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03-27-2013, 11:12 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 56
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Factory A/C vs Vintage
I have a 69 Chevy Custom Camper C20, 350/400, w/factory A/C. At first glance all the A/C parts look to be present but non-op. What are the cost & efficiency pros & cons of restoring factory vs aftermarket such as Vintage? Thanks for your input in advance!
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03-27-2013, 11:22 PM | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,017
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
If all the factory stuff is there, I would go with it. If a bunch of parts were missing, I would go the vintage air route. Welcome to the board neighbor! I am in Riverside also.
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1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul |
03-29-2013, 02:01 PM | #3 |
Scrapper 1
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Riverside Calif
Posts: 1,649
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
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03-27-2013, 11:30 PM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 364
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
I agree with ledzepp the vintage air is very nice but if everything is there you will save a ton of work. And the factory ac works very well.
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03-27-2013, 11:44 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Clarksville TN 37043
Posts: 8,702
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I have had a working factory system and while I like to have some things stock. I will never put a dime into a factory system again. Heres why. I have put a load of money into a stock system by changing compressors, clutches, clutch seals only to have them start leaking oil later down the road. It really ticks you off when you finally get it right and you pop the hood and see oil sprinkled all over the engine bay. I have installed Vintage air on one truck that I sold and have one on my project truck also. I like the system. The only change I would make next time is I would take one of the lines that come in the kit and have it made 3'' longer. Just to have a little more adjustability with the compressor. I like the Vintage a lot better than the stock and it looks better under the hood. Just my .02
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Chuck 68swb Fleetside build ''Choncho'' http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374892 My trailer redo http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...69#post5893869 Chuy my 59 bug http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=653798 Putnam 87 GMC Shop truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707687 |
03-27-2013, 11:58 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
I have been down the same road as thelonerife as well. Rebuilt A-6 compressors are junk and will leak no matter what. I went through 4 of them. Other than that compressor I have never had an issue with a factory AC systems other parts. If your compressor is toast I would go with a pro6ten from old air products. It bolts right in to the factory brackets, is more efficient than original, and will not leak. I was very happy with mine.
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1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul |
03-28-2013, 09:40 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Overland Park, Ks.
Posts: 5,228
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
I have the vintage -air inside unit with factory compresser. Like the guys say I can't keep it from slinging oil.
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03-28-2013, 10:59 AM | #8 |
Cluster King
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Junction City, OR
Posts: 5,263
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Keep it original and use a pro6ten compressor like leddzepp suggested.
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03-28-2013, 03:52 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,859
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
I would keep the stock setup sort of. New hoses is a good idea as is eliminating the suction throttling valve. If you want a Sanden compressor, that will work too. Kepping the expansion valve or going to an expansion tube is up to you. But the OEM air handling system is the best. Outside air is used for heating and you can re-circulate the air for max cooling.
All of the aftermarket HVAC systems only recirculate the air, so during heat mode, the windshiel can fog. BUT you live in Cali. Your "cold" front is what 40° F? Mine is 0° F, so the issue is much bigger for me.
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'70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60 |
03-28-2013, 04:22 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upland Ca
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
After pricing out the parts needed to rebuild my stock AC system, and an estimate to have an AC shop convert to do away with the expansion valve (including parts and labor plus parts and labor to get the other AC parts needed) it was only a few hundred more to get a VA system. I just could not see that kind cost of upgrading and kluging together a 40 year old system when the VA system heats and cools many times better. That and the cleanness of the cab and under hood install, it was an easy decision to make.
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1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703 |
03-28-2013, 04:31 PM | #11 |
Florida Edition
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fruitland Park, FL
Posts: 4,028
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Mine had to be original for my build, slings oil like all the rest. Working on a bolt on shield to keep the oil off the hood etc. I'll make it kinda stock looking.
I'll post up when I get it done.
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70 GMC Short Stepside "Rose"-An American Beauty: Factory 402/TH400, AM/FM, AC, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, Posi, PS, PB, 3-5 Drop, Complete Resto-Rod 67 C-20 Slant Back Wrecker "Mad Max" 67 C-10 Ratrod "Step-N-Wolf" 71 Serro Scotty Sportsman camper "Scotty" 97 LT1 Z28 "The Hornet" Link to more pics of "Rose" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...p?albumid=1684 Check out my "Cheap Tricks" thread and add to it if you can, lots of good info there. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=489394 |
03-29-2013, 02:16 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 56
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Thanks to all for the feedback/info. The pro6ten compressor sounds like a good tip. I've only had the truck about 18 mos so I don't know how long the A/C has been inop but I suspect some of the parts will need replacing. I guess I'll do a detailed cost comparison after I determine which parts need replacing. Are the OEM parts compatible with R134? If not which do I need to replace to be compatible?
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03-29-2013, 09:48 AM | #13 | |
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,253
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Quote:
Regarding old, stock AC compressors I must be lucky. I'm running three of them that are all 40+ years old and all working fine with no leaks. The one in my truck had 10 years off sitting on a shelf in my shop but the Chevelle ones have been in operation since the general put them on in 1971 and 1972. Because you aren't converting a non-AC truck you won't need to do all the things I had to but I did replace a lot of the stock parts I got off a junker AC truck with new parts that are supposedly able to handle R134a. I've read that your stock AC hoses won't contain R134a. I wasn't sure so I just bought new. Click over to: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478564 and scroll down to post #8. There I have a detailed list of parts you'll need to convert to R134a. You'll want the new suction and discharge hose, expansion valve to drier hose, o-ring kit, R134a compatible oil, o-ring/thread sealer, and you MUST buy a new receiver/dryer. Before you faint that is less than $200 worth of parts. I'm not convinced I needed a new expansion valve but they are only $17. The next time I open the system up I'm going to buy a newer condenser made to work with R134a. The R12 one on your truck works but a newer one will work better which will lead to colder temps coming out of the system in the cab. The link in post #4 in my write-up used to be a real nice, detailed procedure with pictures on how to adjust your POA to work with R134a. That link broke some time since I posted the how-to. Go to that autoacforum and type "POA convert R12 to R134a" in the search. Lots of posts there deal with adjusting your POA to work with R134a. When it gets warmer out I should re-create that procedure and post it on this forum so it doesn't get lost. It is real easy to do and without the adjustment your AC won't cool as well with R134a as it would with the stock (R12) setting.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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03-29-2013, 11:24 AM | #14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 1,584
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
mrein3 has given some good advice. I have been doing a lot of reseach on this subject and his description is very close to what I am going to do to mine.
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- Jim - My Daily Driver is a 1969 Chevrolet Custom/20 Fleetside 350/TH400/Eaton H052 4.10 and its Project thread is here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456911 Last edited by bollybib; 03-30-2013 at 03:07 PM. |
03-29-2013, 03:15 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 56
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Again, thanks for your posts guys! MREIN3 your post is awesome and I appreciate all the work you put into it for fellas like me. It's just what I need!
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03-30-2013, 12:07 PM | #16 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Bend, WA
Posts: 272
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Re: Factory A/C vs Vintage
Go vintage air, got one in my truck and never regretted it one bit!
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