C3 air conditioning
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
C3 air conditioning
Hey gang
i am am looking for an air conditioning solution tfor my C3. Prior owner completely gutted the AC. Nothing except interior vents and interior console slider panel.
Vintage Air seems to have a nice upgrade kit. Anyone have any luck with these? A little pricey at about $1500 but I assume a stock restore would be higher.
i am am looking for an air conditioning solution tfor my C3. Prior owner completely gutted the AC. Nothing except interior vents and interior console slider panel.
Vintage Air seems to have a nice upgrade kit. Anyone have any luck with these? A little pricey at about $1500 but I assume a stock restore would be higher.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,539
Likes: 1,972
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Vintage Air
Go with the Vintage Air. I installed VA in my black/black 66 coupe in Florida. If I keep my hand on the stick for 5 minutes, it goes numb. Check the archives, this has been discussed many times. Jerry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,256
Likes: 947
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Hey gang
i am am looking for an air conditioning solution tfor my C3. Prior owner completely gutted the AC. Nothing except interior vents and interior console slider panel.
Vintage Air seems to have a nice upgrade kit. Anyone have any luck with these? A little pricey at about $1500 but I assume a stock restore would be higher.
i am am looking for an air conditioning solution tfor my C3. Prior owner completely gutted the AC. Nothing except interior vents and interior console slider panel.
Vintage Air seems to have a nice upgrade kit. Anyone have any luck with these? A little pricey at about $1500 but I assume a stock restore would be higher.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,284
Likes: 2,094
From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
What makes your hand go numb? By the way I'd recommend VA at this point too. I hear it cools much better.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I have classic auto air I'm installing. Easy to connect and so far easy to install. Competent customer service is poor and documentation on wiring into a bi or trinary switch is poor. Controllers are bulky and control indications are cheesy. I'm comparing these to vintage air info and controllers I've seen.
Ryan
Ryan
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
https://www.vintageair.com/surefit-s...=GM%20Vehicles
And you might call VA to see what options you have.
Last edited by 20mercury; Jan 30, 2019 at 03:07 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 215
Likes: 86
92-533. #6 90 deg fitting
92-525. #6 straight fitting
92-535 #10 90 deg fitting
92-535-4. #10 90 deg fitting S/P
92-534-3. #8 90 deg fitting S/P
92-526. #8 straight fitting
25-0046. Orifice tube
21-1230 Accumulator
11-1624 condenser superkool
4 feet 91-0010
4 feet 91-0008
5 feet 91-0006
Total parts cost is $668.30 plus shipping.
I replaced everything as my system was shot and I ditched the R4 compressor for a Sanden and changed over to R134. I also was told by my garage not to put the refrigerant in the system that you buy as a diy from auto stores because if it has that in the system they cannot sevice the A/C for me. So just sharing that with you. You may find this helpful
The larger hose port(the suction port), that goes straight to the accumulator on the firewall, calls for -10 hose & fittings WITH a service port. The smaller hose port(the pressure port), that goes forward to the top port of the condenser in front of the radiator, calls for -8 hose & fittings WITH a service port. The return hose coming back from the condenser, which goes to the other fitting sticking out of the firewall, calls for -6 hose & fittings WITHOUT a service port. A service port is where you introduce your 134a refrigerant, evacuate old freon, etc...which AeroQuip sells, & are incorporated into the hose end fittings.
The orifice tube will be inside the high-pressure line to the evaporator. Most orifice tube systems have the evaporator under the hood or cowl, Find where the line steps up in size just before a joint. The orifice tube should be in there
The fluid that passes around the whole system is the refrigerant. The refrigerant can evaporate at a low temperature, and then condense again at a higher pressure. In the bad old days, R-12 was the refrigerant used in almost all cars. It was widely available, however it was found to be a contributor to the hole in the earth's ozone layer as it was a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). These refrigerants were discontinued, and all cars after 1996 use a non-CFC fluid called R-134A which is kinder to the environment.
Last edited by Pzark; Jan 31, 2019 at 09:02 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
I haven't done the Vintage air, but I would say you would have to. I would not try a heater core with the dash in, so, be prepared to buy a dash when you crack it.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 417
From: Central Texas
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
C3 Air Conditioning
I found a Vintage Air system at JEGS $1410.99 free shipping Part Number: 960-964173
https://www.jegs.com/i/Vintage-Air/960/964173/10002/-1
https://www.jegs.com/i/Vintage-Air/960/964173/10002/-1
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,948
Likes: 4,506
From: Virginia
It looks like VA finally released their kit for 78-82 Vettes (there's a separate one for 77, too). $1500- at Jegs. Part 960-964176
https://www.jegs.com/i/Vintage-Air/960/964176/10002/-1
https://www.jegs.com/i/Vintage-Air/960/964176/10002/-1
Last edited by Bikespace; Feb 5, 2020 at 02:56 AM.