How do you put cold air in a non-air cst?

[3QTRTONS]

I'm getting ready to 'rehab' my '67 CST/20 and would really like to put A/C in it while also liking the idea of keeping it as original as possible. Here's a rub, though. I have a '71 cab with A/C that COULD be swapped but really would what you all think.
The plan is to bring it back to OE - the 283/3ott included... but cold air would be nice. Leaning towards NOT swapping cabs; seems like a lot of extra work.

[68gmsee]

If you want to keep it as original as possible I wouldn't go with the cab swap. I would look at Cold Air Products or Vintage Air sites to see what they have as under dash installations.

Now if you meant, original "looking" that's a different story. I have been thinking of doing the same thing (cab swap) with my 69 Chevy. Problem is, I haven't located a good enough cab in my area that's in better condition than what I have.

[mrein3]

Lots and lots of old, unmolested trucks had dealer add on AC. The fan/ducts are mounted below the dash. The compressor is mounted to the engine. I see them every once in a while on craigslist and the like. For what you're doing I'd just find a vintage correct add on unit and put it on just like the dealer would have in 1967.

A good friend of mine had a beautiful, unmolested 67 with very cold blowing dealer add on AC.

[71blksuper4x4]

If you are going towards more original with your build. Don't use the other cab. The 71's are different than all other years where the rear view mirror mounts, and it will be noticeable to any purists. If not being 100% accurate is fine, I would say use the a/c cab and just buy the equipment you don't have and be done. Trevor

[3QTRTONS]

Thanks much! Glad to hear your thoughts! "Dealer Installed" or Vintage Air sounds good to me. There is already enough body work that HAS to be done, let alone swapping cabs.

[100%Chevy]

I've been taking the add-on air out of my 68.It has the under dash evap/blower and a York compressor mounted on the engine.
I have a 70 truck with factory air to use as a donor.
To use it,I'll have to do some cutting/filling on the firewall and add the 3 dash vents.The rest is bolt on.
Mike.

[67chevy1series]

i think that you should cut all the ac holes in the ac cab 67 72 and then cut your 67 dash then weld in the sheet metal from the other cab that will give you hte holes on the dash then cut the big triangular holes on the firewall and put the ac cab holes on your 67 then the firewall will be ready for the ac unit i have a 67 it used to be a c20 long fleet to but then i changed it into a short fleet it has ac cab aswell

[Andy4639]

Cut all the holes yourself in the 67 dash as I did in my 71 or cut the dash out of the 71 and put in the 67.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by mrein3

Lots and lots of old, unmolested trucks had dealer add on AC. The fan/ducts are mounted below the dash. The compressor is mounted to the engine. I see them every once in a while on craigslist and the like. For what you're doing I'd just find a vintage correct add on unit and put it on just like the dealer would have in 1967.

A good friend of mine had a beautiful, unmolested 67 with very cold blowing dealer add on AC.

I'm going to go nuts thinking about this........................

I just read within the last couple of weeks that some AC company was making "retro looking" hang down units Ac units for cars & trucks; but everything was new. It had got me to thinking that would be the way to go with my Chevy.

Maybe somebody else knows who I'm talking about.

[Andy4639]

Did a quick google and found .

http://www.southernrods.com/categori...duct-2068.html

This says for our trucks.




https://www.ackits.com/pc/AMA14315-4...A14315-4197%29

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Cut all the holes yourself in the 67 dash as I did in my 71 or cut the dash out of the 71 and put in the 67.

Truth be told that is what I'm doing to get AC in my truck. Only I'm not the fastest truck modder in the world. I take pictures of my progress and I have to report that my firewall mods were done in 2003. My dash was done this past November in 2009. I have all the parts and pieces to complete the job except for the vacuum pump I'll need to evacuate the system. The way my bride is spending the family fortune it will be November again before I can purchase a vacuum pump.

Keep in mind that except for the two weekends where I've performed this work, the truck remains fully functional and driveable with heat, just no AC.

If you want your non-AC cab to look like an AC cab, all the dimples are there to make the holes you need. You do need do weld a piece in the firewall and cut another piece out. I fabbed my weld in piece by making templates out of the new system and old system, making a paper template, transferring it to metal, and welding it in.

Somebody who isn't married, has no kids or doesn't care could probably pull this off in two weekends in a row, not 6 years apart. If you don't have a job you could probably do it over the course of one work week.

I grabbed the picture of the AC holes verses non-AC holes off this website some time before 2003. I used photoshop to mark up the marked up picture some time after I did my 2003 firewall mod and posted it here before.

[mrein3]

For the dash I purchased a complete AC dash from da-burb and intended to cut my old, complete dash out and weld in the AC dash. Then I figured what a waste of time when all you need is three holes. I made templates from the AC dash and transferred them to my non-AC dash. That was a one day job.

[Andy4639]

That's what I did. The biggest thing was making that first cut. After that it was easy.

[Deggs]

Seems like a fair bit of hack & slash. Isn't there a vintage cold air "under dash kit" that doesn't require the fabricating?

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

That's what I did. The biggest thing was making that first cut. After that it was easy.

Agreed. It took me 6 years to make that first cut in the dash. Within a couple of hours I had the rest of it all buttoned up.

[3QTRTONS]

YOU ALL ROCK!
Great insight........ hmmm, I DO have a buddy with a plasma cutter...

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by mrein3

I have all the parts and pieces to complete the job except for the vacuum pump I'll need to evacuate the system. The way my bride is spending the family fortune it will be November again before I can purchase a vacuum pump.

Your engine is a vacuum pump. When my vaccum pump craps out on me (80% of the work I do is A/C in the summer) I adapt my gauge set charging line to a good manifold vacuum source...brake booster vacuum line is best. It wont put a quick deep vacuum like a vacuum pump will but it does work.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Deggs

Seems like a fair bit of hack & slash. Isn't there a vintage cold air "under dash kit" that doesn't require the fabricating?

YES!!!
But then it's not as much fun!
Look above your orignal post I listed a couple of links for you.

[big_al_71]

Classic auto air which is what we put in my truck it has been there almost two years blows 37 degrees at the vents and I have zero regrets we have used three of these kits so far....here are some picts of the different parts of it..

[3QTRTONS]

Thanks Much!!!
The more info, the better!

[my1st69]

Originally Posted by mrein3

Truth be told that is what I'm doing to get AC in my truck. Only I'm not the fastest truck modder in the world. I take pictures of my progress and I have to report that my firewall mods were done in 2003. My dash was done this past November in 2009. I have all the parts and pieces to complete the job except for the vacuum pump I'll need to evacuate the system. The way my bride is spending the family fortune it will be November again before I can purchase a vacuum pump.

Keep in mind that except for the two weekends where I've performed this work, the truck remains fully functional and driveable with heat, just no AC.

If you want your non-AC cab to look like an AC cab, all the dimples are there to make the holes you need. You do need do weld a piece in the firewall and cut another piece out. I fabbed my weld in piece by making templates out of the new system and old system, making a paper template, transferring it to metal, and welding it in.

Somebody who isn't married, has no kids or doesn't care could probably pull this off in two weekends in a row, not 6 years apart. If you don't have a job you could probably do it over the course of one work week.

I grabbed the picture of the AC holes verses non-AC holes off this website some time before 2003. I used photoshop to mark up the marked up picture some time after I did my 2003 firewall mod and posted it here before.

I just saw a pump for ac recovery sell for 30 bucks on the ebay check it out