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If it's working properly and that's a big if, it should keep you very comfortably cool.
In a coupe it's a option I would want to have...in a convertible not so much. I have ac in my convertible and I turn it on once or twice a season just to keep the compressor lubricated otherwise it's top down or windows down.
Yes, it's worth it if you live in a warm area or if the wife doesn't want to ride in the "open air". But, make sure the A/C is working well before you buy the car.
I found that a '68 thru '72 big block optioned corvette with working A/C does a marginal job at best. Also remember that an a/c optioned Corvette does NOT have the center console levers for fresh air ventilation for the footwells. This makes a huge difference in a big block car where a tremendous amount of heat is generated into the cabin area. Having the fresh air ventilation down in the footwells makes driving a long time in these cars way more bearable.
my 1st vette was a 70 vert 454 with air. it cooled the car down some but not like todays cars. now i have a 72 coupe with a 454. same story. even if they worked great i would hardly use here in pa. i like the top down or the t tops off and back window out. i also run it just to keep it oiled a few times a year. down side is if you get an oil leak you will probably ruin your hood from oil seaping into fiberglass causing paint to bubble. i wonder if it would work better if it were converted over to the newer freon.
my 1st vette was a 70 vert 454 with air. it cooled the car down some but not like todays cars. now i have a 72 coupe with a 454. same story. even if they worked great i would hardly use here in pa. i like the top down or the t tops off and back window out. i also run it just to keep it oiled a few times a year. down side is if you get an oil leak you will probably ruin your hood from oil seaping into fiberglass causing paint to bubble. i wonder if it would work better if it were converted over to the newer freon.
Nope, Measured the vents before and after and it raised my temp 5 degrees.
Mine cools reasonably well, but doesn't move a lot of air. Had to tighten up the seals in the ductwork and get the plenum door actuators working, but on a hot day the marginal AC is worth it. My wife only rides in it when the AC is on because she gets blown around too much with the windows down.
If it's working properly and that's a big if, it should keep you very comfortably cool.
In a coupe it's a option I would want to have...in a convertible not so much. I have ac in my convertible and I turn it on once or twice a season just to keep the compressor lubricated otherwise it's top down or windows down.
I went to great pains to add it to my vert. I almost never use it to drive, but I turn it on every time I crank the car to keep the compressor lubricated.
there's not much cubic footage in a vette to need cooled, it should work lots better than in a compareable impala.. but still.. who on earth drives a chrome bumper c3 with the windows up and the top up, or t-tops on? my top is never up, unless I am driving in the winter to keep out the cold.. after this winter, I am begging to be hot and uncomfortable...
there's not much cubic footage in a vette to need cooled, it should work lots better than in a compareable impala.. but still.. who on earth drives a chrome bumper c3 with the windows up and the top up, or t-tops on? my top is never up, unless I am driving in the winter to keep out the cold.. after this winter, I am begging to be hot and uncomfortable...
Well maybe I'm the only one ? but .. on a real hot day I turn the A/C on, even with the windows down and the tops off .... It feels alot cooler while riding to me ....
Last edited by lock-n-load; Mar 6, 2010 at 12:22 PM.
There are only a couple of problems with vette cooling. One is that leaves get caught in the A/C box and the fan doesn't have sufficient voltage. Fix one by removing the A/C box in the engine compartment and fix the other by rerouting the power feed to the fan control over to the alternator output.
My AC doesn't work, its all there, don't care to maintain it , but with a white /convertible it isn't necessary . I have the top down 90% of the year and I don't drive in the rain period. , the rest of the time its cool and I don't need AC.....for those weekend winter cruises
I had a BLACK 1979 COUPE once ........WHEW !! that baby could cook , I felt like a FRENCH FRY in it sometimes and YES !!!!! the AC was a MUST for summer driving.
Drving a corvette with top down is WHAT ITS ALLABOUT BABY!!
I have a blk vert and driving with the top down and 90 degrees outside, my wife and I were cooking inside the vette. About an hour like that. I have an A/C but not working. Bought a new compressor and am going to install it before the summer start. I need it.