vintage air in an early A body

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737jetdr

737jetdr

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Hey everyone, I'm thinking about putting an aftermarket a/c system in my 65 Valiant. Nobody seems to make a model specific unit for this car so I will have to piece something together. Does anyone have an under the dash model from vintage air or any other company in their early A body? Looking for feedback, pics and tech tips if available. Thanks in advance.
 
Years ago we installed Vintage Air in a 64 Barracuda. We ordered a kit for a 64 Chevy Nova. Asked if we could have the Chrysler 318 compressor bracket.I think they sent the Chevy kit complete and the bracket separate. Everything fit and worked great.That's if you are doing a V8. If a Slant you have to find the factory Sanden bracket and pulleys from a 80's Mopar.
 
Was it the kit with the heater box or just the under dash unit that resembles what dealerships installed back in the day?
 
Yes, I put one in my '64 Valiant convertible several years ago, long before they offered kits for specific cars. It was a tight fit, but worked fine and only problem so far is a refrigerant leak that I have to fix before next summer. I did a write-up if interested.

Vintage Air
 
I just did this in my 66. Vintage air GenII Compac unit with defrost, air and heat.
Had to turn a/c heater box backwards for lines to fit. Set up to have A/C and heater lines close to A piller side rather than MoPar style more in bound toward distributor.
Modern compressor and brackets.
Made all my lines custom. Buying the tool makes easy work of building your own lines.
Many orders to Summit for 90 degree this and 45 degree that. it is a progress thing not to be done in one night.
The single belt driven compressor stinks- always carry a second belt. I think it is too much for one belt running the compressor, fan and alternator.I will see what I have for photos. Best work is dash board has to be empty so you have room to work.
I ended up mounting the controls in the glove box. I have a Center console so Glove box was empty.

Give me a moment to find pictures.
Syleng1
 
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Here is some before pictures
 
Syleng1, were you able to keep the factory floor vent box on the passenger side? I kinda like those boxes. They pull in a lot of fresh air.
 
737jetdr said:
Syleng1, were you able to keep the factory floor vent box on the passenger side? I kinda like those boxes. They pull in a lot of fresh air.
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No- pass had to go to make clear wiper motor. Box is all the way to the a-pillar to cowl side. I had to seal up the hole and then install a drain tube to allow any water to dribble out when washing the car.
 
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Once the car was put together I guess I did not take any more photos of the unit in action. I will see if I can dig up more. These were from last summer like June 2019. Shortly after this the interior was done and I managed to get 500 break in miles on the car before she was moth balled for winter.
 
Also I went with the Trinary switch for the receiver dryer. Like $10 more but it allows for more control over the ac.
Over all I have like 45hrs in getting everything right and looking proper.
Well as “proper” as a modern ac in a wicked old car can look.
Syleng1
 
GaryS said:
Yes, I put one in my '64 Valiant convertible several years ago, long before they offered kits for specific cars. It was a tight fit, but worked fine and only problem so far is a refrigerant leak that I have to fix before next summer. I did a write-up if interested.

Vintage Air
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What year is that write up from?
 
Syleng, Looks like a very clean installation. Is the bulkhead fitting panel a custom made piece or did you buy that? Does that unit do defrost, heat and cooling? Are you happy with it or would you do something different if you had to do it again?
 
737jetdr said:
Do you have a pic of dash controls and vents installed?
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I do not at the moment. Sorry. My dash is 100% redone to perfectly. I was originally going to try to use the factory controls to control the new unit. I ended up using the 4 knob controller and hid it in the glove box.
Defroster tubes went in really nice. the Gen II kit comes with a single length of 2 sizes.
One is for the defroster but you need to order a second length to do both defroster ducts.
The second diameter length is for under dash ducts.
I opted not to do those ducts - being 6ft tall, the ducts hit my knees when test fitting.
They also look like cr@p. IMHO.
Hiding the wiring is tough. The unit to the careless observer looks factory.
The single aluminum compressor looks modern but I was thinking of removing and painting flat black to kinda tone it down
a bit. The car was a part for so long that I dont care right now and just want to drive it.
The car was always tough on a hot sunny day driving. Rear window is like a green house.
AC this time around is a treat for sure.
 
737jetdr said:
Syleng, Looks like a very clean installation. Is the bulkhead fitting panel a custom made piece or did you buy that? Does that unit do defrost, heat and cooling? Are you happy with it or would you do something different if you had to do it again?
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It does heat, cool and defrost.
The bulk head fitting made life SOOOO easy. #8 fittings for 3 and a #4 fitting for 1.
I bought is from BECOOL I believe. AC fittings but they have many options to suit your taste
Its just an aluminum square plate and double ended female adapters that lock into the square.
Run a line to either side and its sealed.
Also, I hand bent all those aluminum tubes like to the condenser in front of the radiator.
Summit sells all this stuff. Also does Jeggs. Ebay is also a good source.
Best lesson is buy the Gen II kit after talking with the dealer (Vintage Air)
Once you get the kit, as you decide what you want to do or how you want to run stuff, you start looking for
sizes and parts. When I started I was over welmed. By the time I was done I could not wait to order another box just to convert another car of mine. Again the crimper, additional hose, hose cutter...on Amazon was best bet. The crimper one with the 2 sets of dies make quick work of crimping. There is one #8 for hoses and 1#8 for tubing crimps. Again it is easy one you jump in and start swimming.
Summit was best on parts for Vintage air after the fact. Again a #10 90 degree fitting- call them up and it was at my door in 1-2 days. There is no perfect "list" to give you other than look at my pics and see what parts you need.
 
I understand. I also have a 66 Cuda that I rescued from the Nevada desert years ago. I drive it daily in summer. No a/c, just the floor vents. Love the silver paint on yours. Faded paint and patina is how I roll.
 
737jetdr said:
I understand. I also have a 66 Cuda that I rescued from the Nevada desert years ago. I drive it daily in summer. No a/c, just the floor vents. Love the silver paint on yours. Faded paint and patina is how I roll.
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Wife gave me permission to "Do what I need to do-she's family."
I've owned her a long time. 1989. 3,000 miles in all those years.
approx 2,000 hours and Fourty K later.... she's a princess for sure.
 
Great job and explanation Syleng! Owning a 65 Cuda and wondering about air this is perfect! Although my car is still sitting in primer right now.
 
Syleng1 said:
Wife gave me permission to "Do what I need to do-she's family."
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That's funny. My wife calls our's Carl the Cuda. Don't think she'll ever give me the "ok" to sell it. It's not a princess by any means but it's definitely part of the family.
 
Wondering if Vintage gives you an option to use a factory compressor?
 
Idaho, Classic Auto Air has several ways to do it using factory existing under hood parts. They sell their set up for under dash, and heater-A/C combo.
737jetdr,The unit we used was the heat-A/C like Syleng1 .
 
Darter6 said:
737jetdr,The unit we used was the heat-A/C like Syleng1 .
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Thanks Darter6
I contacted Classic Auto Air today to inquire about the 67 A body setup in an early A. I completely forgot that the wiper motor location changed from inside to outside in 67. They basically told me the inside wiper motor in the early A keeps the 67 setup from fitting. I'll look into this more this weekend. Maybe a smaller wiper motor would make a difference.
 
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Garethw said:
What year is that write up from?
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My memory sucks, but I think it was around 2003...a couple of years after I got the car, but I don't remember exactly. Their newer and smaller units would make it easier now.

Seven or eight years ago I changed the console and HVAC controls to look a little more like something Mopar than Vintage Air.
 
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