Hi,
I'm torn between adding vintage AC to my 70 350/350 4 speed 44,000 miles original paint car or selling it to find a car with AC.
Can anyone tell me if the install would permanently affect the car or if at some point it could be returned to it's original state and if anyone has done this could you tell me how efficient the AC is.


I would hate to ruin such an original car it runs, rides and drives awesome so I would also hate to sell it.

Pat

 

I like originality too. Particularly having the original engine and trans. The rest could be duplicated if you so desired with date correct parts.

I added Vintage Air to a few C3's. The last install was on a 68 convertible. Vintage Air works great in Louisiana and is close to a "must have" here and I suspect cools better than the original R12 A6 compressor setup. When I finally sold this 68 to move on to the next C3 adventure, the buyer did not want the Vintage Air as he lived in Minnesota. So, we worked a deal that I would uninstall the Vintage Air and put this 68 back to a non a/c Corvette. I gave the buyer a credit and I got to keep the Vintage Air for the next C3 project. Not a big deal other than labor to "uninstall" the Vintage Air. The only what I would call invasive work is you have to cut the fiberglass firewall a small amount to fit the VA evap unit. For this 68, I merely refiberglassed the cutout and trimmed back to the original opening. I suppose if you pulled out the all the dash and the new heater core, and looked hard, you could find my repair, but after sanding and painting it was hard to see.

So, yes I say Vintage Air is the best way to go and yes it is reversible.

Vintage Air instructions are online at their website if you want to see how it is installed.

Hope this helps, Nice Corvette!!!

 

Thats a great looking car. If you are concerned about Originality you could store all the parts that you remove in order to install Vintage Air (or a similar brand).
My Vintage Air worked well in my '34 street rod...I did take my time installing it.

First...you should see how much you can sell your car for as is.
IF you have to take a loss you would do better to put Vintage Air in your car (IMHO).

 

I see you live in Florida. Do yourself a favor and install the VA system in your beautiful 70 coupe. The chances of finding a car as nice as yours with low mileage is slim. I installed a VA system in my black/black 66 coupe. It cools much better and more efficiently than my factory 68 setup. One of my buddies installed a Classic Air system in his original 70 LT1. He can now comfortably drive the car all months here in central Florida. Keep the car, add the AC system. Jerry

 

Add the air..after reading instructions...keep rest originnal...
great car

you live in florida..balance instructions vs comfort..

add air you drive more no longer low mileage

got mine year ago..29000 miles..if i had 5 speed i would have 35000 not 31000 now...

 

How many miles per year do you put on your car? Your decision should be based on your personal comfort for those miles versus the permanent loss of originality for the car. If your use of the vehicle is usually in the afternoons, maybe you want to add the A/C. If your driving is mostly to local area car shows...where you will be sitting outside in the heat, anyway....roll the windows down and suck it up [for the benefit of your car].

 

Do whatever makes you happy. Any mod can be reversed given time and money.

 

I've been wrestling with that basic question as my 1970 454 has original, though non-working a/c. I understand that NY weather is not FL weather, but popping the rear window out, and removing the T-tops works ok, at least as long as I'm moving, and I try to pick and choose the best times to drive the car.

I've been told that Vintage Air will preform better than stock, but I've decided that keeping it original wins out.

Good luck with your decision. Beautiful car.

 

You should have taken a poll. I'd vote to install the Vintage Air and enjoy the ride!