the original defrost adapters screwed under my dash worked fine with the va system, the va replacements are short
i used a hybrid system under my dash instead of the va surefit as i didn't want the plastic heater duct
my hybrid consists of the surefit condenser/dryer/trinary up front and the compac mini under the dash
works very well, will run you out of the cab in either heat or cool function
unlike orrieg i never had much luck with the stock heaters, they would barely keep the windshield clear, much less any heat into the cab
extreme sub-zero winters in montana, wyoming and colorado: nothing you will encounter in la