Aftermarket Air

[Dave6T4]

I would like to hear thoughts from the All-Knowing Mopar Forum on adding aftermarket air conditioning to my 1964 Dodge Polara. I once installed factory set-up from a parts car into this, but it never worked right. So I have all the factory air vents and engine pulleys. One concern is that goofy fresh air outlet in the right side kick panel area. It is a big gaping hole, and I don't know what to do there. I see Jim Kramer has a repro duct that came with heater delete cars. I am leaning toward a system from Vintage Air over the set-up from Classic Air, mainly because I can get free shipping into Canada if I buy from Summit Racing. I see Vintage has a bracket set for 440 and a separate piece for cars using TRW power steering pump as mine does. I am concerned about clearance around wiper motor and glove box. I had all the old holes for factory set-up in firewall filled and body worked when I had the car painted, so firewall is a clean slate for new installation.
Both of the mentioned companies offer drop-in kits for 1966-1970 B-bodies but there is not one for 1962-1965. My car has a thick 22" radiator and metal shroud that has kept the 440 cool in the past, even with the old condenser in front of it. I need hot, cold, and defrost. Any help from people who have done this installation would be greatly appreciated. Suggestions regarding switches and placement would be good. I thought I could operate fresh air door with cable hooked to original hot/cold lever in dash. The instrument panel is still not installed in my car, to make putting in this air conditioning easier. Thanking everyone in advance.

 

[ruffcut]

Check out Old Air Products. I used them to do AC in my 63 Fury, and am currently using them to do my 68 RR. RUFFCUT

 

[vance.dykes]

i installed classic auto air as has some others hear . but i installed my compressor on the right lower side. great system

 

[Larrywre]

I also installed Classic Air, works well. Two years now. The only problem was the mounting bracket, all systems are made for 66 or later with the engine mounted a few inches back. I went with Classic because I could use the car's built-in vacuum controls. (I made small computer control to convert vacuum to electronic.)

 

[Dan64]

Some like the look , others not so much but a Mark lv style under dash unit has the advantage of having the controls on the face, metal and chrome face so it fits the look the the 60's . Also don't have to worry about running duct work or vents for guys that don't already have them. They also mount under the dash so no worries about wiper linkage ,glove box depth, e.c.t. It's an option.

 

[Dave6T4]

Some like the look , others not so much but a Mark lv style under dash unit has the advantage of having the controls on the face, metal and chrome face so it fits the look the the 60's . Also don't have to worry about running duct work or vents for guys that don't already have them. They also mount under the dash so no worries about wiper linkage ,glove box depth, e.c.t. It's an option.

This will not work for me because my car has factory console that I wish to retain. Canadian 4-door hardtop with factory by

Some like the look , others not so much but a Mark lv style under dash unit has the advantage of having the controls on the face, metal and chrome face so it fits the look the the 60's . Also don't have to worry about running duct work or vents for guys that don't already have them. They also mount under the dash so no worries about wiper linkage ,glove box depth, e.c.t. It's an option.

This will not work for me since my car has a console that I wish to retain. Canadian 4-door hardtop with factory bucket seats and console.

 

[Dan64]

cool car

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

I installed vintage air in my 65. I mounted my compressor where the power steering pump would be. I used a Bouchillon performance bracket for the compressor and built the other brackets for the evaporator/heater box. Also the condenser and and drier. The A/C is cold and defrost works well.

 

[Dave6T4]

I installed vintage air in my 65. I mounted my compressor where the power steering pump would be. I used a Bouchillon performance bracket for the compressor and built the other brackets for the evaporator/heater box. Also the condenser and and drier. The A/C is cold and defrost works well.

Thanks Scott. What model of evaporator did you use? Did it clear the glove box, or did you have to modify it? What did you do with fresh outside air hole in passenger side kick panel area? Vintage Air lists engine brackets for mounting compressor above power steering pump. Vintage has so many options for compressor, hoses, etc., that I find it confusing. I think I will contact V A to see what hardware they supply for Surefit kit for '66 Coronet and modify that as needed. The rad support and engine sit further ahead of the cowl on a '64 than on a '66 so hoses would have to be longer. I already have factory air conditioning vents and engine pulleys.

 

[vance.dykes]

Thanks Scott. What model of evaporator did you use? Did it clear the glove box, or did you have to modify it? What did you do with fresh outside air hole in passenger side kick panel area? Vintage Air lists engine brackets for mounting compressor above power steering pump. Vintage has so many options for compressor, hoses, etc., that I find it confusing. I think I will contact V A to see what hardware they supply for Surefit kit for '66 Coronet and modify that as needed. The rad support and engine sit further ahead of the cowl on a '64 than on a '66 so hoses would have to be longer. I already have factory air conditioning vents and engine pulleys.

on the classic air system i got cut to fit hose and different ends i.e straight 45 and 90 . now v/a had a short glove box i bought and it looks great.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Thanks Scott. What model of evaporator did you use? Did it clear the glove box, or did you have to modify it? What did you do with fresh outside air hole in passenger side kick panel area? Vintage Air lists engine brackets for mounting compressor above power steering pump. Vintage has so many options for compressor, hoses, etc., that I find it confusing. I think I will contact V A to see what hardware they supply for Surefit kit for '66 Coronet and modify that as needed. The rad support and engine sit further ahead of the cowl on a '64 than on a '66 so hoses would have to be longer. I already have factory air conditioning vents and engine pulleys.

My brother in law works for Vintage air and I can get you all the info.
I will get you some pictures of what we did

 

[67charger383]

Open the vent windows and hit the gas.

 

[Dave6T4]

My brother in law works for Vintage air and I can get you all the info.
I will get you some pictures of what we did

Thanks Scott. That would be great. I did underhood measurements of my '64 Polara vs. my '67 Coronet, which Vintage Air offers a kit for. It is an inch farther from the firewall to the rad support and power steering pump mount on the '64. Originally, I thought there would be more of a difference than this. I don't need vents, since I have factory ones. I think one of VA's switch panels could be made to mount on modified factory heater push button panel.

 

[747mopar]

Obviously not a 64 but maybe some ideas?


I installed Vintage Air in my Charger but went the custom route vs buying the kit, so far so good. In my case I was cleaning up the firewall and didn't want all of the extra holes plus wanted a cleaner install than the kit. As for the fresh air in the kit panel I got another driver side one and mounted it on the passenger side so now I have cable operated fresh air on both sides.

I chose to mount the AC pump on the passenger side so there would be no hoses dangling across the motor. The heater hoses were routed downward so they come in from the bottom also to keep them from dangling over the motor.

 

[Dave6T4]

Obviously not a 64 but maybe some ideas?


I installed Vintage Air in my Charger but went the custom route vs buying the kit, so far so good. In my case I was cleaning up the firewall and didn't want all of the extra holes plus wanted a cleaner install than the kit. As for the fresh air in the kit panel I got another driver side one and mounted it on the passenger side so now I have cable operated fresh air on both sides.

I chose to mount the AC pump on the passenger side so there would be no hoses dangling across the motor. The heater hoses were routed downward so they come in from the bottom also to keep them from dangling over the motor.
View attachment 1068104View attachment 1068106View attachment 1068108View attachment 1068109

Thank you. A very tidy installation, but more custom than I intend. Very nice looking underhood area.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Here is a before the air kit and an after the air install. I went through the inner fender on passenger side. Made a new panel on fender and at the fresh air vent

 

[convx4]

I have two 1965 factory AC systems that I am working on this winter. I think it would be easier/cheaper if you fix what you have. I can work with you on what I have found. Did you have the vacuum / air control switches rebuilt? They are prone to breaking. They can be rebuilt. e-mail me I don't all ways log in when I view the web site.

 

[Dave6T4]

I have two 1965 factory AC systems that I am working on this winter. I think it would be easier/cheaper if you fix what you have. I can work with you on what I have found. Did you have the vacuum / air control switches rebuilt? They are prone to breaking. They can be rebuilt. e-mail me I don't all ways log in when I view the web site.

Thanks for your post. My factory set-up was retrofitted from another parts car, but never really worked right. Then the heater core sprung a leak. When I disassembled the car for restoration, I discarded this broken system, and figured I would replace it with something else. However, I still have all the factory vents. I wanted to talk to Vintage Air in Texas, but the state is in quite a mess right now, so I will wait.

 

[EARLY B]

 

[Centerline]

I used a Vintage Air Gen II - Heat Cool and Defrost unit on my '64 Polara. I also used a Bouchillon performance bracket for the compressor which mounts it where the power steering pump usually sits.

The unit was easy to install and only required minor fabrication. My car didn't have AC originally so I had to modify the dash for the vents which required narrowing the glove box door but the finished product looks damn nice.