Vintage air options???

[SpeedlabDan]

So I’ve been overwhelmed just by dipping my toe in the waters of aftermarket cooling options and I’m not sure what to do to say the least. I’ve seen guys use $600 Amazon universal kits on the YouTube and I’ve seen the gen 5 vintage air setup for square guys that iirc is $5000

Any who’s, I just wanted to see how you guys made out in your builds if you actually went the route of putting the ac in and if it’s worth it for a crew cab

 

[Babaganoosh]

I’m installing vintage air in a single cab right now.

My gut says it will work like the new trucks do where it’s awesome for the front passenger gets but sucks for the rear cause you don’t have a vent blowing on you.

 

[imiceman44]

So I’ve been overwhelmed just by dipping my toe in the waters of aftermarket cooling options and I’m not sure what to do to say the least. I’ve seen guys use $600 Amazon universal kits on the YouTube and I’ve seen the gen 5 vintage air setup for square guys that iirc is $5000

Any who’s, I just wanted to see how you guys made out in your builds if you actually went the route of putting the ac in and if it’s worth it for a crew cab

View attachment 531810

I still prefer the stock system, maybe improved with a sanden compressor.
Cheaper and you can buy parts anywhere

 

[SpeedlabDan]

I’m installing vintage air in a single cab right now.

My gut says it will work like the new trucks do where it’s awesome for the front passenger gets but sucks for the rear cause you don’t have a vent blowing on you.

That’s what I’m thinking but I feel if it’s better than how hot my crew cab gets it may be worth it

 

[SpeedlabDan]

I still prefer the stock system, maybe improved with a sanden compressor.
Cheaper and you can buy parts anywhere

So unfortunately going back the factory route , though possible I don’t think is feasible for me as I’ve removed the factory ac box etc and it would be easier and possibly cheaper to go the vintage route. That being said would it be worth going with a budget system or going for the high end that would correct some of the dash control issues I have.

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Also no matter what system I decide on there’s the issue of adding a compressor back onto the accessory drive on the engine and I no longer have the brackets on the engine and as most of you know going to an aftermarket accessory drive with any compressor iirc was close to $2000 for a bbc

 

[obijuank5]

I have vintage air in my non ac crew cab. I’m in San Antonio TX area. Initially it had vinyl seats and no headliner and just a rubber floor liner. I would have to park in the shade because otherwise it would take over 30 minutes to recover to comfortable temps in the cab.
It is now insulated and it can recover much faster and if I park in the shade for the day it’s very comfortable immediately.
It is about 8 years old now so whatever that version is with a sanden sd7h15 and a vintage air monster condenser.

It works as good as my suburban with stock ac and sanden compressor. VA does not have the fresh air intake so it can fog up the windows sometimes but that’s like one week a year here.

If the compressor brackets are a problem surely VA has something. If not the electric compressors are an option but do draw a TON of power.

 

[imiceman44]

I have vintage air in my non ac crew cab. I’m in San Antonio TX area. Initially it had vinyl seats and no headliner and just a rubber floor liner. I would have to park in the shade because otherwise it would take over 30 minutes to recover to comfortable temps in the cab.
It is now insulated and it can recover much faster and if I park in the shade for the day it’s very comfortable immediately.
It is about 8 years old now so whatever that version is with a sanden sd7h15 and a vintage air monster condenser.

It works as good as my suburban with stock ac and sanden compressor. VA does not have the fresh air intake so it can fog up the windows sometimes but that’s like one week a year here.

If the compressor brackets are a problem surely VA has something. If not the electric compressors are an option but do draw a TON of power.

Yeah in New Jersey he will definitely need defrost. Humidity is really high there

 

[imiceman44]

Also no matter what system I decide on there’s the issue of adding a compressor back onto the accessory drive on the engine and I no longer have the brackets on the engine and as most of you know going to an aftermarket accessory drive with any compressor iirc was close to $2000 for a bbc

That is easily remedied.
I might have those parts, and it's possible @kennyw might as well.
You would be a lot cheaper.

 

[SpeedlabDan]

I have vintage air in my non ac crew cab. I’m in San Antonio TX area. Initially it had vinyl seats and no headliner and just a rubber floor liner. I would have to park in the shade because otherwise it would take over 30 minutes to recover to comfortable temps in the cab.
It is now insulated and it can recover much faster and if I park in the shade for the day it’s very comfortable immediately.
It is about 8 years old now so whatever that version is with a sanden sd7h15 and a vintage air monster condenser.

It works as good as my suburban with stock ac and sanden compressor. VA does not have the fresh air intake so it can fog up the windows sometimes but that’s like one week a year here.

If the compressor brackets are a problem surely VA has something. If not the electric compressors are an option but do draw a TON of power.

That’s awesome to hear with your heat down there it gets hot only a few months here but I do have a carpet and sound mat on the floors I don’t have a headliner. So this seems like it’s worth it if that be the case

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

What accessory drive are you running currently?

BBC (66-93) Early Serpentine Conversion Kit with Crank Pulley Adapter

Big Block serpentine conversion kit adapts early (pre-1995) SBC V8 / V6 serpentine brackets to your BBC engine. Includes crank pulley adapter for BBC engines (1966-1993)

www.kwikperf.com

It's not expensive to run gmt400 sbc serpentine stuff on a bbc