Aftermarket A/C?

[80' 427]

anyone ever install it? What brand? Problems?

 

[jonrpick]

I'm curious about the Vintage Air setups, myself... subscribed.

 

[herkdriver007]

I've also been curious...either the aftermarket, or maybe anyone tried a setup from a gmt400 series??

 

[6872xtc]

I had Vintage Air in my '70 and took it out after being frustrated at it every winter. The fan was louder than factory stuff and way less heat. It was recirculate ONLY so the windows were always fogging over. I had ice on the inside when temps were below 25 out. The cooling was fine, but same fan irritation. I didn't like some of the component fitment when I got it, so I worked on that. But it did hold a charge for all of the 10 years I put up with it. No matter what, I am very glad to be rid of it!!!!!!!!!
After owning that system for that much time, I rehashed every possibilty to make it suit me better, but why when factory stuff can work better. It was not easy to make the hose connections inside the cab, then I was nervous about tweaking a line, not much airflow change for fan speeds, I had to adjust the thermostat for the compressor for summer and winter, it couldn't even keep the windows from fogging in a summer night rain storm!!
I know the humidity in Nebraska is higher than where I am now, I used to live by South Sioux City, so I think that may be concern. Like I said, the A/C worked fine, but if you use your truck year around and get it in low temps... When was the last time a hotrod was out in such conditions???
Sorry for the long response/rant, but...

 

[rdn2blazer]

My bud used to run a hot rod shop. They installed many of those units. I WILL be running an aftermarket air conditioning unit in my K5. Vintage Air is a good unit, but my buddy said they prefered the HOT ROD unit over the Vintage. Hot Rod offered a larger variety of kits and had nicer vents, knobs, options on their kits he said. I just found out they are out of bussiness though. First link below has some good info, but it's from 2009. Says there're 7 companies offering aftermarket units, now minus HOT ROD AIR. Some others may be out of bussiness with the economy the way it is too. I'm going with the Vintage Air. They have improoved their stuff over the years.

http://www.hotrod.com/howto/hrdp_0706_air_conditioning/viewall.html

http://www.classicautoair.com/Other_Models_Air_Conditioning_AC.html

http://www.vintageair.com/

 

[80' 427]

I didn't like vintage air's set up said this much for the kit (which was a bit high), then you will need this, and this, and this, and this......... Honestly money is a bit of an issue but if someone says "man that kit was a breeze and they had all the parts" I would be willing to spend more for it.

I was looking at this kit because they list my truck and engine. It is for my dually with the 6.2.

http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=01&Category_Code=AMA14370-4089

 

[80' 427]

Also I thought about stock but really swapping in a junkyard pieces but it seems like as much or more work and most of that stuff is warn out and alot of mine is full of mouse piss.

 

[herkdriver007]

I've always wanted to know if it is possible to swap in a later model AC with most of the components located in the cooler section inside the cab vs under the hood...