Adding Air

[old51sedan]

My truck is about stripped & ready to head to the paint shop. Thinking seriously of adding Vintage Air & Heat afterwards. Been talking with a vintage air dealer in regards to installing compressor bracket on passenger side of my 292. Waiting for a return phone call from someone who builds their L6 brackets. My other situation is the air vents. I'm thinking I have a few options, but would greatly appreciate any feed back from anyone who has done this.
1. Truck is stripped, glass and all. best time to install an air dash.
2. Cut the holes and install original air ports.
3. I understand you can buy small chrome ones with the vintage air.
Does anyone have an opinion and/or past experience doing this change?

[Bearhawg]

Mine is at the shop right now installing the VA surefit and I can give you my feed back when its done. I went with the in dash vents. Mine is a non air truck.

[old51sedan]

Of course mine is a non air also, I'm just checking my options. Did you pull the heater box and weld up the holes in the firewall first? I would love to see pictures of yours when done and a report also. I take it your having it installed, was there much of a price difference between that and doing it yourself? Please keep us posted. Thanks for the reply also.

[darrellyates]

I did exactly what you are talking about doing. I have a non-a/c cab, and wanted it to look factory. I used Vintage Air, and put the factory round vents in the dash along with the center vent above the radio.

My suggestion? Cut the holes for the outlets prior to paint. Also, since the cab is bare, make a metal filler plate and weld it into the firewall. Also, pre-mount your a/c unit in the cab, and have all your holes and mounting pre-figured out prior to paint. Then, you simply install the bolts and bits and you're off... I did mine this way. Will try to post a couple of pictures for you.

Good Luck!!

[shoveldug]

Originally Posted by darrellyates

I did exactly what you are talking about doing. I have a non-a/c cab, and wanted it to look factory. I used Vintage Air, and put the factory round vents in the dash along with the center vent above the radio.

My suggestion? Cut the holes for the outlets prior to paint. Also, since the cab is bare, make a metal filler plate and weld it into the firewall. Also, pre-mount your a/c unit in the cab, and have all your holes and mounting pre-figured out prior to paint. Then, you simply install the bolts and bits and you're off... I did mine this way. Will try to post a couple of pictures for you.

Good Luck!!

Very sound advice! Did mine the same way other than mounting the unit. If you pre mount the unit you will be certain it fits properly and wont have to drill through your new paint.

[old51sedan]

Beautiful Truck, that sounds like a plan. The only problem is it's about time to go to the shop and I haven't bought the air yet. I'm always doing things back ass wards. I would like to see the pictures though. Thanks for the advice.

[darrellyates]

Speaking only from personal experience.... It's less expensive to buy the unit first, and do all the fit up, than to modify and run the risk of having to touch up paint later.... And, I am speaking from experience. That's why I mounted mine and fixed the firewall prior to going to final bodywork and paint. Even if you install everything, vents, radio, the works and take it out for paint and then re-install it later, it will save you grief down the road.

At least it did for me. Here's the firewall during build.

[old51sedan]

Thanks for the picture of the firewall. Not only do you have a nice truck, but a nice clean work area also. Love the interior also.

[jfnar]

I'd be interested to see what kind of compressor bracket you come up with for the 292. I'm going to put AC in my 68 and finding a compressor bracket for the 292 seems to be an obstacle. None of the AC vendors that I've checked with offer one.

[old51sedan]

I may have found one that sits on the right hand side, working on that as we speak.

[57Suburb]

Originally Posted by jfnar

I'd be interested to see what kind of compressor bracket you come up with for the 292. I'm going to put AC in my 68 and finding a compressor bracket for the 292 seems to be an obstacle. None of the AC vendors that I've checked with offer one.

This company in Wisconsin makes an adjustable AC bracket for the L6 that gives clearance for HEI.

https://davisspeedequipment.com/prod...62-84-194-250/

There's this one too from Old Air Group, but has to be small cap distributer.

https://www.oldairproducts.com/produ...assengers-side

[67/Heaven]

Originally Posted by 57Suburb

This company in Wisconsin makes an adjustable AC bracket for the L6 that gives clearance for HEI.

https://davisspeedequipment.com/prod...62-84-194-250/

There's this one too from Old Air Group, but has to be small cap distributer.

https://www.oldairproducts.com/produ...assengers-side

They make a quality product, I purchased a PS bracket for my 292 from them on ebay.

[Myoldtruck]

For those who have done the conversion. Are you happy with the cooling ability of the unit. Im thinking of doing a system for my every day driver, but i want it to work great.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by Myoldtruck

For those who have done the conversion. Are you happy with the cooling ability of the unit. Im thinking of doing a system for my every day driver, but i want it to work great.

I have Vintage Air in my 67 Cutlass. Works ok. Slightly better than the factory air, which was horrible.

[Bird dog]

Originally Posted by Myoldtruck

For those who have done the conversion. Are you happy with the cooling ability of the unit. Im thinking of doing a system for my every day driver, but i want it to work great.

I also installed VA in my '67 Camaro. It keeps it cool, but not cold. Worth the expense, but dont compare it to a modern car ac.

I also watched the other day as a VA kit was pressurized and started up for the first time in a '62 Impala, the temp gun was showing that the air coming out of the vents was 37 degrees. Way colder than anyone expected.

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by Myoldtruck

For those who have done the conversion. Are you happy with the cooling ability of the unit. Im thinking of doing a system for my every day driver, but i want it to work great.

I've had 2 different trucks with vintage air. Both ran LS engines. On the first one, I was stubborn and used the GM factory compressor. It worked fine, but the a/c wasn't the coldest.

On my latest install, the guys at V/A told me it was because the GM compressor doesn't build the same pressure as their compressor. I was skeptical, because it means not only the cost of the compressor, but modifying the serpentine belt system and having to figure out a longer belt. However, I took their advice.

On the new truck, the a/c is cold. I seldom turn the fan higher than the lowest position. I drove to the car show in Hendersonville in July. It was 95 degrees F. The a/c was very cold. Put a thermometer in the drivers side vent, it showed 45 degrees. The passenger side and center vent (closer to the unit) show 42. Considering it was over 90 outside, yes, I'm happy with that. (That was while driving with the wife down Vietnam Veterans Parkway...)

Overall, I would say I'm very happy with the performance so far.

[suville]

Check this,http://ecihotrodbrakes.com/chevrolet...ve_system.html I am using this setup dont have the air kit yet. Not sure if it clears the HEI was told "its tight " we'll see

[jfnar]

I have a compressor and bracket from a mid 80's 250 that I can make work but it's a pancake type compressor. I'm on a tight budget so if I can make something I already own work I'll lean in that direction. Probably won't get to it this summer though. I have my iron in too many fires already.

[71blksuper4x4]

darrellyates, what model of vintage air do you have? Looks great.

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

darrellyates, what model of vintage air do you have? Looks great.

My Vintage Air is model 751170. That is the system for non-a/c trucks. I did add the factory round outlets on each side of the cab, because I wanted it to look like a factory A/C truck. Additionally, I changed the non-a/c controller to an a/c control unit in the dash because I like the dark face on the controller. Personal choice on that part.

Other than that, pretty straight forward installation.

Have a great day!!

[old51sedan]

For those of you installing VA can you use your factory radio and speaker? I know the glove compartment will be smaller, but that's fine. I'm close to ordering it, we just have to figure out the compressor bracket for the 6 cylinder. Thanks for all your help.

[Rufas]

a/c

Originally Posted by old51sedan

My truck is about stripped & ready to head to the paint shop. Thinking seriously of adding Vintage Air & Heat afterwards. Been talking with a vintage air dealer in regards to installing compressor bracket on passenger side of my 292. Waiting for a return phone call from someone who builds their L6 brackets. My other situation is the air vents. I'm thinking I have a few options, but would greatly appreciate any feed back from anyone who has done this.
1. Truck is stripped, glass and all. best time to install an air dash.
2. Cut the holes and install original air ports.
3. I understand you can buy small chrome ones with the vintage air.
Does anyone have an opinion and/or past experience doing this change?

I have those Vintage Air vents in my 67 Cutlass and the Olds A/C factory vents that are similar to the Chevy factory truck vents. The Vintage Air vents look good, but they don't flow air anywhere near the air flow of the factory vents.

[old51sedan]

In a conversation with VA I understand that it comes with two small chrome vents (apprently like yours) and one for above the radio. Thanks for the picture, nice cutlass by the way. I have a 78 Delta Holiday88 with the factory buckets and etc. It's all original with 23,000 miles.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

In a conversation with VA I understand that it comes with two small chrome vents (apprently like yours) and one for above the radio. Thanks for the picture, nice cutlass by the way. I have a 78 Delta Holiday88 with the factory buckets and etc. It's all original with 23,000 miles.

Wow! That's low miles...

[Bird dog]

I suggest you cut the dash holes prior to paint. I am just finishing the build now and the pics show where I am today. I bought the stock vents, but ended up using the VA ones instead. I liked the look.

If you have the time, I would also weld up the panel that comes with the kit on the firewall. Thats what I did. I think it cleans it up.