I've been thinking about adding A/C to my '69 'vert. Now would be the time since since I'm doing a full body-off restoration and the dash is completely apart. Any recommendations or suggestions about which manuf to go with? No factory air if that makes a difference.

 

Hi w,
There have been some threads about adding a/c to cars. From them it appears to be quite a bit of work in the engine compartment, on both sides of the firewall, and in the interior.
I believe Vintage Air is one of the manufacturers people use.
Regards,
Alan

 

I can say that i have installed an aftermarket systems and also a used GM systems in a Corvette that WAS NOT originally an A/C car.

And I would much rather install a used GM system if at all possible due to the ducting is made to work as it is supposed to. The aftermarket systems often times make you use accordion tubes that have to be bent around this and that and are a ROYAL PAIN because they can get smashed and basically (in my opinion) are pointless....and for me ...makes the car sub-standard. This is only in regards to the ducting. As for aftermarket system...and mounting brackets, etc. that is OK.

It is a process...and if it off frame now....now is the time.

DUB

 

I added Vintage Air AC to my non-AC '73. I'm happy with the results. The VA guys were good to work with and helped me with some different compressor brackets when the first set put the belt too close to the lower radiator hose. I didn't like the cheesy center vent that came with their kit so I picked up a center vent assembly for an AC car from one of the vendors. I then had to fabricate a fiberglass adapter to fit the single VA hose to the factory center vent system. The VA kit for AC cars comes with 2 hoses for the center vent if I remember right and I didn't have much room behind the dash. So, I built the adapter instead of getting parts from the AC kit from VA.

The VA system is a tight fit. Since your car is apart now, here's a tip if you go with VA: Do not have anything on the firewall interior to take up space. Not carpet, not sound deadener, not heat padding. The inside unit is a very tight fit and needs to go right against the firewall. I had already installed a layer of sound/heat material and didn't trim the carpet padding far enough down to clear the box and had to rework it. Keeping the sound/heat material meant I had to trim a bit off the backside of the right hand dash pad and I still have to push hard to get it buttoned back up.

I'm glad I did it although I remember cussing a few times during the installation.

DC

 

Doing the work with the body off makes the job much easier. I went through this debate on my car. Do I spend the money to repair my existing factory A/C (blown evaporator and who knows what else) and spend the money to make the changes for it to work properly with 134A refrigerant? I researched the options and elected to replace what I had with a Vintage Air kit. As with anything, there are some trade offs. The VA has a much stronger blower. The dials are converted from vacuum to electric. You will need to convert your dials to the factory A/C dials if you want to go the factory route. The Sanden compressor with the VA takes 3 to 4 horsepower to turn. I've heard that the original compressor takes 17 horsepower to turn. The VA system really cleans up the engine compartment. The Sanden compressor is probably a third of the size of the factory compressor which is heavy and makes access to the front spark plug difficult (on my big block). I already had the factory unit so you're going to have to scrounge all of the components and, if you want it all to work right, rebuild everything so there's the time element. You're going to need the A/C electrical harness if you go with the factory set-up. If you're going to replace the electrical harness (which I strongly recommend if you're going to take the body off) that will not be a big deal. You'll probably spend the same amount of money, if not more, installing the factory system. With the VA unit, everything is brandy new. Here's the down side to VA. You no longer have ventilation from the outside. If you have Astro Ventalation, it gets closed off. With a rag top that may not be such a big deal. The VA unit is compact and hangs under the dash but it make for a very tight fit. You have to trim some of the plastic on the bottom of the passenger side dash. Reinstalling the center dash cluster and center console is a MF'r. Because the VA unit is inside the car, you hear the blower which is noisy on hi. The VA blows pretty cold so I high blower is not really needed. The hoses in the VA kit require some assembly. One end is crimped and, after you cut the hoses to the right length, you have to have the loose fittings crimpted on. I live in Phoenix and I could not find anyone that had the right crimp tool. I sent the hoses back to VA and they crimpted them for free. The VA customer service was great. You will have to do some of your own engineering. The compressor bracket spacers were not quite right so I had to make some up on the lathe. Installing the dryer per the instructions was impossible with the brackets as supplied. All of the brackets in the VA kit had very light paint that scratched off if you looked at them too hard. I had everything powder coated. Make sure you go through all of the boxes because there are a number of parts that are painted with this worthless paint. The driver's side duct is not even close to usable.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...side-vent.html

The VA instructions kinda sucked. Seemed like the kit has evolved but the instructions have not. At the end of the day, I'm happy with the choice I made. So there you have it. Best of luck to you.

 

I installed the Vintage Air system in my 76 last October. My car came with AC but everything was a mess so I decided to change to VA and I'm glad I did. The installation was actually fairly easy to me and I'm not what would be considered a car guy mechanically speaking. For me, the instructions were written well and included a box by each step to check off when that step was finished. Fitting the hoses behind the dash takes patience to say the least but if you start to get frustrated, walk away for a few minutes and take a deep breath, it will work. Good luck with your choice.

Bill

 

After some encouragement from forum members VA modified their '68-'76 sure-fit kit to include a section of hard flat tubing that makes installation a lot easier. My install was before the change so I bought a piece from another vender that worked well. I too hated the center vent included in the kit and bought and modified an original center vent.

System works very well and will frost your left kneecap!

 

Thanks for the insights everybody. Some of my local car buddies think I'm nuts for putting AC in a convertible. Others say that since I'm building the car for me go ahead if it's what I want. I was leaning toward Vintage Air and from what you all say that's the route to take. My builder says the same thing, he's installed VA on a half dozen or so other cars and likes the quality of their kits.

 

I think you are headed in the right direction with Va system.

 

My arriving 69 makes 3 convertible in my house. Not a fan of 90/100 degree days so top up and AC on.

I completely understand.

 

Are you talking about the drivers side air duct? If so, I may need to pick one up. I finally got the hose wire-tied in enough places that it works well but a hard duct would make it better.

DC

 

I've found since I added AC that I enjoy using it on those warm days when I take off the tops and remove the rear window. Best of both worlds!

DC

 

This is where I got mine: http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ac/...he-foot-76.php

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

 

Thanks Paphiki. I have to take my dash apart to fix the speedo head so I'm going to redo the duct. This site will be helpful

 

Just too be honest I wouldn`t bother with it, I have a 1970 conv. which has aut, ps, pb, pw, leather, t/tel, 4 season air, aut, and 38k, the ac is at the right temp at the comp. but by the time it gets to the cockpit comming out of the vents it looses so much, there no way on a 90 degree day it is comfortable like my C5, now if your sitting under a shade tree with it the fan on high you might start to feel some cool, but on the interstate with a probe in the outlets you will probably show 50 something degrees but with a probe by your head it be 80 something, so really not worth it, but everyone has their on opion.

 

I don't know what AC you have but my Vintage Air unit cools very well. 36 degrees at the vent. Enough to keep my beer cold!

 

The vintage air I have was put on by GM Jan. 23, 1970. Most of the people who I have talked to that have factory air (orginal) on their cars, seems to work like mine pretty poor, I would hope the new style ac would do a better job.

 

If your AC was installed in 1970 it isn't from Vintage Air. Vintage Air wasn't formed until 1976. Maybe yours is from Hot Rod Air or some other manufacturer.

 

The vintage air I`m talking about was installed by GM (General Motors) at the St Louis corvette assemble plant in 1970 , can`t be more vintage or orginal than that! and after talking to the four sets of judges (which use to work at the plant at St Louis) whom judge the different classes from C1 thru C6 at the Corvette National Homecoming, (by the way which I have won 3rd place 2 years straight and celebrity choice award in 2012 in the C3 division) they agree the air leaves a little to be desired.

 

Vintage Air is an aftermarket A/C company that specializes in bolt kits for classic cars. They have zero to do with GM nor is it original equipment.