Hey guys

For those interested I installed the condensor. One of the reasons I picked vintage air is that they use the upper radiator mount holes to mount the condensor in place. Much better than shooting sheet metal screws into your radiator support via small brackets that branch out from the side of the condensor.

I drilled new lower holes for the bottom mounting location all the way through the support so that I could use a bolt and Nylock as opposed to sheetmetal screws as I simply don't like sheetmetal screws due to the fact that you get maybe 1 thread of grip.

I had one issue with the condensor brackets and Vintage air actually re-engineered them and sent me new ones. Great support and turn around from their tech guys! The brackets where actually hitting the manifolds on the condensor when installed and the bracket was tilted and not sitting flush on the condensor mounting rail. You can see in the first picture below the gap that was created due to the rubbing of the bracket on the manifold. You can see in the second picture how the new brackets are designed to not hit the manifolds when installed.

I had a spare 16"pusher fan laying around so I installed it as opposed to their fan. Mine is a little bigger in diameter which is a little unsightly but this is optional and I figured I would give it a shot. Mine is only 1300cfm but it is only 2" deep. Not sure if the hood will open all the way with a deeper fan.

Condenser bracket hitting manifolds on condesor


Condensor brackets side by side


Condensor installed


Lower Condensor mounting locations

 

It looks great! My '34 sbc vintage air is 5years old and still too cold....LoL!

 

Did VA recommend the fan on the condensor or was that your add on. Nice brackets, I have the flimsy single strap kind. I installed the VA Gen IV in my 78 and get a 40 degree temp drop without a fan.

 

That looks great My only question is will the hood close with that e-fan there?

 

I dont see them recommending the fan specifically but they do show it as an option. My concern is that with my dewitts and electric fans I wanted to ensure that if the Trinary switch called for it the fan would be there in the event the radiator fans are not running to keep the duct temp and line pressure down.

Their fan is smaller in diameter but it is the 2000 cfm version which is 1"+ thicker than this spare one I had laying around.

 

The fan should not be an issue at all on closing as its below the radiator support and its way behind the headlight motors. I like my fan as it shallow compared to their fan. Opening the hood could be an issue on their 3" deep fan because as you open the hood it recesses into this space my fan is literately only 2.5" further out than the radiator support itself where the hood recesses into as it is opened.

 

Thanks, I meant to say opening the hood - too much going on this morning so forgive the brain fart - anyway, that's the direction I want to go with my AC, the vintage air looks like a great kit!

 

So far I haven't found anything I don't like about the kit or that they did not correct for me. I decided on my own to modify the birdcage supports for the evaporator rather then discard them. The convertibles just simply need them.

Vintage air is very responsive to questions and concerns.

As with any kit like this... you will have to make mods or things may not fit like you want it so you must modify it. Also, no two cars are the same and as my nose is a replacement I may have to deal with line issues so we will see as I progress on.

 

An electric fan can only help the A/C in producing cooler air/lasting longer...

 

Their fan will for sure keep the hood from opening all of the way. I had to shorten the latch that keeps the hood up in order for it to do so.

 

Do you have any pictures of yours? How far does it miss by? I just checked and my fan is a total of two inches deep not 2.5". Their fan is over 3"s I believe.

 

I don't remember just how much of the latch I cut off but I can get a measurement for you. I believe your fan will be ok and worth the trouble.I am out of town on business but hope to be home sometime Sunday if that's not too late.