Bubba makes an airconditioner
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Bubba makes an airconditioner
I am making the long hot drive to Carlisle in a few weeks in my 68 bigblock with no A/C. Good news is the car runs fine in hot weather without overheating. Bad news is without A/C it is freaking hot in there when it's above 90 degrees!!! So with a little help from my friends on Youtube I put together this DIY air conditioner. Styrofoam cooler, $2.50 at Walmart, 12v clip-on fan $14.99 at Autozone (removed the clip and added an electrical receptical for $2.99). Bought a couple of pvc plumbing vents for $3 at Lowes. I think I can make my own ice, probably by freezing plastic milk cartons. I will let you know how it works! 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,796
Likes: 1,706
From: Summerville SC
I don't think the NCRS people will approve this. ON the other hand, I already know how to upgrade it if it works. YETI. I love when people think outside the box and thanks for giving me a good laugh today. Let us know how it goes.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Put me down for two!
EDIT! Flash of light! ALSO.......fill the wiper tray with ice cubes/Open kick panel vents..........
ASTRO VENTILATION WITH A/C!
EDIT! Flash of light! ALSO.......fill the wiper tray with ice cubes/Open kick panel vents..........
ASTRO VENTILATION WITH A/C!
Last edited by doorgunner; Aug 2, 2015 at 06:13 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,352
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
If it's a coupe, have a look at Vintage Air..Also..Classic Air.. You can buy the air conditioning/heating console piece and the above air cons and no one will know from the interior appearance you've an aftermarket air con. I think there's a problem with Vintage Air/Classical air and 68 Convertibles..a body brace is in the way under the passenger's dash board.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 3,110
From: Shamong, NJ
Depending on how strong the fan is, when the ice starts to melt, it may start to blow water, or at least water vapor, out of the "vents".What you have there is basically the same thing as an auto racing cool suit. The difference is that a cool suit pumped water through the cooler, and through tubes in a vest, worn under a driving suit. Early cool suits caused a lot of problems for drivers, when the ice melted and the resulting water quickly heated, pumping 100 + degree through the vest! Changes to the systems, as well as the use of high capacity medical grade coolers, have lessened the likely hood of this happening.
If it doesn't work, stop by and see me. I'll be on spaces A 19-23, and I'll have plenty of cold beer and water with me!
Good luck with your bubba air!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
However, I am considering mixing in some rubbing alcohol (methanol) with the water that I am freezing in bottles. My kitchen freezer goes down to -1 or so degrees and water freezes at 32, so it seems a shame to waste that cooling power. I think I will use plastic bottles frozen in my freezer to avoid having to deal with a cooler full of water when the ice melts. I am going to test it later this week and if it doesn't help I won't bother using it on my drive north because it does take a lot of space. And when I get to Carlisle I can offer help to anyone whose car has overheated. Here, have a bottle of water spiked with methanol!
Installing Vintage Air is a bit more of a commitment than this, dont ya think?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 415
From: N J
When I work outside in these crazy temps I sometimes wear a Texas cool vest.
A vest with inner pockets that carry frozen packets that wraps around your upper body. They recharge in ice water in about 1/2 an hour. Not exactly ac, but it sure does help keep the body temps down. Good luck with your project.
A vest with inner pockets that carry frozen packets that wraps around your upper body. They recharge in ice water in about 1/2 an hour. Not exactly ac, but it sure does help keep the body temps down. Good luck with your project.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
When I work outside in these crazy temps I sometimes wear a Texas cool vest.
A vest with inner pockets that carry frozen packets that wraps around your upper body. They recharge in ice water in about 1/2 an hour. Not exactly ac, but it sure does help keep the body temps down. Good luck with your project.
A vest with inner pockets that carry frozen packets that wraps around your upper body. They recharge in ice water in about 1/2 an hour. Not exactly ac, but it sure does help keep the body temps down. Good luck with your project.
The best way to stay cool when working in heat is to drink lots of cold water because it cools the inside of you where cool is needed most.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Andover Mn
What I have done a few times in my 69 vert is keep a couple cold bottles of water topped by a couple of the same frozen in a small soft side cooler sitting on the parking brake console all the way back between the seats. The soft cooler doesn't insulate that well so you can put your arm on it and that helps to cool the rest of you sort of. It does help and you have the option of drinking the cold water as well... Humid summers here in Minnesota can be a biach with humidity in the 90+ relative range.
Mark Smith
Mark Smith
