Best A/C Unit?

dodge68charger · Sep 4, 2019

Looking To Put A/C In My 1969 Roadrunner. The Car Didn't Come With It..

Which Company Should I Go With?

Thanks

tmaleck · Sep 4, 2019

I've used Vintage Air out of San Antonio several times with good results.
Tim

Kern Dog · Sep 4, 2019

I am installing a Classic Auto Air kit. The parts seem to be reasonably well made B U T....
The instructions are shitty. Pages missing, steps overlooked, incomplete, just a mess. They might as well have made a three page manual that just states: "Install system" for as helpful as it was. I had to modify parts, make brackets and plug holes....None of this is mentioned in the instructions or on their site. For a kit they call "Perfect Fit", it is absolutely not accurate. The compressor brackets are another thing. I have an aluminum water pump housing. Beware that IF you have one, you will need a different set of brackets for the compressor because the thermostat sits up about 5/8" higher and their standard brackets will not work. Notify them when you order the kit.
Steps are not spelled out clearly in many cases. There are multiple obstacles and setbacks that are not mentioned. I am a competent backyard mechanic and this has been a frustrating job.
See my thread "Installing Classic Auto Air in a '70 Charger". Again, the parts seem to be well made but their instructions are terrible.

Kern Dog · Sep 4, 2019

I would say that the sales rep that answered my questions was fantastic. I cannot blame him in any way. The problem lies with whoever wrote the instructions. They seem to be written for someone that has done this before.
IN their defense, they are not the only business that does this. Yesterday I installed a garage door opener that had decent instructions but there were additional parts needed to complete the job, stuff that was not included in the box. In the instructions (That were also NOT in the box...the installer had to go to their website) that I had the Wife print out, there were a few instances where they showed parts Not included, must purchase separately. Why not put that somewhere on the outside of the box?

Kern Dog · Sep 4, 2019

Read this thread. I can answer most questions you might need on this kit.

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopa...ling-classic-auto-air-in-a-70-charger.178445/

hanks73340 · Sep 4, 2019

Kern Dog said:
Read this thread. I can answer most questions you might need on this kit.

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopa...ling-classic-auto-air-in-a-70-charger.178445/

Thanks for your insight on this KD. I also have the Classic Air kit sitting in my garage. Just have not gotten to it yet to install. I will be following your thread.

PurpleBeeper · Sep 4, 2019

Thank you gentlemen! Good info. I was kind of wondering the same thing, and I know that if kerndog says the instructions suck and it's a PIA, I 100% believe him. It sounds like Vintage air is the winner.

Sorry to hijack dodge68charger..... I've seen compressors mounted in different locations. Anybody know which A/C kit (if any) might clear an air grabber setup?

1 Wild R/T · Sep 4, 2019

PurpleBeeper said:
Thank you gentlemen! Good info. I was kind of wondering the same thing, and I know that if kerndog says the instructions suck and it's a PIA, I 100% believe him. It sounds like Vintage air is the winner.

Sorry to hijack dodge68charger..... I've seen compressors mounted in different locations. Anybody know which A/C kit (if any) might clear an air grabber setup?

Do you have an aluminum waterpump? or iron? Like Greg mentioned earlier the aluminum pump requires the compressor be 5/8=3/4" higher & that will cause interference... An iron pump & mount the compressor with the fittings out the side & your good, it'll fit under the A/G air cleaner..

Kern Dog · Sep 4, 2019

PurpleBeeper said:
Thank you gentlemen! Good info. I was kind of wondering the same thing, and I know that if kerndog says the instructions suck and it's a PIA, I 100% believe him. It sounds like Vintage air is the winner.

I don't have any experience with the Vintage Air stuff. I can only comment on the instructions of my Classic Auto Air kit to be a problem. It is entirely possible for the Vintage Air to have equally bad instructions! I don't know of anyone that has had any serious trouble with either kit in terms of quality of their parts.

chtampa · Sep 4, 2019

Classic has an impressive control unit that resembles the factory RR controls and I converted all four vents to factory locations. Works good.

Kern Dog · Sep 4, 2019

chtampa said:
Classic has an impressive control unit that resembles the factory RR controls and I converted all four vents to factory locations. Works good.

I do like the look of the controls. I also liked that it is an all electric setup compared to the vacuum/electric stock unit.

1 Wild R/T · Sep 4, 2019

Kern Dog said:
I do like the look of the controls. I also liked that it is an all electric setup compared to the vacuum/electric stock unit.

Considering how many original vacuum operated systems still work find & the technology involved was used by Chrysler/GM & Ford up until the 90's when they changed to electric actuators which fail constantly (That clicking/popping noise under your dash) I'd rather have old school stuff...

HawkRod · Sep 4, 2019

chtampa · Sep 4, 2019

Kern Dog said:
I do like the look of the controls. I also liked that it is an all electric setup compared to the vacuum/electric stock unit.

My only complaints are that the box leaves zero clearance with the glove box install. I had to hook a tie strap to the bottom of the dash and the back of the car to get the glove box in after the fact. Also the heater control valve is plastic and looks totally foreign under the hood. I made a metal cover for it. My particular combination was a factory system under the hood and the aftermarket inside box. I was particular about the "old school" look. My setup is very stock looking.

Cornpatch MO · Sep 4, 2019

Vintage air has the installation instructions on their website. Takes some searching to find it. Seems to be pretty straight forward. Only problem we had with mine , was that it had factory air , and that is what my kit was ordered for. The comp. mount was wrong because the original one had been taken off. We had to exchange for a different mount bracket, and it is a much cleaner set up anyway. ....Not Vintage Air fault...... They are very good to work with .............

RT K_line · May 19, 2020

PurpleBeeper said:
Thank you gentlemen! Good info. I was kind of wondering the same thing, and I know that if kerndog says the instructions suck and it's a PIA, I 100% believe him. It sounds like Vintage air is the winner.

Sorry to hijack dodge68charger..... I've seen compressors mounted in different locations. Anybody know which A/C kit (if any) might clear an air grabber setup?

The brackets I have mount where the power steering pump goes and shouldn’t affect the air grabber set up. It from Bouchilion. I don’t think I spelled it right.

Best A/C Unit?

dodge68charger

Well-Known Member

tmaleck

Well-Known Member

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

hanks73340

FBBO Gold Member

PurpleBeeper

Well-Known Member

1 Wild R/T

FBBO Gold Member

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

chtampa

Well-Known Member

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

1 Wild R/T

FBBO Gold Member

HawkRod

Formerly hsorman

chtampa

Well-Known Member

Cornpatch MO

Well-Known Member

RT K_line

Well-Known Member

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