Aftermarket AC Kits - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72ChevyCheyenne · 07-03-2002, 01:15 PM

I'm getting ready to start the frame off resto and I want to add AC. Has anyone used the kits from Vintage Air or Arizona Mobile Air? Which is best? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.

72ChevyCheyenne · 07-03-2002, 01:29 PM

I'm getting ready to start the frame off resto and I want to add AC. Has anyone used the kits from Vintage Air or Arizona Mobile Air? Which is best? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.

Blue68 · 07-03-2002, 02:10 PM

Used Vintage air. Very happy. You will be challenged to seal up the air leaks on these old beasts if you want to keep your cool in the truck though. I found that at highway speeds I didn't stay real cool even though the air from the vent was frigid. At slower speeds I was good.

Only complaint I had was the Sanden compressor was a little noisy for my taste. The Vintage Air tech said it was the same on his new Honda Accord. So now I have an oem compress i'm going to try running out of a '98 truck, but I didn't swap engines just for a new compressor.

DennyB · 07-03-2002, 02:33 PM

Also look into "Old Air" units.
Great product & Customer service.

Frank_Zeller · 07-03-2002, 04:27 PM

Got the Old Air setup....took some tweaking to get it right. Some my falt Happy with it now. You must fix all the air leaks and add lots of insulation. I still have not found all the air leaks even with all new weather stripping and silicone the vent windows. Have pics of the installation if you’re interested. Call old air and they will send you a catalog I mounted the compressor cycle temp switch where the lighter was. This allows me to change the vent temp from 60 to 38 F.

Pros
Old Air did not charge me until they shipped
Cold vent air
Pretty straightforward install
Compressor and bracket low profile
Blower pulls though the evaporator (vintage air pushs the air thought) this might make it quiter?
Has full size condenser in front (vintage air one is about a 1/3 smaller)

Cons
Compressor a little noisy above 2500 rpm
Blower makes some noise
Center vent only has one feed in.....factory has 2.

GMCjunkie · 07-04-2002, 04:35 PM

JUST dropped my Burb off to have the under dash a/c installed, goin with the AMA setup. We leave for Ga next Monday, (7/15) THAT my friend will be a true test of an a/c unit!!!!

nroden · 07-04-2002, 04:48 PM

Here you all all have aftermarket setups and my stock 1972 AC still runs. It hasn't been put to the test yet going down the highway because I haven't had it on the highway during the summer. It does cool though sitting.

jlmtrout · 07-06-2002, 07:04 PM

I'm very happy with Old Air. Everyone is right about air leaks and insulation. Very cold air out of ducts. Once you get rid of the hot air in the cab, it'll keep you comfortable. Also, consider the R-134. You can buy it over the counter and is ozone friendly. Not too difficult to install, hardest part is cutting holes in the dash for the vents, and will clean up your firewall by eliminating the "doghouse". Good luck and keep on truckin'!---------Jerry

07-03-2002, 01:15 PM	#1
72ChevyCheyenne Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Woodstock, GA USA Posts: 300	Aftermarket AC Kits I'm getting ready to start the frame off resto and I want to add AC. Has anyone used the kits from Vintage Air or Arizona Mobile Air? Which is best? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Bill Durham http://home.attbi.com/~bulldurham 72 Cheyenne Restoration in progress Currently: frame sand blasted and powdercoated, Inline Tube brake and fuel lines, Blazer tank in rear, Holley Red electronic fuel pump, Eaton posi with 3.42 gears, 2 1/2" drop front spindles, 4" drop rear springs with adjustable panhard bar, KYB shocks, ZZ 502/502 GM Performance crate engine, Zoops brackets and pulleys, Vintage Air, dual electric fans, Ram Air II hood and late model sport side bed.

07-03-2002, 01:29 PM	#2
72ChevyCheyenne Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Woodstock, GA USA Posts: 300	Aftermarket AC Kits I'm getting ready to start the frame off resto and I want to add AC. Has anyone used the kits from Vintage Air or Arizona Mobile Air? Which is best? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Bill Durham http://home.attbi.com/~bulldurham 72 Cheyenne Restoration in progress Currently: frame sand blasted and powdercoated, Inline Tube brake and fuel lines, Blazer tank in rear, Holley Red electronic fuel pump, Eaton posi with 3.42 gears, 2 1/2" drop front spindles, 4" drop rear springs with adjustable panhard bar, KYB shocks, ZZ 502/502 GM Performance crate engine, Zoops brackets and pulleys, Vintage Air, dual electric fans, Ram Air II hood and late model sport side bed.

07-03-2002, 02:10 PM	#3
Blue68 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Frisco, Tx, USA Posts: 606	Used Vintage air. Very happy. You will be challenged to seal up the air leaks on these old beasts if you want to keep your cool in the truck though. I found that at highway speeds I didn't stay real cool even though the air from the vent was frigid. At slower speeds I was good. Only complaint I had was the Sanden compressor was a little noisy for my taste. The Vintage Air tech said it was the same on his new Honda Accord. So now I have an oem compress i'm going to try running out of a '98 truck, but I didn't swap engines just for a new compressor. __________________ http://home.comcast.net/~r.landrum/w...tos.html-.html '68 C-10 LWB, '98 Z-71 350 w/accessories (Serpentine), Edelbrock Performer, Edelbrock 1405 (600cfm) carb, GM HEI, CompCam Extreme 4x4 roller cam, Thorley Headers, Carter Electric Fuel Pump, Vintage Air, 700r4, 3.73, disc brakes and power steering upgrades.

07-03-2002, 02:33 PM	#4
DennyB Led Sled! Discs R 4 ME! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Toms River, NJ, USA (Transplanted Hoosier) Posts: 7,327	Also look into "Old Air" units. Great product & Customer service. __________________ "Never ride faster than your Angel can fly" I.M.O.M,W,J&C Patriot Guard Rider

07-03-2002, 04:27 PM	#5
Frank_Zeller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 796	Got the Old Air setup....took some tweaking to get it right. Some my falt Happy with it now. You must fix all the air leaks and add lots of insulation. I still have not found all the air leaks even with all new weather stripping and silicone the vent windows. Have pics of the installation if you’re interested. Call old air and they will send you a catalog I mounted the compressor cycle temp switch where the lighter was. This allows me to change the vent temp from 60 to 38 F. Pros Old Air did not charge me until they shipped Cold vent air Pretty straightforward install Compressor and bracket low profile Blower pulls though the evaporator (vintage air pushs the air thought) this might make it quiter? Has full size condenser in front (vintage air one is about a 1/3 smaller) Cons Compressor a little noisy above 2500 rpm Blower makes some noise Center vent only has one feed in.....factory has 2. __________________ 69 SWB C/10 5-6 drop 700R4 69 Firebird Convert 455 4 spd 70 Torino GT Convert Austin-Texas

07-04-2002, 04:35 PM	#6
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	JUST dropped my Burb off to have the under dash a/c installed, goin with the AMA setup. We leave for Ga next Monday, (7/15) THAT my friend will be a true test of an a/c unit!!!! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

07-04-2002, 04:48 PM	#7
nroden Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,098	Here you all all have aftermarket setups and my stock 1972 AC still runs. It hasn't been put to the test yet going down the highway because I haven't had it on the highway during the summer. It does cool though sitting. __________________ Nick Rodenberg 72 Cheyenne 10 V8 350/TH350 white/ochre/white/ochre, ochre/saddle interior Retired and in the dry... still runs. I now drive Red '01 Ford Focus... better MPG!!!

07-06-2002, 07:04 PM	#8
jlmtrout Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Memphis, Tn Posts: 194	I'm very happy with Old Air. Everyone is right about air leaks and insulation. Very cold air out of ducts. Once you get rid of the hot air in the cab, it'll keep you comfortable. Also, consider the R-134. You can buy it over the counter and is ozone friendly. Not too difficult to install, hardest part is cutting holes in the dash for the vents, and will clean up your firewall by eliminating the "doghouse". Good luck and keep on truckin'!---------Jerry



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