whats the best aftermarket hvac kit on the market

[meathead95]

Give me your opinions and be specific. I just bought a non air 72 swb 4x4 and im going to order a kit for it, I just dont know which one yet. I think I like the electronic controls, does anyone have these? thoughts on them?
Thanks,
Keith

[Zoomin]

Good question. Vintage has to be the front runner dues to sheer sales volume, but I don't have experience with them on a truck.
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[PHAT TONY]

I'd be interested to hear experiences and prices as well....

[BuiltwithIvy]

installed a lot of systems over the years, I would say vintage air has been the best of the bunch, if you spend the time and piece together the parts you can make it look pretty seamless, all together about 1200-1400 for a system done properly, and well worth it

[meathead95]

Hey Tony, did you restore the stock system in the 2wd Blazer? Once cleaned with a new blower does the stock unit have good velocity?
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[WadmalawJoe]

I'm very interested as well. My 69 didn't come with A/C. It has a new blower motor and is all cleaned out. At full blast, it blows good, however it just gets lukewarm, never any hotter.
I plan on getting a after market A/C system by spring time, probably Vintage, they seem to come so highly recommended. I have not looked into it at all yet though. I have been wondering if the kit replaces everything such as the heater core and so forth? Pictures I have seen show the firewall with no heater core box.

[Lee H]

As part of my restoration I'm installing a Vintage Air system. I chose VA after much research, reading reviews and searching several forums to compare the different systems. Not the cheapest but certainly the best, IMHO, as far as completeness, compact design, ease of installation, etc. I can't give a complete review because it's not totally done yet but very happy and satisfied so far. If I had to come up with con I would point out that you lose you glove box with the VA system. All in all not a bad compromise for a modern Cooling/heater system.
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[BIG ORANGE]

I'm also interested in this topic, the 69 survivor truck is a non air truck and I want to use the factory heater controls, I heard a guy saying something about servos or something thats adapts to the heater controls, anyone knowanything about this area of the VA unit? Who offer;s the the best deal on this unit, I can get it delivered to my door for $1300.00 shipping included.
Thanks
Donnie/Buck

[domeier]

I don't know which kit you should buy, but I do know which kit you shouldn't buy: Old Air Hurricane for 67-72 C10. The AC works great, but you can't run the compressor on defrost, and it blows 90% of heat out the underdash AC ducts instead of down at your ice-encrusted feets. And all the parts are cheap ABS plastic. They make an AC/only underdash unit. That's what I wish I'd bought instead of the whole heat/defrost/ac kit.

You're a smart dude for asking opinions before writing the check. I wish I was a smart dude, too. Oh well.

[meathead95]

Big Orange where can you get it for that price? Domeier, I bought an old air kit in 06 i think and the heater core plugged in just a few days, the duct work was cheap, and the cables where alsothey where installed with no kinks or tight loops and where always binding. I called them and they didnt seem to really care! I am curious to see if old air and vintage are the only two complete kits offered. This is also why im leaning to electric controls! I have a gm underdash air kit but im afraid the factory heat wont keep up with these Iowa winters...
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[gearys 5600]

Vintage is the only system I use.
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[magwakeenercew2jh]

Vintage Air. I've used them twice. Both on non-air trucks. I use a stock air control pod (dash plate and controls) that I get separately.

I've had to call a couple of times...Like, I lost some o-rings and oil between getting the kit and the install. They just sent 'em...Best customer service ever.

I'd go for the sure fit with the and add tri-valve switch if you have electric fans. Or, at least make sure that the fans run when the a/c is on....Other than that, it's the "cat's meow" of a system.

BTW, I've NEVER enjoyed connecting the control cables. And my system was about $1,200..... without the stock a/c control panel.

[meathead95]

control cables? did you not use the electric controls?

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by meathead95

control cables? did you not use the electric controls?

The last unit I got (sure-fit) from VA used micro-switches controlled by the cables (that they provided in the kit) attached to the stock GM (with air) control panel.

If they have upgraded to something different...and they may have, if I remember reading correctly......, the install could only be even BETTER.
Maybe the kit's not any less expensive, though.

I just finished my second install on a second truck, but I got the kit about 30 months ago. I'll never buy after-market air conditioning units from any one else.

[meathead95]

i found the kit on ebay for a 72 without air but I do not see any vents for the dash. does it only blow through the defrost vents and on the floor? and i saw another kit said evaporator only ? so i assume this is heat only. can the air side of it be added later?

links = http://www.ebay.com/itm/400246278242...84.m1438.l2649


http://www.ebay.com/itm/400247966963...84.m1438.l2649

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by meathead95

i found the kit on ebay for a 72 without air but I do not see any vents for the dash. does it only blow through the defrost vents and on the floor? and i saw another kit said evaporator only ? so i assume this is heat only. can the air side of it be added later?

IMHO, aside from the quality of the product, the best reason to use Vintage Air is that you can call them and ask questions
like that one.

The pic I see there is waaaay different from my set-up. And that seller, w/ 98.XX% positive feedback, says something
to the effect that the pic is not necessarily what you'll get.

I'd call Vintage Air. I know no kit they sell for a non-air truck that does not include templates to cut the top and side
dash vents, along with providing the vents and appropriate hose.

I'd like to hear about the 100% electric controls. Maybe I'd like to use those next time. Maybe I'd like to retro-fit those
switches on my new cable-controlled set up.....

Anyway, before you drop $12XX.00, I'd at least call Vintage Air.

[Lee H]

The kit for a non air truck comes with templates to cut your dash, in about the same spot at an air truck, and vents.

For the evap only kit, it explains what's in this kit a little further down. Basically just the inside of cab stuff only.

[Lee H]

The best price I found was through Scott's Hotrods. Check out their thread under the Vendors Marketplace section. They have sold hundreds of these kits in many configurations with no complaints. I called and PMed them several times when I was looking.

[meathead95]

cool thanks, Ill check out Scotts!

[stexag]

I too have a non-air truck and I want to install a VA unit. I currently have the engine out and the idea occurred to me that I should step up my timetable and get the unit in while I have the engine out... Does it make a huge difference if you install w/ engine in or out?

[BIG ORANGE]

Originally Posted by meathead95

Big Orange where can you get it for that price? Domeier, I bought an old air kit in 06 i think and the heater core plugged in just a few days, the duct work was cheap, and the cables where alsothey where installed with no kinks or tight loops and where always binding. I called them and they didnt seem to really care! I am curious to see if old air and vintage are the only two complete kits offered. This is also why im leaning to electric controls! I have a gm underdash air kit but im afraid the factory heat wont keep up with these Iowa winters...
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This who I have talked to about the VA unit, Rainbow Products:
Mike Brown he has been around set up at the Autofair in Charlotte for yr's.
He told me $1.200.00 bucks plus shipping, I belive he drop ships them from VA.
Here's his number 704-278-0054
His in Mt.Ullia,N.C.
Hope this helps ya,,,
Donnie

[meathead95]

Thanks Big Orange!

[gotchamel]

Originally Posted by stexag

I too have a non-air truck and I want to install a VA unit. I currently have the engine out and the idea occurred to me that I should step up my timetable and get the unit in while I have the engine out... Does it make a huge difference if you install w/ engine in or out?

I just installed a VA system this summer,very pleased but could see no reason it would be easier w/o engine in place.

[BIG ORANGE]

Can ya use the non air heater controls w this VA unit or do you have to have the factory A/C controls???

[meathead95]

I believe it is made to use either control.

part numbers from there website.

751170 uses non air controller.

751171 uses an air controller.