AC opinion poll (and why)

[ABNGRNT13]

Looking for input. I have a factory AC cab. Want to use factory controls and duct outlets. Want to change out all other parts for aftermarket, so I can clean up the firewall. All opinions appreciated. Experiences with products GREATLY appreciated. Will be going with the AAW harness too.

[1972RedNeck]

I don't know this for a fact, but I would be willing to bet that the aftermarket heater cores are much, much smaller than stock. I don't know of any other vehicle with a bigger heater core than stock '67 - '72 truck with A/C. Of course down in AL you probably don't have to worry about sub-zero temperatures for too long.

[Z10]

Vintage Air. You can use your oem control panel and your vents. Mine was not a factory A/C cab but I did use a factory A/C control panel with the Vintage Air replacement lens. Click on my build thread below to see quite a few photos of the system.

[ABNGRNT13]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

I don't know this for a fact, but I would be willing to bet that the aftermarket heater cores are much, much smaller than stock. I don't know of any other vehicle with a bigger heater core than stock '67 - '72 truck with A/C. Of course down in AL you probably don't have to worry about sub-zero temperatures for too long.

Brother, Im an AL transplant for the military.... 9 months till retirement. Back to the mountains of TN.

[twouvakind]

Too many leaky, heavy pieces 40+ years old with factory. Go modern and never look back.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by ABNGRNT13

Brother, Im an AL transplant for the military.... 9 months till retirement. Back to the mountains of TN.

Thanks for your service.

[MAC71]

I have the stock heat and A/C on my 71 and the vintage air on my 72. The vintage air A/C is really good but the heat is not very good. It is just to small if you need any serious heat. In UT when it gets to 20 degrees even with a 195 thermostat and card board covering the entire front of the radiator with a big block the heat sucks. I can run a 165 thermostat in the 71 with stock heat and even when the temp is below 0 it is to hot in the cab if you turn the heat up.

[Andy4639]

I have all internal new stuff in old AC boxes. You have to know what your looking at to tell it's not factory installed. I run the 134-a freon with a Sanderson compressor.
Coming to work tonight it was 84 degree's outside and 40 inside the cab.Condensor evaporator everything internally is newer 134-a stuff but I installed it all in the factory box outside.
As far as making the truck firewall look cleaner it just makes it look out of place to me. With everything gone it looks like something is missing under the hood.






Here are some close ups of the AC system. This is the old motor though.

[tsetsaf]

I have vintage air and am not a big fan. It is loud in the cab with the blower running and they did not have a compressor that mounts to the stock 5.3l low mount. It also takes away from the in cab space. If I had a stock unit I would simply build some fancy shrouds to hide it and stick with original.

[special-K]

If the factory A/C is in good working condition I'd just get used to looking at what belongs under the hood. I like my trucks best with the hood down anyway. Looks best that way,too

[67 chevelle]

I like nostalga air in okala florida , vintage air is good also but expensive , I have no experience with oldair

[Lee H]

I'm running VA in my factory AC truck. It cools good, maybe a bit better than the factory unit, blows out 42 degrees even on the hottest days. Heater not as good as factory. The blower motor forces more air through the vents than the factory motor. The in cab components are about the same size as factory, maybe a little smaller, and tucked up in the dash a little better. Renders the glove box almost useless. The engine bay side is where the major improvement takes place, nothing hanging off the fire wall.

[alsriv2]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I'm running VA in my factory AC truck. It cools good, maybe a bit better than the factory unit, blows out 42 degrees even on the hottest days. Heater not as good as factory. The blower motor forces more air through the vents than the factory motor. The in cab components are about the same size as factory, maybe a little smaller, and tucked up in the dash a little better. Renders the glove box almost useless. The engine bay side is where the major improvement takes place, nothing hanging off the fire wall.

I too have a VA unit in my '69. The glove box gets to be small, but still holds typical stuff like gloves and registration etc without difficulty.
Really cleaned up the engine bay and looks good.

[mrein3]

If I had more money than time I'd go aftermarket.

Aftermarket is $1000 PLUS. I started with a non-AC truck, converted it to all stock parts, and still didn't put more than $500 in to it.

If I was starting with a already stock AC truck, I could have it up and running in an afternoon for the cost of the refrigerant if no other parts were bad.