Vintage Air kit..............worth it?

[jnf2k2]

Just wanted to get a few opinions on here to see if people feel that the Vintage Air kit is worth the 1400 bucks you pay for it. I currently have no a/c in the truck (evaporator and condenser were removed when i got it) and the hot muggy Florida summers are upon us. So an a/c would be really nice to have?

Also how would i know if my truck orginally came with a/c? It has the vents and controls on the dash, but I wasnt sure if that a dead giveaway.

Oh and this is going into a 76 K10.

[Lokin4AReason]

any photo(s) .. ?

[77c10]

I installed VA in my 77 C10 over the winter. It's not my daily driver and only gets driven to cruise in's/car shows. I can say without a doubt that it was worth it to me. 20 years ago i could stand not having AC. Never again...

Installation was very straightforward as long as you follow the directions. It took me WAY too long to install mine but I would say it could be done easily in 2-3 weekends or 2-3 days straight.

[lindstromjd]

Why not just go to the junkyard and grab all the a/c stuff off a parts truck?

Easy way to tell if your truck came with a/c is by the fan box. If it hugs the firewall and just has heater lines going to it, it's a non-a/c cab. If it has the box for the evaporator, sticking out by the passenger manifold, then you have an a/c cab.

[rich weyand]

One reason to go with the VA kit over a stock system is that the entire VA kit is contained in an airbox behind the firewall, so there is no big box for the evaporator under the hood. Cleaner underhood look.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by lindstromjd

Why not just go to the junkyard and grab all the a/c stuff off a parts truck?

Easy way to tell if your truck came with a/c is by the fan box. If it hugs the firewall and just has heater lines going to it, it's a non-a/c cab. If it has the box for the evaporator, sticking out by the passenger manifold, then you have an a/c cab.

Finding all the leaks and doing all the repairs to that old stuff is quite a PITA. I can easily see why someone would want to just skip it and go with a brand new system that doesn't come with all kinds of problems.

[Rogier]

Pros:

• Fixes all the old crap in one replacement unit. No more vacuum misery, flaps getting stuck or cores that crack every other year
• Works easy and efficient and looks good
• Absolutely foolproof to install

Cons:

• The heat is controlled via an electronic valve that cuts the hot water of from the heater core. This is a good idea is you don't need the hot water for other purposes as well. I do and had to find yet another hot water source on the engine to tap into.
• It does not let outside air in, only inside circulation is possible
• It's noisy compared to stock
• NOT cheap

All in all, I'd still do it again.

[tucsonjwt]

I don't have VA, just stock a/c, but I do like the idea of all electronic controls on the new version of the VA kit. The vacuum controls on the stock system (and all vacuum controls, as far as I am concerned) are always of questionable operation with the stock system. In this modern era, I see no need for vacuum controls - just electronic. From what I read, for maximum cooling, the old R12 systems are the best, but the compressors do leak. My old R12 1976 C20 was the coolest A/C I have had yet.

[Ozzy2013]

Im on the fence for many of theses same reasons with i could find one for 1,000 ha ha

[silverbear]

Here is what the difference in controls would look like.

With A/C


Without A/C

[silverbear]

I will also add my thoughts about the Pros and Cons of the VA kits. I have helped by buddy install these kits in two different vehicles. The first was a1972 GMC Sprint. The kit installed easy enough but the Sanden compressor that comes with had to be mounted WAAAAYYY of to the side and it look really out of place. Fitting the unit up under the dash was a two man job and in that small cab for two "healthy" guys was tight. But the A/C did work good in the end.

The second kit went into 1970 C10. Had the owner of this truck wanted to use the brackets that came with the kit it too would have had the compressor off to the side of the block. He went with a March Performance kit which meant he had to purchase a different model of compressor. The new compressor is much smaller and fits well but does not cool as well as the compressor that comes with the VA kits.

Like it was mentioned all ready, the kits for our truck block off the outside vents and you will have to cut down the glove box to clear the unit. The instruction call for you to cut out a portion of the center and the re-connect the two pieces with clips.

I do like the condenser and dryer that come with the kit. Those items can be purchased separately (which is what I plan to do).

[jlelec]

I have 4 Square bodies and all have factory air. I have had limited success getting any of them to cool good when its 95 deg and 90 percent humidity in GA. I think a lot of the problem is the R134, it just does the best it can. I have tried all the tricks. I had a 69 camaro with Vintage air and it was great! I just started on an factory air 77 resto and will strongly consider Vintage air and ditch the factory air.

[v30crewcab]

my factory a/c setup cools like a boss! but then I do have a dodge a/c compressor pushing it all. thats the big difference. the sandens just work so much better. I like my factory setup.

[jnf2k2]

Thanks to everyone who replied on this thread. I now know that my truck was originally equipped with heat only and that I definitely do want to go with a Vintage Air kit, now I just need to find a place to install it for the right price.

[whitels1]

I just did this on my 84 K10 w/out A/C and did video the whole way. It was super easy to install myself, the only thing I had to have someone else do was crimp my hoses and evac/recharge it. My kit was a little bit more because I had to also get a high mount for the compressor since I have an LS in the truck. It worked great the other day when it was 95 outside, I'll really put it to the test when it's 120 and I'm idling through the desert

Here is my build thread, starts about post #84

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...11#post7194311

[andrewmp6]

1400 for a brand new ac system sounds like a lot but its not.I have seen people spend more to repair a ac system on a newer car/van before.

[Greenlee]

I have been running Vintage Air in my truck for about 2 years now. It has been flawless. Ice cold in the summer and heater works good in the winter.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by jlelec

I have 4 Square bodies and all have factory air. I have had limited success getting any of them to cool good when its 95 deg and 90 percent humidity in GA. I think a lot of the problem is the R134, it just does the best it can. I have tried all the tricks. I had a 69 camaro with Vintage air and it was great! I just started on an factory air 77 resto and will strongly consider Vintage air and ditch the factory air.

My truck has factory air, and I haven't had much problem with its cooling. When the thing works. Every winter when I stop using it for 5 months, it leaks out all its coolant and I have to have it fixed. I live in TX, really hot here and we also have some 90% humidity days, although probably not as many as you do in GA.

After all my experience with them over the years, I'd say these factory AC systems are problematic. You need a good AC tech to keep them going for more than one summer at a time. Mine keeps finding a new way to leak every year.

[mosel70]

Yes, worth it. I just finished my own install of a Vintage Air (VA) A/C system in my '70 C10 which did not have factory air. It's summer and I live in Las Vegas. I had a local A/C shop do the evacuation and charging, and no leaks. It blows really cold and large volume air, fan speed is variable. Great decision. Getting the ducting in under the dash was a bit sporty but doable. They provide very soft flexible ducts which really helped. Well worth the money. It requires five different metal drill sizes and removal of the right front fender which I replaced with a new one since it was only $80. The VA instructions are very good.
While I was at it, I installed an aluminum radiator and new pulleys.
The whole job took me about 4 full days over three weeks.

[D13]

My 87 uses the factory system converted to R134. Will literally freeze you out of the truck. You need the long compressor on the conversions, the radial compressors are too small. Sandeen versions seem to be small but they are more efficient so they probably do OK.

[Red Beard]

My 87 has factory a/c, but I was looking into the Vintage Air stuff, just so that everything was new. I guess their kit doesn't work with an 87 though, for some reason. Just the 73-86. So, that pretty much made up my mind for me.

[calvin78612]

I just installed a VA system in my 87. Super easy and man that thing will freeze you out of the cab. I also bought the Alan Grove brackets to swap my alt. to the l/h side and a/c comp. to the r/h side. It is a great system, the Sanden comp. has less patristic drag and is very efficient. You will not be disappointed with the VA setup !

[Red Beard]

Originally Posted by calvin78612

I just installed a VA system in my 87. Super easy and man that thing will freeze you out of the cab. I also bought the Alan Grove brackets to swap my alt. to the l/h side and a/c comp. to the r/h side. It is a great system, the Sanden comp. has less patristic drag and is very efficient. You will not be disappointed with the VA setup !

So they do work in the 87s?

[78 Big10 454]

I installed a VA A/C kit in my 72 Burb. Gets so cold I could hang meat!

[calvin78612]

Yes they have a system for the 87's. Call them and they will set you up. Order through Sumit Racing ( free shipping ) It really cleans up the firewall and looks great. I am about to wash my truck and I'll snapped some pics of the firewall.