Who has installed the Vintage Air System?

[WadmalawJoe]

Sometime this winter I plan on getting the Vintage Air system and installing it. Does anyone have before and after pictures, both inside and out?
I know everyone installs it for the A/C, but how well does the heater part work?
Does the inside portion pretty much fit exactly where the old heater was?
I plan on installing new soundproofing and carpet and I am wondering if I should hold off until after the Air system is installed.
Any advice?
Thanks!

[Lee H]

It fits right where the old system was, looks very clean and tight on the inside. I dynamated before installing, then carpeted. Don't know how it works yet. There are some pictures in my profile album that show the inside and out.
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[eldogg]

The heater and defroster both work great on every Vintage Air system I've installed. Way better than a factory system.

[chopnchaneled]

Don't have any pic's but what lee said and mine works great also.

[harley rider]

I havn't installed one in a truck but I have installed several in hot rods .they are easy to install ,even in custom aplications .the retro fit kits are even better.

[ItsRandy]

I installed a Vintage Air system in my truck. It works pretty good. I thought that for what they cost it would get cold enough to hang meat in the cab...it doesn't. The heater works ok, however, I live in Southern California where when it's "cold" outside it may be 45*, not what you would call a "cold climate".

I have a Gen 4 system and after only after 2500 miles I've had two problems: first the ECM was bad right out of the box and second the heater control valve failed just a couple of weeks ago. The heater control valve is energized when it is closed, makes a bunch of heat (about 200*-250*) and smokes and stinks when it fails...the smoke scared the crap out of me. Vintage Air was very good about replacing both parts, you just don't expect to have problems so quickly after installation.

Your already small glove box becomes even smaller, I put my transmission controller and digital gauge controller in mine...not much else will fit.

If you don't have a factory air cab be careful when you cut the holes in your dash, the Vintage Air templates are a little off.

This is just my experience.

[thesledhead]

I was not happy at all with the vintage air system I put in my truck. I bought the system about 8 months ago and noticed a condenser bracket was missing, so I called the 800 number and was transferred to some guy that handles shipping claims. Well he never called back then I called again a week later and he never called again WTF. I have since found a bracket and installed the whole kit and to this day they have not called me back. I put one of their kits in my Challenger about 7 years ago and all the lines where custom cut and molded to fit but this new "sure fit" truck kit just comes with long hoses and ends that you have to take to a hose shop and have crimped. It is a nice clean looking kit when its done but for the price they charge, and the sh&^ty customer service I received I will definitely look elsewhere on my next project.

Ill take some pics for ya so you can see the install though

[67ChevyRedneck]

Click the link in my signature... I did an install thread on one.

[WadmalawJoe]

Thanks everyone!
I see there are good and bad experiences.....
I also see what you mean about customer service sledhead, I emailed them this morning and never heard back today.

[ERASER5]

Since you live in SC, the heater should be enough. You may have to run the A/C at the same time like defrost to keep the window clear in the winter. Vintage, like most other after market HVAC systems, dose not use outside air at all. This can cause fogging in heat mode. Are you planning to drive it in inclement weather?

No outside air allows you to fill the cowl, fill the vent holes with speakers, fuse panels or what ever you want. Sealing out the air channel also helps control rust.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I live in SC as well, fogging is not an issue. There is an initial fog until the engine warms, but my truck was like that with the factory heater as well. I've driven it in 20 degree weather without issue. It gets plenty hot too.

[weever82]

I live in AZ and my vintage air system is like an ice box! Couldn't be happier. Is about 10yrs old and I have never had to charge it.

Weev-
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[rodstored-72]

i installed a "universal" fit system in my '72 p/u & it works great! install was pretty straight foward & for the money i think it is a very good system.

good luck!

[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

...Are you planning to drive it in inclement weather?

"Inclement"...look at you with the fancy words. lol

[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by weever82

I live in AZ and my vintage air system is like an ice box! Couldn't be happier. Is about 10yrs old and I have never had to charge it.

Weev-
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10 yrs old? Is it R12 or R134a?

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by ItsRandy

10 yrs old? Is it R12 or R134a?

Randy- my dad lives in Havasu and installs VA systems on a lot of vehicles (his friend is a dealer) They blow ice cold air every time. When you installed yours did you pull vacuum on it for about 20 mins. Prior to charging it? That is the only thing I can think of that would cause your system to not get ice cold. All of them use R-134 as far as I know, at least that is what my dad always uses.
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[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Randy- my dad lives in Havasu and installs VA systems on a lot of vehicles (his friend is a dealer) They blow ice cold air every time. When you installed yours did you pull vacuum on it for about 20 mins. Prior to charging it? That is the only thing I can think of that would cause your system to not get ice cold. All of them use R-134 as far as I know, at least that is what my dad always uses.
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Yeah, pulled vacuum for awhile...about an hour. Charged with freon, it gets cold but not like my Monte Carlo.