The factory air box has something that Vintage Air doesn't, which is fresh outside air. The VA setup only recirculates. If you use the factory setup with a parallel flow A/C condenser and R134a it will keep you plenty cool, I have friends who switched back to the factory setup from VA. I'm using the factory setup with a Sanden compressor and am going to switch to a parallel flow condenser in the next month or two.

 

I switched to a parallel flow condenser and sanden compressor as well as the vir eliminator and c4 blower, so mine isn't exactly stock but it works well. I can't stand having a system that doesn't work.

 

Maybe you live in Canada. My car fell into my lap, but if I had been shopping for a Vette, I wouldn't consider a non AC car. My idea of a clean engine compartment is clean and well painted, not just empty. If you remove it, it'll probably never go back in. My 2 cents.

 

Illegal vette,
If you really have friends who went backwards and switched from the aftermarket ac back to factory ac then please sent them my email the13bats@aol.com perhaps I can get a great deal on a unloved system.

Thanks for a thought provoking post, I have owned many vettes most with ac but went back to look, After looking at c3 ac controls how do you set them to have ac cooling outside air am I missing it or is this moot?

I always left mind on "max" was "norm" outside air?

I had to go do some Googling because I didn't know what "outside" air setting on other cars was for, I asked my wife she said "I Don't know, or care" but she did chime in that someone on the vette forum would tell me because they know everything...
I never have used it on any car I have ever owned the few times I switched to it the air smelled dusty so I went right back to recirculate,

So on Google I learned 98% of the people do not have a clue what it's for and 1% lie about knowing and say all kinds of coolness.
But Prius owners are very concerned with which setting gives best MPG.

In my typical way of over thinking things I ponder my 69 non ac car has kick panel vents vacuum operated so I can rig those to still work even if the aftermarket ac set up I buy doesn't work them, then it dawns on me and I have come to the simple conclusion that when I install the aftermarket ac in my 69 in the very unlikely event I desire outside air I will do this old antiquated thing, I will roll down a window, ( here is where some cats tells me I cant do that )

While I respect what you guys do keeping the factory systems running ( if you have one to start with ) or admitting they can be improved and updating this or that part for a frankenvette system, time is so very precious to me more so than money so I have to either copy what a person has that is working well OR buy a system that people who know more about ac than I ever will have put together and sold to many people like myself who desire to add ac to an old car in a simple out of the box way.

 

I am the original postee. I live in connecticut where its hot in the summer and cold in the winter. My. Car had a complete AC system that hasn't worked in 20 years. It just wasnt worth the time and effort to get it working on a car that isnt going to me driven very much. I went one step further and not only did i remove the complete ac system from the engine compartment but I also bypassed my heater core. I dont need heat in a car that will never be driven in the cold...or the rain for that matter.

 

I am currently going through the A/C system (amongst other things) in my 72'.
I think it is neat as hell and a real luxury having it.

I say keep it.

If you want a no A/C car...get one.....they are a HELL of a lot easier to work on LOL!

Jebby

 

My car is the car I found and the car I wanted. At first.. I thought it was cool having factory AC. It didn't work.. but it was cool. I figured I would just detail it and leave it non functional because the car is just a Sunday or cruise night car. Then... after removing the exhaust manifolds to install headers I noticed how much room the factory AC takes up in the engine bay. Over the many years of owning and wrenching cars I have more times than not compromised when upgrading a car always keeping in mind resale value. I never wanted to do anything to hurt the potential resale value because there was always another car on the horizon that I wanted more than the one I had. I then thought about the first car I owned. A 1968 Dodge Dart. I did everything to that car that I wanted to do regardless of resale value. I even cut out the rear fender wells to put huge tires in there. That car had no AC.. heck.. it didn't even have a radio when I got it, it had no rugs.. just rubber mats. It had no seat belts. It had a manual choke. I made that car my own and owned it for years. For this yellow 77 4spd.. I feel the same way. I love this car. I am going to build it just the way I want it. For me. Upgraded suspension is next up. That's what I am doing now. I already did the interior. Its got a new braking system, new tires and the engine has been freshened up. The 4spd tranny has been completely rebuilt. I am now doing all the bushings and suspension to make the car handle and drive really nice. I am leaving the unrestored fairly ratty yellow body stock complete with scratches and wear marks around the edges and some faded paint spots. I call it a 20 footer. Once I get the suspension and steering all done I am installing hooker side headers and hooker side pipes. i'll drive it and fix it when it breaks for a full season and once all the bugs are worked out I will treat it to a new paint job. If the motor feels tired or craps out I will throw a 383 stroker in it. This will probably be my last muscle car and I have a definite vision of how I want it to look.