Vintage Air A/C?

Anone use one of these on their GS? My 71 use to have air, but everything was tossed, and I do mean everything, years ago when I was young & stupid and hot rods didn't have A/C.

Now I'm older and stupid but living in hell, at least in the summertime, aka Phoenix. When I get this car running and back on the street, I'd like to add the A/C back in so I can drive more than 5 months a year. The Vintage A/C stuff looks pretty good and looks like it can be done for about a grand.

Anyone?

 

Hello:

The last time this was discussed I believe the answer was yes but no specific kit exists and the generic must be used. Mark Reeves on this Board is a Vintage dealer and can address this in more detail.

 

I put a GEN II supercooler in my 68 Riviera which came from the factory without air. Fit under the dash was tight but once all the factory heater stuff was out of the way there was just enough room. Do some measuring with the dimensions from the different units. You will have to fab your own compressor mounts for the Sanden compressor starting with the Buick factory mounts.

I see they make some units for earlier Chevelles. Maybe it would be a starting point to see if they would fit. Better yet give them a call to see what they recommend.

Keith

 

Classic Air from Tampa has a really slick unit that fits in the trunk. It has a center air intake and two directionally controled vents that REALLY work. They mount on ther rear package shelf. I put one of these in my 57 2 dr and it cooled the car fine. The nicest thing about it was that instead of having little vents blasting at you , the cool air just drifted up to the windshield and gave a cool breeze. My wife thought it was great!
I have the vintage AC unit in my 37 coupe, and it also does a good job, but why buy the heater and defroster unit if you don't need it.

 

:TU: i put a vintageair unit in my 72 skylark 2 years ago-works great. as previously stated, you have to build your own compressor mount out of a stock one but its no big deal. fit behind the glovebox accross to behind the radio fine. about a grand for everything, except my labor, of course, which is always free.

 

AC

Scott - can you post some pictures and the kit or part numbers you used?

- Bill

 

....and difficulty-level of the install

Thanks too

 

ok, i used a gen 3 supercooler streetrod kit. the basic kit included the underdash heater/evaporater assy with electric solenoids for air distribution, a complete new set of controls, which went in where the originals came out, wiring harness and a pretty detailed instruction booklet. it was about 500.00 to that i added 2 optional defrost duct adaptors, 15 each? or less, a sanden compressor 200.00, and i had the local street rod shop that ordered all the parts for me make the hoses as i got stuff in place and knew how long and which type of ends i would need, another 150.00 or so. also, i had to remove my huge fiberglass defroster duct work and cut the top ends off (where it meets the wide opening in the dash outlets) and adapt the ducts to the hoses supplied. (the extra defroster adaptors mentioned) the kit did not include enough hose, so i had to order some more, about 6 extra feet. (these kits are designed for a 32 ford, not a 70s buick) idid not use thier condenser, as i had the orignal from my car and since i was making hoses anyhow, it was easy to adapt. the housing with blower motor/heater core/evaporater fit behiund the glovebox to accross behind the radio. iha ve an afterm arket radio, with a big stockcer it woud be tight.

level of difficulty-hmmmmm- well i have been doing auto repair since i was a teenager, working in new car prep after school at a chevy dealer so-for me, not too difficult. HOWEVER i did not have the engine in the car when i fit the indash stuff and removed the oe stuff (factory ac car) and i believe that was a plus. then, i had to cutup an oe compressor mounting bracket, which i did on my 455 on a stand so we could get belt alignment correct and it was easy to do out of the car. required some sawzall work, some welding and slight tweaking. then after it was all installed, i took it to a professional shop to have the system evacuated and charged with 134 refrigerant. my recomedation? if you are competent and have confidence in your wrenching ab ilities and have friends who can do the welding for you, and YOU PAY ATTENTION to thier instruction booklet, you can do it. i suggest you use a local dealer from thier list if possible, even though i am schooled in a/c repair and have a lifetime of auto repair behind me, occasional help from guys who have installed these already in a variety of cars was invaluable. the shop where i boughtmy stuff did not recomend a chevelle kit after looking at my car, as half the components were not going to adapt easily and thats why we used the street rod kit. i will try to post some pics soon.:TU:

 

Oh man, great minds must think alike. My heater core is cracked in my '70 non-A/C and I was looking into this but came up with nothing that looked like a drop-in.

I'm no welder and a so-so wrencher. Has anyone considered making and/or selling modified A/C brackets for Buicks?

Would the above kit go on a non-A/C car as easily as it went on a previously A/C equipped car?

Thanks!