Truck on EBay Factory A/C Question

[Already Gone]

I saw this truck this morning on EBay and its really cool . Looking at the pics I see the owner has redone the interior very nicely and all the options on the Spid appear to be on the truck. The seller says it has factory A/C which from the under hood and the cab vent pics shows it seems to be a factory installed A/C system. My question is, if the A/C is factory why isn't it on the spid? Any ideas anyone?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-GMC-Sie...E:B:SS:CA:1120

[67 chevelle]

It appears to be factory , the glove box door is a different color than the rest of the truck , I believe it should be the same color as the dash , nice truck

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

It appears to be factory , the glove box door is a different color than the rest of the truck , I believe it should be the same color as the dash , nice truck

GMC glove box doors usually were the same color as the dash surrounds and with being a base truck and with the interior work done on this truck you can see the glove box door (which was probably black to start with ) was repainted to match the new dash bezel. The GMC Z62 CST and Sierra Package trucks had the gauge surround and glove box door pained like the main interior color.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I saw this truck this morning on EBay and its really cool . Looking at the pics I see the owner has redone the interior very nicely and all the options on the Spid appear to be on the truck. The seller says it has factory A/C which from the under hood and the cab vent pics shows it seems to be a factory installed A/C system. My question is, if the A/C is factory why isn't it on the spid? Any ideas anyone?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-GMC-Sie...E:B:SS:CA:1120

Back then what people say where factory installed was a dealer installed one. If you had the money you could of had that installed after you bought the truck.
People where not as picky about those type of things like we are today.

[67 chevelle]

I also noticed after looking again , it appears that one spid has been glued on top of another , look in the lower left corner of the spid picture , that in no way would sway me from this truck if I was interested

[davepl]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Back then what people say where factory installed was a dealer installed one. If you had the money you could of had that installed after you bought the truck.
People where not as picky about those type of things like we are today.

Hmmm... I think the odds of a dealership installing the FACTORY a/c system is pretty low. GMC offered a couple of add-on AC units that would have been far more likely.

My best guess is that the glovebox door is from a different truck, but I don't really know.

[Joesjunk]

the SPID looks right to me, just has a corner peeling up. I added factory ac to my '71 K/10 back in 1991, and to look at it today it just looks like an old truck with factory ac. It must have just been added some time along the way.

[B. W.]

A/C should be on the spid, different door? different spid? 4x4 vacuum reservoirs sit on an offset bracket, bracket is missing. Also, if you look under the vacuum reservoir, there is a strip of black tape - box is cracked. On the blend door lever (in engine bay) I can't see a cable to it (might be there, I just can't see it) It's possible the A/C was added.
I wouldn't let any of these issues keep me from buying it as long as the bid doesn't go too high.

[dfwright]

I've seen a number of threads here on the board where folks say they want to add a "factory A/C" to their truck. We tend to use the term to distinguish between the factory system and a newer aftermarket system like Vintage Air, not so much that it was put in from the factory. The seller could have added a "factory A/C" to the truck that didn't originally have A/C.

[Shinysideup]

It has Ac, who cares when? I think that WINCH is worth comenting on though! WOW

[samkost]

MY 72 C10 has a tilt column but it is not listed on my SPID.
A dealership or mechanic may have added a correct tilt for a previous owner at a later time.
Curious, is there a possibilty that some options were not updated and might have been inadvertantly omitted on the original SPID's from the factory?
I wonder if anyone else may have factory options on their trucks not listed on the glove box SPID?
That trucks A/C system looks to be correct.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by Shinysideup

It has Ac, who cares when? I think that WINCH is worth comenting on though! WOW

Cable operated spur gear, probably an early Warn. Would definitely be cool if it were a pre Warn Belleview! Try to find out! But it will be an amp hog for sure. The simple spur gear is a robust design that lives on. But the faster less power consumptive planetary winches rule the day now. But what a true classic, mounted on a true classic.

Also, another quick note: Check out how it's mounted to the front of the bumper!

[Andy4639]

I can tell you Yes you could of had the factory AC added to the truck for the right amount of money at the dealership.
My dad worked for GM and drove several of these model trucks and yes he had the factory AC added to a couple of them for customers. Not everyone would spend the money to have it done, they would have the cheaper under dash unit installed but you could have the 4 season installed if that's what you wanted.

These trucks are 40 years old and you can make a spid to match your truck so is it are isn't it doesn't matter in the long run. You only have the PO word on what the vehicle is unless he has complete documentation and even then it's not always 100%. I don't know about all of you but it is harder for me to believe some one bought a truck in 1967 and it changed hands several times over the years and nothing was taken off of it are added to it.

It's a nice truck so go for it if it's what you want.

[LongBox]

That interior paint scheme matches my 69 GMC truck. The glove box matches the gauge cluster and the door panels.

Can't comment on the AC, except to note that it is my understanding that the firewalls are different on AC and non-AC trucks. So how did the dealerships add "factory" AC?

[jocko]

Originally Posted by LongBox

That interior paint scheme matches my 69 GMC truck. The glove box matches the gauge cluster and the door panels.

Can't comment on the AC, except to note that it is my understanding that the firewalls are different on AC and non-AC trucks. So how did the dealerships add "factory" AC?

most relevant post! TWO burning questions I had and you pinged em. So your GMC has same color interior with a gloss black gb door? I've not seen that before - but GMC is a bit of a different world to me. I have to admit I've never seen a red cluster/door as posted above either (although it looks good). I always though GMCs had the satin paint gb door (whatever the color) and had a satin silver border on the perimeter of the gb door(??) Just to be clear - the interior from the ad Greg was asking about is posted below - the one in post 3 is one he shared for comparison (I was corn-fused for a little bit)

As for whether or not a/c was factory installed or not, probably doesn't matter much, but I do think the answer would appear if the firewall were examined underneath. Not that I'm gonna buy it just to find out though.

Greg, my assumption would have been that it would be on the SPID, so either it's a missed SPID RPO for an "at the factory" install or it's somehow installed as an afterthought by a dealer or po. But, bottom line, I think the gb door has been painted (if the SPID VIN matches the truck VIN) or replaced (if the VINs don't match - which I doubt is the case because the SPID, which isn't a repop, sure describes this truck to a t, except for the a/c). Seller lists a VIN that matches the SPID, but who knows what the metal tag says... I'd sure want to verify they match if I were interested. It is a nice truck and the a/c wouldn't deter me from buying it if I were interested. Agree, the winch is coo!

[B. W.]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

Cable operated spur gear, probably an early Warn. Would definitely be cool if it were a pre Warn Belleview! Try to find out! But it will be an amp hog for sure. The simple spur gear is a robust design that lives on. But the faster less power consumptive planetary winches rule the day now. But what a true classic, mounted on a true classic.

Also, another quick note: Check out how it's mounted to the front of the bumper!

Looks like a Warn Belleview, replaced by the 8274, the belleview does not have power out. Mounted on a warn bumper. Herm the Overdrive Guy has limited parts for them. It is period correct. I'd run it, one of my sons would provide the power out!

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by LongBox

That interior paint scheme matches my 69 GMC truck. The glove box matches the gauge cluster and the door panels.

Can't comment on the AC, except to note that it is my understanding that the firewalls are different on AC and non-AC trucks. So how did the dealerships add "factory" AC?

The same way we do it now. Mine has factory AC and it's on the SPID but I installed it and did the SPID to add the tilt wheel AC tach dash. It's no biggie.

[DeadheadNM]

Factory AC from a different truck. That's a nice gmc.

[projectking]

Originally Posted by jocko

most relevant post! TWO burning questions I had and you pinged em. So your GMC has same color interior with a gloss black gb door? I've not seen that before - but GMC is a bit of a different world to me. I have to admit I've never seen a red cluster/door as posted above either (although it looks good). I always though GMCs had the satin paint gb door (whatever the color) and had a satin silver border on the perimeter of the gb door(??) Just to be clear - the interior from the ad Greg was asking about is posted below - the one in post 3 is one he shared for comparison (I was corn-fused for a little bit)

As for whether or not a/c was factory installed or not, probably doesn't matter much, but I do think the answer would appear if the firewall were examined underneath. Not that I'm gonna buy it just to find out though.

Greg, my assumption would have been that it would be on the SPID, so either it's a missed SPID RPO for an "at the factory" install or it's somehow installed as an afterthought by a dealer or po. But, bottom line, I think the gb door has been painted (if the SPID VIN matches the truck VIN) or replaced (if the VINs don't match - which I doubt is the case because the SPID, which isn't a repop, sure describes this truck to a t, except for the a/c). Seller lists a VIN that matches the SPID, but who knows what the metal tag says... I'd sure want to verify they match if I were interested. It is a nice truck and the a/c wouldn't deter me from buying it if I were interested. Agree, the winch is coo!

Here's my '68 with the same color scheme!

[Joesjunk]

71-72's (probably 69-70 also) on GMC's, the glove box door has always been painted (gloss) the interior color along with the gauge bezel face. That black glove box door looks correct and original to me.

[trucks72]

Someone has added air to that truck. It is hard to see in the picture but there is a hole where either wires or the blend door cable is coming out. That hole is not in the correct spot. On a non air ruck that hole is there. If you take a heater housing off and put a air housing up to it, that hole will show. Not all the hole but about half of it. I have installed a lot of air on trucks. That is the only why you can tell if someone has done that.

[duallydude63]

arent those Factory a/c outlets on boths side of the dash??? the dealer wont install those ?? rite!!

[100%Chevy]

Originally Posted by trucks72

Someone has added air to that truck. It is hard to see in the picture but there is a hole where either wires or the blend door cable is coming out. That hole is not in the correct spot. On a non air ruck that hole is there. If you take a heater housing off and put a air housing up to it, that hole will show. Not all the hole but about half of it. I have installed a lot of air on trucks. That is the only why you can tell if someone has done that.

You're correct on the hole being in the wrong place!
I pointed this out on another similar post a while back.
I added factory air to my 68, and went to great pains to make it look original.
It's the little stuff that tells the truth!
Mike.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by duallydude63

arent those Factory a/c outlets on boths side of the dash??? the dealer wont install those ?? rite!!

Andy is confident there were dealers who would.

Even if that's not the case, we don't have an uninterrupted history of this truck since Day 0, so someone else could have done it at some point in its life beside the dealer too.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by LongBox

That interior paint scheme matches my 69 GMC truck. The glove box matches the gauge cluster and the door panels.

Can't comment on the AC, except to note that it is my understanding that the firewalls are different on AC and non-AC trucks. So how did the dealerships add "factory" AC?

I know this is an apples to oranges comparison. But I have found it to be interesting. Years ago a friend and I had two 1970 GTO shells side by side on stands and we got to comparing them. They were both 400 cu, automatic, non AC cars. One was built at the Fremont plant and the other one in Pontiac. Their firewalls were marked different. One had only the necessary holes in it and the other had every conceivable hole in it. So it had the holes for AC and manual transmissions, plus some that we couldn't identify. Our conclusion was two factories designed by different people. One of those things we will never know the answer to.