Team Evil

Taking a break from stripping and refurbishing the interior for now and starting in on the engine. While it does get warm on some Summer days, mostly it's ok here in Massachusetts, not really an "air conditioner on all Summer" kinda state. I rarely use the AC in my Mustang, but I was wondering if driving a '74 Corvette without air was something that would be comfortable over all?

In order to clean up and simplify the engine just a bit, I'd like to pull the air conditioning and emissions components, just wondering if I'd be making a mistake in pulling the AC.

Any help/comments/opinions are really appreciated.

Thanks—

Priya

The A/C stopped working in my 79 shortly after I bought it. It generally doesn't get super hot here in the summer but I didn't find it too bad without it.

Go Vette Go

i am about an hour north of Philly and never use my AC. I take the T-Tops off before the I leave the driveway. I actually removed the belt to the compressor several years ago.

If I am in the Vette, T-tops are off and the wind is blowing through my hair!!! HAHAHA! I'm bald but it sounded good!!!!

flyeri

We talked about putting in Vintage Air and decide not to do it. We almost always have the tops out spring thru fall, putting them in only if it looks like we will get into rain. It does get warm in stop and go driving but most of ours is away from town cruising in the country.

Team Evil

I think that I'll pull the AC components then. The system needs a complete overhaul, new modern parts and a replacement compressor(?) that would be compatible with whatever they now use in place of the old freon. Seems like it would be a major cash outlay to rebuild/replace what's there. Save the parts and pieces for the next owner.

Thanks, pretty much what I was hoping to hear.

The Hot Rod Grille

Been driving my '70 big block C3 roadster without air for 47 years. No sense in adding it at this point!

oldgto

We`re building a 71 basic no-frills coupe.... without AC.... and we live in Florida! We plan to run with rear window out, and T-tops off. No desire to add AC at all. And we`re only about 200 yards from the sun in August!

PainfullySlow

I guess it depends on your co-pilot. If it is just me, I will have the tops off and the back window out HOWEVER the wife will complain about her hair which means tops on and AC if we are going to take the car anyplace nice for dinner, etc.

I will be keeping the AC.

Priya

I don't like having the wind in my hair either so I never take the T-tops off, I drive around with the windows closed as well although I might crack the driver's window 1/2 or 1 inch but I don't find it excessively warm.

The13Bats

Fun thread,

What can tolerate has changed through the years,

I have basically always owned a corvette dd from 16 17 until now 53,

I perfer convertibles which is odd since i hate heat and can not be in direct sunlight,

Most of my top off is at night,
I have the longest hair here and hate it blowing into knots but that's what hats are for,

here in florida, yeah near jim oldgto but unlike him for me ac is a must now,

My 69 will get add on aftermarket ac, and even on some hot nights or days ( in a hat and long sleeves ) with top off the ac is on, lol,

Oddly in the early 90s my dd 66 was hard top only no heat or ac, not even a fan, and i drove it 7 days a week,

Like i said years have changed me....

scrappy76

I am just fine with my 76 no air big block. windows down, t-tops off, back window out.

midigike

Mine 68 came with no AC from the factory, but t does have the removable top option and that killer Astro ventilation system!

Team Evil

How did you folks with working AC modify the system to accept the freon replacement? I know that my car's set-up hasn't been touched in the past twenty-five plus years and is probably shot at this point.

maj75

In South Florida, AC is a must. My ‘69 is in the process of restoring the factory AC system. All the original components have been rebuilt and/or restored. They were in surprisingly good condition, except for the main pressure hose which had failed. Should look original and function properly. Small hole in AC box getting repaired. I paid to get this done and no way I was getting my hands in there to get everything out of the car. The 427 just takes up all the extra space.

ztheusa

Simply crazy not to have AC.

jr73

That's a bold statement, I'm curious how you would know that. While something tells me that you are probably right I still cant help but to wonder if you are. This would be the time if there are any challengers to Bats claim to come forward

Team Evil

Might be time to start posting a Rouges Gallery . . .

brent319

we put vintage AC in when we built the car. I drove it thee summers before we finally charged the AC on the fourth summer. I have only used it a couple of times now. I live in Iowa and it gets pretty hot and humid. For some reason I enjoy driving around with the windows down or the top off but if I get in my truck, i crank up the A/C.

doorgunner

Insulate,,,,,,,everything! I reviewed the "interior heat" thread......the materials I used are worth their weight in platinum. Now the interior air/no a.c. is within 2*F of the outside air!

SPCL FX

Ac at this time is not high on my priority list yet , but , like Bats and oldgto living about 200 yards from the corona of the sun it is something that will have to be dealt with if I should happen to take mine out during the day and maybe at night here during summer !

After I sold my 73 Nova with no ac I bought a truck that had it and I kinda got used to it ! Now it seems like I don't want want to go out without it!

While it is a good creature comfort here in Florida it's almost a necessary thing because it works in conjunction with the defrost system so when it's a 100 degrees in the shade and you get a shower and it goes to 150 you don't want to turn the heater on with the windows up so you can see where your going !