Ac

[57chevyman]

if i wanted to install AC in my truck, someone point me in the right direction..... 1957 chevy truck with 1977 SBC 350 engine.

i have fully functioning stock heat now..

[Apachemike]

I'm in the process of installing a system from Nostalgic air right now. I got it on sale from the Charlotte autofair but you may want to hear from those who did direct replacement units first

[dante81_98]

I have a 50. I am happy with my Old Air Products. I am sure they have a kit for yours.

[OrrieG]

I traded my heater for used inside VA components and lines from the inside unit to compressor and dryer. I had to buy additional lines, condenser, dryer, compressor, etc. I have not added up the cost but am probably not much less than buying a whole system and chasing down all the small stuff drove me nuts. If I had to do it over would just by a complete kit, not necessarily VA. It is a "sure fit" which means very tight and you have to really think about the sequence of installation, because once it is in it is very hard to get to stuff. I think the Old Air Units are more compact. I did not like the factory plastic vents, you can look at my build thread to see the custom center and kick panel ones I fabricated. VA makes a good product, I have not heard any problems with them or complaints about customer service. I have called the techs a few times and even though I did not buy the system from them they were helpful.

[Old Crow]

Kinda partial to VA myself, since I'm a dealer.
Never in 8 years of installing them have I had problems with one. Well, except for the one installation that wanted braided hoses in the engine compartment, but that was my fault, not the fault of the product. Once I re-did the hoses per the instructions it was fine.

[_Ogre]

i have va in truk
works great

[Russell Ashley]

I love my VA so don't think you will go wrong with that. My advice though is to buy the complete kit, not section by section like I did. This is only to save money as it doesn't affect the quality of the unit. I first bought the inside kit when I was wiring and finishing the cab, then bought the compressor and alt mount when ready, then the hose and condenser kit. I have a local VA dealer for a source and these are all VA kits but it cost more in the long run to do it like that. Either way, the kit comes with instructions but it's not what you would call a simple installation. You have to make some decisions about things like hose routing and crimping,and maybe even fab some small things. You must take you time and read the instructions. Don't start it one afternoon thinking you will drive to a show the next day with working a/c. V/a tech support has been great for me but you might have to wait for a call back. It's well worth the cost and effort.

My son has a setup from Old Air in his 68 Roadrunner and he is very satisfied with it so there are options available.

[57chevyman]

so if i get a kit thats designed for 1957 chevy truck, the condenser and whatnot will bolt up my engine?

[Russell Ashley]

You probably won't have any trouble getting the compressor, p/s pump, and alternator mounted using VA supplied brackets. The hoses shouldn't be any more trouble than normal as you pretty much have to custom fit them to your application, but I don't know from there. The condenser mounts in front of the radiator. It looks like your truck has been changed from radiator forward so I'm thinking it will require some fab work in that area to get the condenser installed.

[Old Crow]

Go to the Vintage Air web site. Find the number of the kit you'll be using. You can then download and print the instruction sheets straight from their web site. That way you'll be able to see what you may have to deal with ahead of time.
If your '57 has the radiator behind the core support and the X brace in front like a '58, the instructions call for removing the X brace and mounting the condenser to the front of the radiator support.

[57chevyman]

thanks for the info guys. my truck has a 1957 car radiator.

[57chevyman]

vintage air

[OneOffStroker]

For what it's worth, I bought a kit from Nostalgic Air for my '69 Suburban because I wanted to save a few bucks over the VA kit. I was not pleased at all with that choice. The inside unit was so small that it could't even heat the driver and passenger, let alone the whole Suburban. The cable operation was flimsy and didn't work half the time.

I will be getting VA for my '57 with the Deluxe controls, no questions asked. You truly do get what you pay for, and if you want comfort, pay the extra little bit to get a quality kit like the VA one.

[OrrieG]

55-57 and 58-59 radiator cores supports are different. I ordered the 55-57 condenser/ dryer kit because I wanted the dryer in the engine compartment, not hanging in front of the condenser. You have to remove the x bracket, modify the bracket to clear the radiator and shim the bracket to move it forward so there is room for the hose connections. On the 55-57 the hoses goes thru a clean place in the side panels, on the 58-59 it ended up going thru the louver portion. I also had to modify the dryer support bracket to work. Also, all the 55-59 come set up with a passenger side compressor mount where your alternator is. You may have to get the later model truck one that matches the long water pump configuration that puts the compressor on the drive side above the PS pump. It requires longer hoses that loop under the crank pulley.

[Old Crow]

Orrie, you can specify compressor mounts when you order the kit. Salesman will work with you on the phone). In fact, to order you'll need to know short or long water pump, what side of the engine is the alt. on and if it's got power steering or not.
This is the advantage to ordering the set from a dealer instead of Ebay or resellers like Summit.
Looking at the OP's engine pictures, he'll also have to get power steering pump brackets as the set he's got will interfere with the compressor mounting. Pump is up too high with these later model brackets. They've got them in the catalog.

[Old Crow]

Hose routing:

https://www.facebook.com/vincesvinta...type=1&theater

Compressor/p/s pump:
https://www.facebook.com/vincesvinta...type=1&theater