Original A.C or Vintage Air

[Dan Wales]

Hi everyone looking for a little advice/help. I'm trying to get started again and finish this 71 shortbed. Been feelin kinda bad for a couple years I think I have that straightened out now.

It was a AC truck to start. The controls are about all that is left. They do work.

The firewall is clean, controls and outlet eyeballs are about all that is left.

I know we have hundreds of folks on here with many, many rebuilds.

In your opinion would it be better to find original parts piece by piece or go with Vintage Air. Price wise I'm not sure if there would be that much difference.

Appreciate all advice.

Dan

[leddzepp]

Since you are starting from scratch, I vote vintage air.

[Gatorman]

The 72 C10 I`m working on was restored several years ago. I myself purchased it after it sat for a few years. It is a Cheyenne and was a loaded truck. It`s a factory Ac truck. The former owner cleaned up the firewall and it now has a Vintage air system. I agree, if starting from scratch why not do a Vintage AC setup. Just my $$ .02. Dale

[F.A.A.benny]

Cost will be about the same. So the question is do you care either way? If you don't care about having the factory look then go with aftermarket. But if would prefer factory, then its not that hard to get everything you need.

[Andy4639]

Factory AC/Heater box with 134-A Freon is the way to go. Look's right and is easy to do if you have the parts. I wouldn't change it out if I had all the factory stuff that for sure.
My opinion is the under hood pictures you see of these trucks and they shaved the fire wall's and added the aftermarket AC system makes them look funny like something is missing and it is!

[Hart_Rod]

Vintage Air....

[GoodJobTim]

So Vintage Air works just as well as factory for everyday driving?

[69chevy4wheel]

I think it does depends on the build of the truck. If most everything else is original I would keep the a/c system original. If its customized go with vintage air. With that said my truck is customized and I just finished installing a vintage air system. If you decide to go with the original system message me as I have most of the parts you may need.

[72MARIO]

Originally Posted by GoodJobTim

So Vintage Air works just as well as factory for everyday driving?

I would say NO

Unless your bringing fresh air from outside into the cab (none of the aftermarket units offer this) I would say there not ideal for daily use. Thats from my experience specifically with the OLD AIR system personally I dont like it.

[F.A.A.benny]

Originally Posted by 72MARIO

I would say NO

Unless your bringing fresh air from outside into the cab (none of the aftermarket units offer this) I would say there not ideal for daily use. Thats from my experience specifically with the OLD AIR system personally I dont like it.

That is an advantage of the factory system. It has a fresh air mode. The aftermarket kits like vintage don't have that.

[In The Ten Ring]

Keep it original brother....as original as you can.

That's what I'm doing with my truck and if I was buying one, I'd pay more for one kept original.

[57larry]

Vintage air & heat

[davepl]

If you have most of the old system, make the old system work. It has the fresh air, cowl door, bi-level operation stuff that I don't think Vintage has.

If you're piecing together a factory system and don't have it, it can likely get pricey without a full donor system. Then I'd go aftermarket.

Unless this is for a stock restoration, then you have no choice, but hard to do a stock restoration on an AC truck without all the AC stuff!

[screaminchevypickup]

Vintage air

[special-K]

My '72 is an A/C truck with all parts present. I will restore that system.

My '67 is built from scratch out of parts from the ground up. I will install Vintage Air

[special-K]

One thing for those who live where it gets cold to consider is how good is the Vintage Air heat? All the focus is on A/C. I have no idea how good that heat works. I know the factory heat is fantastic

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by special-K

One thing for those who live where it gets cold to consider is how good is the Vintage Air heat? All the focus is on A/C. I have no idea how good that heat works. I know the factory heat is fantastic

Good point. My snow plow was purchased prior to my non-AC to AC mod to the truck. The old, non-AC heater was anemic at best. The current heater, a factory AC heater core setup, is TOO HOT !
I usually finish my plowing with the window rolled down.

[jus2qwk]

Run vintage are and you can clean up the firewall and also run one of these sweet heater control panels haha

[iGreek]

Originally Posted by jus2qwk

Run vintage are and you can clean up the firewall and also run one of these sweet heater control panels haha

I've seen the controller online on Dakota Digital's site, but where did you get the bezel for the controller from? Looks real nice!

[jus2qwk]

Originally Posted by iGreek

I've seen the controller online on Dakota Digital's site, but where did you get the bezel for the controller from? Looks real nice!

those are actually my products pm me if you are interested or go to http://www.coreyjonesdesigns.com/

[F.A.A.benny]

Anyone running a Classic Auto Air ac kit? What about Old Air Products? Or is just about everyone on this forum running VA? If so that's interesting because CAA is the same thing and alot of the chevelle/mustang guys use them.

[57chevy406]

Originally Posted by F.A.A.benny

Anyone running a Classic Auto Air ac kit? What about Old Air Products? Or is just about everyone on this forum running VA? If so that's interesting because CAA is the same thing and alot of the chevelle/mustang guys use them.

I have Old Air in my 69. Heat and cool work great.

[88Stanger]

I am starting from scratch and have installed Vintage Air.

[GoodJobTim]

Getting a straight answer from you guys is like pulling teeth! Ok I am asking, in a daily driver, do the aftermarket systems work as well as factory? Meaning, here southeast Texas on a cool winter morning going to work, it's humid so my windshield is fogged up, give it some defrost, fog is gone. Turn defrost off, turn heat to about mid range, down the road a bit it's gets a little warm, turn heat down two notches it gets too cool, back up one notch it's perfect.

Do these systems have that kind of control or do you sacrifice because the firewall looks good? Nothin wrong with that, just askin. I'm spoiled!!

[chopnchaneled]

Originally Posted by GoodJobTim

Getting a straight answer from you guys is like pulling teeth! Ok I am asking, in a daily driver, do the aftermarket systems work as well as factory? Meaning, here southeast Texas on a cool winter morning going to work, it's humid so my windshield is fogged up, give it some defrost, fog is gone. Turn defrost off, turn heat to about mid range, down the road a bit it's gets a little warm, turn heat down two notches it gets too cool, back up one notch it's perfect.

Do these systems have that kind of control or do you sacrifice because the firewall looks good? Nothin wrong with that, just askin. I'm spoiled!!

I have vintage air and here is my take:
A/C and defrost is good, not perfect, but beats sweating all summer in this georgia heat.
The heat is ok as long as you turn the vent louvers toward the floor, defrost works good summer and winter.

Like others have already said, factory is best, but tough to do if you don't have a complete system to start with, also i my thoughts also you had better be a good A/C man.