of the control unit? I went to BHS. May have to ride down to visit them.
80_vette- We had over two months in the 100's here. Did you buy an A/C delete kit? http://www.acdelete.com/pages/68-82_Y-Body.htm
80_vette- We had over two months in the 100's here. Did you buy an A/C delete kit? http://www.acdelete.com/pages/68-82_Y-Body.htm
With the Vintage Air system you don't need an AC delete kit.
Here's the controller, you simply put their electronics on your existing unit:
And to mydejavoo; the system list for about $1100, but you can usually get it for about $1000. I bought mine out of state so I didn't have to pay sales tax and since I'm only 150 miles from their factory, my wife and I drove over and picked it up, saved a little freight and we had a day together.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Sanden has a 508 for R134. I have the ND on it & a 508 for R134 on hand which will bolt up.
Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/77ACs.JPG
Compressor, custom brackets & hoses to stock A/C system w/ R12.
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/77ACs.JPG
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
And to mydejavoo; the system list for about $1100, but you can usually get it for about $1000. I bought mine out of state so I didn't have to pay sales tax and since I'm only 150 miles from their factory, my wife and I drove over and picked it up, saved a little freight and we had a day together.
"Turn your head and cough please." 
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
It is a complete system, plus you are not retro fitting something that's 30+ years old. You also gain a lot of room under the hood when you remove the old evaporator/heater box.
Of course, you can always go w/o AC, just here in the Houston area, there is no way I'll do that!
Of course, you can always go w/o AC, just here in the Houston area, there is no way I'll do that!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
I have said this before, although I am from the midwest, we do see several 90 degree + days, but I have never seen an older c3 driving around in the summer with the t-tops up or the top up with the air conditioner on. it is always top down or t-tops off...
will you really use it and will you really get 1000$ of value out of it ( plus labor)?
will you really use it and will you really get 1000$ of value out of it ( plus labor)?
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
I have said this before, although I am from the midwest, we do see several 90 degree + days, but I have never seen an older c3 driving around in the summer with the t-tops up or the top up with the air conditioner on. it is always top down or t-tops off...
will you really use it and will you really get 1000$ of value out of it ( plus labor)?
will you really use it and will you really get 1000$ of value out of it ( plus labor)?
Save the labor and do your own install, it's not that difficult, just takes some time.
