Old Air, Dash or Underdash Mount?

[toomanytoyz]

Just wanted to Know which you are Using & Which do u Feel is the Best Way to Go. I did a Search on Old Air & Did'nt really get a Answer from that???

Who would be the Best Board vendor to Purchase a Kit From???

Thanks For Any Help on Subject................

Rick

[BHRS]

From personal experience, go with Vintage Air. I researched restoring the stock AC system and realized it will still be a 35 year old system. I researched aftermarket systems and Vintage Air has a great reputation and reasonable priced. My kit was a little over a grand with free shipping plus TX sales tax. The price was almost equal to rebuilding the stock unit.

I ordered my kit from the Sachse Rod Shop in Sachse TX and they got it in in two day's. I picked it up and spent two weekends installing the kit. It was easy to install...read the directions... I went back last weekend to get it charged and tested-all went well. We put a meat thermometer in the furthest vent and it was reading about 28 degrees on high after running for about 5 minutes. It blows COLD.

My winter project is to pull the seat and carpet to insulate the cab and replace the weatherstripping for a more air tight cab.

Good Luck

[BHRS]

Almost forgot...it uses the stock controls and vents and no cutting. Big plus is it cleans up the firewall...

Brian

[toomanytoyz]

Thanks for the Info, Got any Pics of the Install??

Thanks, Rick

[BHRS]

Not at work, but let me get them to you tonight...

[67ChevyRedneck]

There's lots of pictures here. I finished the install months ago, just haven't finished the FAQ thread yet.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=249479

[Zonaman]

I installed (and favor) an Old Air system. It was the favored system of a local old timer who used to work on these trucks. It's very simialr to the Vintage system. One thing I favored about the Old Air system was the adjustable thermostat on the evaporator. Really helps in high humidity situations. Another thing I like about Old Air is that you can disassemble the in-cab module and replace the fan, evaporator, and heater core, if needed. I'm not sure if the Vintage system allows that or not.

One thing I'll note: These trucks have insulative properties of a sardine can. I'm going through the cab now to add insulation and weather stripping.

To answer your other question you can purchase directly from Old Air

[BHRS]

Originally Posted by Zonaman

I installed (and favor) an Old Air system. It was the favored system of a local old timer who used to work on these trucks. It's very simialr to the Vintage system. One thing I favored about the Old Air system was the adjustable thermostat on the evaporator. Really helps in high humidity situations. Another thing I like about Old Air is that you can disassemble the in-cab module and replace the fan, evaporator, and heater core, if needed. I'm not sure if the Vintage system allows that or not.

One thing I'll note: These trucks have insulative properties of a sardine can. I'm going through the cab now to add insulation and weather stripping.

To answer your other question you can purchase directly from Old Air

On the Vintage system there is a adjustable thermostat under the dash for the A/C. The plenum is sealed and that was a concern I had too about the heater core and any service. I was told that if there is a problem it will have to be sent back to Vintage Air for service.

Prior to installing the heater hoses I flushed the system and used new antifreeze so the core didn't get any junk from the cooling system. I also used compressed air to blow the lines and hoses before hooking up the compressor.

Does the Old Air use the stock A/C controls and vents??? Vintage Air does...

I think either way you will be better off with an aftermarket kit instead of restoring the stock A/C. Just go with something that looks good and doesn't butcher the dash and firewall.

[68gmsee]

Not sure you got your original question answered regarding whether to go "in dash" or "underdash" mounting with the a/c system.

I would also like to hear what others say. I would hate to cut into my dash on one of my trucks. On the 69 Chevy, it's already cut up some, so I wouldn't mind a dash system there. I guess it depends on how original you want your truck to stay in case you ever want to go back to the original condition.

Anyway, heres a bump ttt...

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Not sure you got your original question answered regarding whether to go "in dash" or "underdash" mounting with the a/c system.

I would also like to hear what others say. I would hate to cut into my dash on one of my trucks. On the 69 Chevy, it's already cut up some, so I wouldn't mind a dash system there. I guess it depends on how original you want your truck to stay in case you ever want to go back to the original condition.

Anyway, heres a bump ttt...

No Answer Yet................

Thanks for all The Input so Far, This is a Fairly Big Decision to Make so Keep the info Coming....................

Rick

[Zonaman]

[QUOTE=BHRS;2369242]
Does the Old Air use the stock A/C controls and vents??? Vintage Air does...
QUOTE]

Yeah they do.

By the way I started with a non-AC cab. Just had to cut holes for factory look vents. Came out real nice, uses orginal controls too.

[jamie72]

i`m going with in dash as i have looked at a few of the underdash setups, imo look cheap, and use up alot of space,you also loose leg room for the 3rd person in the middle..
let us know what you go with..

[jorgensensc]

I wanted to use an underdash unit. I know it would look less nice, but It would fit my shop truck look I'm going for. The major problem I have found with teh aftermarket underdash units, both new and vintage, are they stick so far out of you keep the original heater unit. The last one I measured would have hit the front of the seat. Does anyone have a pic of an original aftermarket period correct underdash unit in these trucks??
Shawn

[project1971]

well i got an original dealer add on underdash unit for mine. Haven't got it installed yet but it is a one piece with 6 vents in center of dash. has it's own controls for the a/c. The unit came out of a 68 burb.

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by project1971

well i got an original dealer add on underdash unit for mine. Haven't got it installed yet but it is a one piece with 6 vents in center of dash. has it's own controls for the a/c. The unit came out of a 68 burb.

Do you have any pics of it? Maybe a mock up so I can see how far it sticks out?
Shawn

[project1971]

i can take pics of the unit itself as i am no where near ready to put it in yet. the truck is still completly gutted.

[Brad]

Here's the area I'd like to see from a bit closer; perhaps from a couple different angles? Basically, that pic is taken from quite a distance and I'm curious to see it from closer. Thanks!

[fastom]

Brad, here it is!!

[fastom]

One more!

[fastom]

Last one!

[Brad]

Thanks a bunch! That's exactly what I was looking for!

[2bits]

I have too much experience with the under dash units. Tried three of them, IMO the only kind that looks decent and works correctly is the aftermarket/dealer installed style that goes all the way from the pass door to the key switch. I think mine matches pretty good but that's because the unit and the interior are both black. I can see how it would look "aftermarkety" with different color interiors, but that is up to your taste too.

I would say how easy of a job do you want? The underdash units are cool only and bolt in and does not mess with your existing heater. While the aftermarket in the dash units force you to remove your existing heater (they come with heat).

If I had someone doing it for me, I would get the in the dash unit because it is cleaner looking in the cab, and firewall, but personally, I just wanted to bolt in some A/C that looked good and worked, and wasn't a massive undertaking. That would be the question to ask yourself to help make a decision.

Oh... and let me say to NOT buy from Hot Rod Air... 3 A/C units, a podunk compressor bracket that I returned for credit four months ago, and calling the guy twice a week since May to finally get things sorted out and to get my credit for the bracket and they screwed me on the credit.

Got my under dash unit from http://nostalgicairparts.com/ who was the only company who had the LONG underdash unit, everyone else just had little short Mustang size ones. Here's some pics on mine, I am happy with this unit and my factory heat.

[JWPOORE]

Originally Posted by 2bits

I have too much experience with the under dash units. Tried three of them, IMO the only kind that looks decent and works correctly is the aftermarket/dealer installed style that goes all the way from the pass door to the key switch. I think mine matches pretty good but that's because the unit and the interior are both black. I can see how it would look "aftermarkety" with different color interiors, but that is up to your taste too.

I would say how easy of a job do you want? The underdash units are cool only and bolt in and does not mess with your existing heater. While the aftermarket in the dash units force you to remove your existing heater (they come with heat).

If I had someone doing it for me, I would get the in the dash unit because it is cleaner looking in the cab, and firewall, but personally, I just wanted to bolt in some A/C that looked good and worked, and wasn't a massive undertaking. That would be the question to ask yourself to help make a decision.

Oh... and let me say to NOT buy from Hot Rod Air... 3 A/C units, a podunk compressor bracket that I returned for credit four months ago, and calling the guy twice a week since May to finally get things sorted out and to get my credit for the bracket and they screwed me on the credit.

Got my under dash unit from http://nostalgicairparts.com/ who was the only company who had the LONG underdash unit, everyone else just had little short Mustang size ones. Here's some pics on mine, I am happy with this unit and my factory heat.

Do you happen to have any pictures of this where the drain tubes in the floor go? I have the same unit and they just seem to go out to a couple of holes in the floor but seem like they are in places that could interfere with someones feet and just sort of seem like they can just fall out of the hole easily because they are barely long enough to go out the bottom of the floor. I also have a wire that is not hooked up that looks like it has a plug end like a radio antenna, I don't have a picture yet, but if I get one, hopefully you might be able to help me find out where it goes. Thanks.

[2bits]

Actually you are looking at them.

You see where they "dissapear" into the carpet? They go straight through the floor right there. That was my mistake. There is one hole on the right up next to the kick panel so that's no big deal, but the one on the left totally interferes with people's feet! That's a good catch! I thought I needed the angle like that for downward flow, but now that it is in, I realize that as long as it is physically lower, then gravity will pull it down, so I could have moved it ALOT higher.

I have a new carpet set sitting in my parts room, and as soon as I get to the point where I am going to install it, I am going close up that old hole and drill a new one higher up and relocate that sucker!

Here's a pic of where the left one comes out, there is plenty of tube and you can run as long a tube as you like if what they don't send you is long enough, just head to Home Depot. The other one comes out between the cab and firewall so you can't see it, but it flows freely to the ground. I have noticed that they "sweat" sometimes too on real hot days and it drips down anyway, and that is a bit of a concern for me but won't be a real issue until I install the carpet, I will probably just insulate it somehow.

[JWPOORE]

Thanks for the reply and that is so funny because mine is mounted exactly the same with the right one up high enough and the left one exactly where yours is located. I am stripping the floors right now and will be relocated the left one up higher.