Vintage Air - do you need the two lower outlets?

[68ls1]

We are installing Vintage Air in my 72 C10, and wondering whether it would work well enough with just the center vent, and the two upper dash outlets. Not sure I'm loving the look of the two lower ball vents, that have to be cut in to dash.

Has anyone tried it like this?

[Lee H]

I don’t think you would get enough air flow to cool the cab without the ball vents. Also, do to the shape of the center vent plenum, the majority of the air is pushed towards the driver. If it weren’t for the ball vent, my passenger would get little relief. My system is 10 years so maybe it different now. Good luck, Lee

[dagnabbitt]

If you mean the aftermarket ball vents that come with the kit, perhaps you would prefer to source out an original AC dash and/or vents.

A lot of people recommend getting the "with AC" version of Vintage Air even if your truck is a "without AC" version, then getting some OEM parts to make up the difference.

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

If you mean the aftermarket ball vents that come with the kit, perhaps you would prefer to source out an original AC dash and/or vents.

A lot of people recommend getting the "with AC" version of Vintage Air even if your truck is a "without AC" version, then getting some OEM parts to make up the difference.

Thanks, yes we can do that, but I was wondering if it worked well enough without them. We are going to try it without, but was hoping for another opinion,

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I don’t think you would get enough air flow to cool the cab without the ball vents. Also, do to the shape of the center vent plenum, the majority of the air is pushed towards the driver. If it weren’t for the ball vent, my passenger would get little relief. My system is 10 years so maybe it different now. Good luck, Lee

thanks

[Wobpb377]

You will only have one vent—the one in the center—ones on dash today but they are for defrosting. Don’t think that will give you much air

[Accelo]

You might consider just venting the two unused hoses out below the dash. If you plug them off the lack of air flow can cause issues like freezing up the core.
*
I used a hole saw with an extended center drill to cut the dash holes for the bezels. You can drill the hole and then replace the drill bit with a drill rod if you want. It will be less prone to breakage. The holes turned out great that way.
Rick

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Wobpb377

You will only have one vent—the one in the center—ones on dash today but they are for defrosting. Don’t think that will give you much air

Originally Posted by Accelo

You might consider just venting the two unused hoses out below the dash. If you plug them off the lack of air flow can cause issues like freezing up the core.
*
I used a hole saw with an extended center drill to cut the dash holes for the bezels. You can drill the hole and then replace the drill bit with a drill rod if you want. It will be less prone to breakage. The holes turned out great that way.
Rick

thanks

[Richard]

If you do not want the vents I like Accelo's suggestion. Just install the end vents on hidden outlets so pressure remains constant. If you blocked off the two side vents I would expect close to the same results as eliminating 1/2 to 2/3rds of the vents in your home. Freezing may not happen, compressor will cycle a lot though.

[Grumpy old man]

I can understand why you wouldn't want to use the aftermarket vents supplied by VA they leave a lot to be desired as far as aesthetics are concerned with the generic look compared to the stock style vents , And using a paper pattern to cut the curved section of the dash to make the stock style vents fit can be daunting , There is a easy cheap way to cut them in just using a cut off wheel and drill flapper wheel using an old set of vents sourced off the parts board to use as a perfect pattern because nobody wants to make any mistakes cutting into the dash. My 67 didn't come with A/C so I had to cut the vent holes in and I wanted them to look stock .

I'll post up some more pictures shortly .

[ls1nova71]

You need the air to blow on you to work well. You generally need the air to blow on the occupants faces. A truck isn't like a house where you can effectively cool the whole interior. You also need air pressure which is why VA vents are so small, with larger vents, such as original AC vents, you will lose some of that and it won't blow as hard so won't appear to work as well.

[Grumpy old man]

Something to consider he's in Melbourne, Victoria the average high temps are about the same as Portland Maine with highs below 80 . their in the middle of "winter " right now .

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Something to consider he's in Melbourne, Victoria the average high temps are about the same as Portland Maine with highs below 80 . their in the middle of "winter " right now .

In December to February (our summer), we will see many days over 100 °F, as recently as 2009 we recorded 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) – 7 February 2009

Max in 2020 was 43.0 °C (110 °F) 2019 was 46.0 °C (115 °F)

https://www.currentresults.com/Yearl...emperature.php

Inland Victoria away from the coast can be 4-5 °C higher

Not sure Maine reaches those levels

[Grumpy old man]

It must be hard working on everything being upside down and that kooky metric system , We seem to loose 10 mm sockets all the time here what sockets are frequently misplaced down there 7/16 ?

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

It must be hard working on everything being upside down and that kooky metric system , We seem to loose 10 mm sockets all the time here what sockets are frequently misplaced down there 7/16 ?

Did you find my 10mm? , yes all sorts of crazy down here

[Zeroman]

Grumpy, dude, you are hilarious!

[lousyflyer]

I've been looking for an alternative to the ball vents without much luck. Just trying to be different than the rest of the herd, so to speak.

[cab4word67]

In my mustang i didnt want the balls under the dash so i used 2 of the single rectangles on the sides and there dual in the center. It is a very clean look I think I will do the samr on my 67C10