Factory In dash A/C question

[chevyrestoguy]

My '64 originally came with in-dash A/C, but when I got the truck, all of the A/C was missing except the all of the dash pieces (which was weird because that's usually the first thing to get robbed). Anyway, my chances of finding those parts is remote unless I want to spend a ton of dough piecing it all together. The truck is pretty thrashed, and I want to get it together to make a dependable, usable truck. I live in the desert southwest, where we regularly get over 100 degrees during the summer. A/C is a must.

So, my question: Is there any way that a standard heater core box can be modified to look like an A/C heater core box? I realize that the A/C box has a few more ducts on the backside, but I can fab those. My plan is to utilize a factory appearing box on the firewall side and put a Vintage Air (or other brand) unit up inside the dash. I want to utilize the factory A/C outlets in the dash.

Any suggestions?

[LeftCoast32]

I have been thinking about the same thing for my '66. I want to use all the factory vents and controls with a newer unit/compressor. There are a few out there that could be modified to use the factory A/C controls along with the deluxe heater controls.

[Clyde65]

I thought VA had an add on unit for our trucks that retains the deluxe heater, just adds AC, holler at them, I am probably wrong but....

[LT1 Burb]

What exactly are you missing ?

[chevyrestoguy]

I am missing everything BUT the center vents/bezel and the underdash ashtray. Oddly enough, those are the only things left of my A/C system. Those are usually the first things to go.

The real kicker is, about 2 years ago, I gutted a '65 in the wrecking yard that had everything BUT the center vents/bezel and wound up selling it to a guy in Tennessee. I even had the engine pulleys that were A/C only. I had every bracket, clip, seal, hose, etc.

Still kicking myself over that one. I was really into the 73-87s at that time, and I bought all of that '65 stuff only because I knew somebody would need it and the poor truck was destined to get crushed anyway. I even grabbed the 3-spd OD transmission, too.