Air Conditioning help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

redneckdds · 03-21-2006, 04:00 PM

I know this has been thrown around several times, but... I am hearing from 2 different shops in my area that Old Aire is the way to go for a nice, UNbulky clean look, as well as ease of repairs in the future. Can someone post a pic of what they have and your opinion, so I can make the right $2000+ decision? thanks again

cstanley · 03-21-2006, 04:55 PM

i'd be interested in this as well. sorry to hijack your thread, but is there a worthy benefit to going to one of these systems and getting rid of the factory in-dash system? efficiency, refrigerant, etc?

see ten · 03-21-2006, 04:58 PM

HMMM, check out all the street rod mags and the classic truck magazines and there is a name that will keep coming up. Vintage Air! They make a Sure Fit system that is anything but bulky. On the interior if you use factory vents it will appear stock on the inside. Under the hood you are going to remove the factory heater box and replace it with a panel that smooths the firewall out somewhat. You will spend right at $1100 with Vintage Air and it will include everything but the pulleys and belts. The kit comes with top notch instructions that anyone can follow. Both of my trucks have Vintage Air systems that I installed myself.

redneckdds · 03-21-2006, 05:14 PM

see ten.... I dont believe you unless you can show some pics....(ha ha)

see ten · 03-21-2006, 06:02 PM

Here's the only interior pic I have on file. This truck uses factory non air controls. My other truck uses factory air controls which I prefer.

cstanley · 03-21-2006, 06:42 PM

does the $1100 system include the sanden compressor as well? also, do you notice a difference in the efficiency/power/cooling of the VA system over stock?

**53burb** · 03-21-2006, 09:34 PM

The price does include the Sanden compressor. I don't have one, but I have talked to them before. From what I understand, unless you are going for complete originality, the VA system is the way to go. Much more efficient to use the Sanden compressor than the GM one.

see ten · 03-21-2006, 09:38 PM

$1100 includes everything but the belt and the pulleys. Every bracket, clamp, hose, nut, bolt, fastener, compressor etc will come with it. I think the only thing aside from the belt and pulley you will have to provide is beer and a buddy to help drink it. I couldn't say how well it performs compared to stock because both of my trucks are not factory air trucks. I know it gets hot and humid around here in the summer and the AC keeps me chillin! I guess I could get outside tomorrow and shoot a few underhood pictures tomorrow.

qksilver · 03-21-2006, 10:12 PM

They work better than stock, plus repair parts are cheaper. They are designed for ther 134 stuff rather than a retro fit.
Southern Air has a great kit also.

stope4 · 04-11-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qksilver

They work better than stock, plus repair parts are cheaper.

I owned a Vintage air unit and there's no way I could come to this conclusion. If you don't mind more noise in the cab and fog on your windshield everytime you turn the defroster on then Vintage is the system for you. There were other minor issues like the accumulator drier didn't mount in the same location as original, the brackets didn't quite work right with headers. I am one of those that would go original all the way.

72armyswbtruck · 03-21-2006, 11:16 PM

I just came from a show and for 1100 you get the all in one billet bracket, billet compressor and pulleys, this includes everything you need for a complete set-up.
Here is the vintage air link
http://www.vintageair.com/frontrunner_pg2.asp

low'n slow · 03-22-2006, 12:36 AM

If you live in a cold part of the country you might want to reconsider the all in one unit. My brother had one in his 66 in Idaho. He froze his butt off. He said the 2nd happiest day of his life was when he pulled it out and put his deluxe heater back in.

redneckdds · 03-22-2006, 12:45 AM

its a MUST HAVE for me... I live in the Phoenix area!

craigg1 · 04-11-2006, 12:20 AM

Does the A/C control switches also come with the All-in-one unit?

coolair · 04-11-2006, 04:12 PM

On a Sure-Fit system, the control panel does not come with the kit - you use your OEM controler you have in the truck allready. If yours is broke or missing VA offers a remanufactured OEM control panel for an additional charge.

randomhero472 · 04-11-2006, 11:18 PM

im confused... does this vintage air system replace the heater as well... i just want somthing that will give me some cold air and keep my warm heater. People w/expeirence w/these units shine some light, thanks

03-21-2006, 04:00 PM	#1
redneckdds Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 218	Air Conditioning help I know this has been thrown around several times, but... I am hearing from 2 different shops in my area that Old Aire is the way to go for a nice, UNbulky clean look, as well as ease of repairs in the future. Can someone post a pic of what they have and your opinion, so I can make the right $2000+ decision? thanks again __________________ '67/70 Chevy C/10 '10 2500 Crewcab Duramax 4wd

03-21-2006, 04:55 PM	#2
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Air Conditioning help i'd be interested in this as well. sorry to hijack your thread, but is there a worthy benefit to going to one of these systems and getting rid of the factory in-dash system? efficiency, refrigerant, etc? __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

03-21-2006, 04:58 PM	#3
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: Air Conditioning help HMMM, check out all the street rod mags and the classic truck magazines and there is a name that will keep coming up. Vintage Air! They make a Sure Fit system that is anything but bulky. On the interior if you use factory vents it will appear stock on the inside. Under the hood you are going to remove the factory heater box and replace it with a panel that smooths the firewall out somewhat. You will spend right at $1100 with Vintage Air and it will include everything but the pulleys and belts. The kit comes with top notch instructions that anyone can follow. Both of my trucks have Vintage Air systems that I installed myself.

03-21-2006, 05:14 PM	#4
redneckdds Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 218	Re: Air Conditioning help see ten.... I dont believe you unless you can show some pics....(ha ha) __________________ '67/70 Chevy C/10 '10 2500 Crewcab Duramax 4wd

03-21-2006, 06:02 PM	#5
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: Air Conditioning help Here's the only interior pic I have on file. This truck uses factory non air controls. My other truck uses factory air controls which I prefer.

03-21-2006, 06:42 PM	#6
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Air Conditioning help does the $1100 system include the sanden compressor as well? also, do you notice a difference in the efficiency/power/cooling of the VA system over stock? __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

03-21-2006, 09:34 PM	#7
53burb Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 1,004	Re: Air Conditioning help The price does include the Sanden compressor. I don't have one, but I have talked to them before. From what I understand, unless you are going for complete originality, the VA system is the way to go. Much more efficient to use the Sanden compressor than the GM one.

03-21-2006, 09:38 PM	#8
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: Air Conditioning help $1100 includes everything but the belt and the pulleys. Every bracket, clamp, hose, nut, bolt, fastener, compressor etc will come with it. I think the only thing aside from the belt and pulley you will have to provide is beer and a buddy to help drink it. I couldn't say how well it performs compared to stock because both of my trucks are not factory air trucks. I know it gets hot and humid around here in the summer and the AC keeps me chillin! I guess I could get outside tomorrow and shoot a few underhood pictures tomorrow.

03-21-2006, 10:12 PM	#9
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Air Conditioning help They work better than stock, plus repair parts are cheaper. They are designed for ther 134 stuff rather than a retro fit. Southern Air has a great kit also.

03-21-2006, 11:16 PM	#11
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Air Conditioning help I just came from a show and for 1100 you get the all in one billet bracket, billet compressor and pulleys, this includes everything you need for a complete set-up. Here is the vintage air link http://www.vintageair.com/frontrunner_pg2.asp __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

03-22-2006, 12:36 AM	#12
low'n slow Too Dumb To Know Better Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 882	Re: Air Conditioning help If you live in a cold part of the country you might want to reconsider the all in one unit. My brother had one in his 66 in Idaho. He froze his butt off. He said the 2nd happiest day of his life was when he pulled it out and put his deluxe heater back in. Last edited by low'n slow; 03-22-2006 at 12:36 AM.

03-22-2006, 12:45 AM	#13
redneckdds Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 218	Re: Air Conditioning help its a MUST HAVE for me... I live in the Phoenix area! __________________ '67/70 Chevy C/10 '10 2500 Crewcab Duramax 4wd

04-11-2006, 12:20 AM	#14
craigg1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beaumont, Tx Posts: 280	Re: Air Conditioning help Does the A/C control switches also come with the All-in-one unit?

04-11-2006, 04:12 PM	#15
coolair Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Osage, IA Posts: 161	Re: Air Conditioning help On a Sure-Fit system, the control panel does not come with the kit - you use your OEM controler you have in the truck allready. If yours is broke or missing VA offers a remanufactured OEM control panel for an additional charge.

04-11-2006, 11:18 PM	#16
randomhero472 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: oklahoma Posts: 516	Re: Air Conditioning help im confused... does this vintage air system replace the heater as well... i just want somthing that will give me some cold air and keep my warm heater. People w/expeirence w/these units shine some light, thanks __________________ 67' in the "build" process.. soon to be bagged, big wheels ect, finally got it back home!!



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