Adding Air

[old51sedan]

My truck is about stripped & ready to head to the paint shop. Thinking seriously of adding Vintage Air & Heat afterwards. Been talking with a vintage air dealer in regards to installing compressor bracket on passenger side of my 292. Waiting for a return phone call from someone who builds their L6 brackets. My other situation is the air vents. I'm thinking I have a few options, but would greatly appreciate any feed back from anyone who has done this.
1. Truck is stripped, glass and all. best time to install an air dash.
2. Cut the holes and install original air ports.
3. I understand you can buy small chrome ones with the vintage air.
Does anyone have an opinion and/or past experience doing this change?

[Bearhawg]

Mine is at the shop right now installing the VA surefit and I can give you my feed back when its done. I went with the in dash vents. Mine is a non air truck.

[old51sedan]

Of course mine is a non air also, I'm just checking my options. Did you pull the heater box and weld up the holes in the firewall first? I would love to see pictures of yours when done and a report also. I take it your having it installed, was there much of a price difference between that and doing it yourself? Please keep us posted. Thanks for the reply also.

[darrellyates]

I did exactly what you are talking about doing. I have a non-a/c cab, and wanted it to look factory. I used Vintage Air, and put the factory round vents in the dash along with the center vent above the radio.

My suggestion? Cut the holes for the outlets prior to paint. Also, since the cab is bare, make a metal filler plate and weld it into the firewall. Also, pre-mount your a/c unit in the cab, and have all your holes and mounting pre-figured out prior to paint. Then, you simply install the bolts and bits and you're off... I did mine this way. Will try to post a couple of pictures for you.

Good Luck!!

[shoveldug]

Originally Posted by darrellyates

I did exactly what you are talking about doing. I have a non-a/c cab, and wanted it to look factory. I used Vintage Air, and put the factory round vents in the dash along with the center vent above the radio.

My suggestion? Cut the holes for the outlets prior to paint. Also, since the cab is bare, make a metal filler plate and weld it into the firewall. Also, pre-mount your a/c unit in the cab, and have all your holes and mounting pre-figured out prior to paint. Then, you simply install the bolts and bits and you're off... I did mine this way. Will try to post a couple of pictures for you.

Good Luck!!

Very sound advice! Did mine the same way other than mounting the unit. If you pre mount the unit you will be certain it fits properly and wont have to drill through your new paint.

[old51sedan]

Beautiful Truck, that sounds like a plan. The only problem is it's about time to go to the shop and I haven't bought the air yet. I'm always doing things back ass wards. I would like to see the pictures though. Thanks for the advice.

[darrellyates]

Speaking only from personal experience.... It's less expensive to buy the unit first, and do all the fit up, than to modify and run the risk of having to touch up paint later.... And, I am speaking from experience. That's why I mounted mine and fixed the firewall prior to going to final bodywork and paint. Even if you install everything, vents, radio, the works and take it out for paint and then re-install it later, it will save you grief down the road.

At least it did for me. Here's the firewall during build.

[old51sedan]

Thanks for the picture of the firewall. Not only do you have a nice truck, but a nice clean work area also. Love the interior also.

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

Thanks for the picture of the firewall. Not only do you have a nice truck, but a nice clean work area also. Love the interior also.

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, when I built the house, I tried to plan reasonable garage space. My oldest boy and I built all the cabinetry in the garage, and I have way too much of it, but I like it anyway. And, if I knew how much I would use the lifts, I would have had one 30 years ago. They are extremely handy.

Good luck with your truck!

[jfnar]

I'd be interested to see what kind of compressor bracket you come up with for the 292. I'm going to put AC in my 68 and finding a compressor bracket for the 292 seems to be an obstacle. None of the AC vendors that I've checked with offer one.

[old51sedan]

I may have found one that sits on the right hand side, working on that as we speak.

[suville]

Check this,http://ecihotrodbrakes.com/chevrolet...ve_system.html I am using this setup dont have the air kit yet. Not sure if it clears the HEI was told "its tight " we'll see

[jfnar]

I have a compressor and bracket from a mid 80's 250 that I can make work but it's a pancake type compressor. I'm on a tight budget so if I can make something I already own work I'll lean in that direction. Probably won't get to it this summer though. I have my iron in too many fires already.

[71blksuper4x4]

darrellyates, what model of vintage air do you have? Looks great.

[Rufas]

a/c

Originally Posted by old51sedan

My truck is about stripped & ready to head to the paint shop. Thinking seriously of adding Vintage Air & Heat afterwards. Been talking with a vintage air dealer in regards to installing compressor bracket on passenger side of my 292. Waiting for a return phone call from someone who builds their L6 brackets. My other situation is the air vents. I'm thinking I have a few options, but would greatly appreciate any feed back from anyone who has done this.
1. Truck is stripped, glass and all. best time to install an air dash.
2. Cut the holes and install original air ports.
3. I understand you can buy small chrome ones with the vintage air.
Does anyone have an opinion and/or past experience doing this change?

I have those Vintage Air vents in my 67 Cutlass and the Olds A/C factory vents that are similar to the Chevy factory truck vents. The Vintage Air vents look good, but they don't flow air anywhere near the air flow of the factory vents.

[old51sedan]

In a conversation with VA I understand that it comes with two small chrome vents (apprently like yours) and one for above the radio. Thanks for the picture, nice cutlass by the way. I have a 78 Delta Holiday88 with the factory buckets and etc. It's all original with 23,000 miles.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

In a conversation with VA I understand that it comes with two small chrome vents (apprently like yours) and one for above the radio. Thanks for the picture, nice cutlass by the way. I have a 78 Delta Holiday88 with the factory buckets and etc. It's all original with 23,000 miles.

Wow! That's low miles...

[Bird dog]

I suggest you cut the dash holes prior to paint. I am just finishing the build now and the pics show where I am today. I bought the stock vents, but ended up using the VA ones instead. I liked the look.

If you have the time, I would also weld up the panel that comes with the kit on the firewall. Thats what I did. I think it cleans it up.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by Bird dog

I suggest you cut the dash holes prior to paint. I am just finishing the build now and the pics show where I am today. I bought the stock vents, but ended up using the VA ones instead. I liked the look.

If you have the time, I would also weld up the panel that comes with the kit on the firewall. Thats what I did. I think it cleans it up.

Very Clean. Nice work!

[old51sedan]

Thanks a bunch for the pictures. Are all three of these vents the ones that came with your VA kit? They look nice, especially the one above the radio. The plate you welded on the firewall came with the VA kit? Was there a certain number on this kit? I'm going to send you PM. Thanks, Donn

[Bird dog]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

Thanks a bunch for the pictures. Are all three of these vents the ones that came with your VA kit? They look nice, especially the one above the radio. The plate you welded on the firewall came with the VA kit? Was there a certain number on this kit? I'm going to send you PM. Thanks, Donn

Yes these are the vents that came with the kit, they almost look stock.

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

darrellyates, what model of vintage air do you have? Looks great.

My Vintage Air is model 751170. That is the system for non-a/c trucks. I did add the factory round outlets on each side of the cab, because I wanted it to look like a factory A/C truck. Additionally, I changed the non-a/c controller to an a/c control unit in the dash because I like the dark face on the controller. Personal choice on that part.

Other than that, pretty straight forward installation.

Have a great day!!

[57Suburb]

Originally Posted by jfnar

I'd be interested to see what kind of compressor bracket you come up with for the 292. I'm going to put AC in my 68 and finding a compressor bracket for the 292 seems to be an obstacle. None of the AC vendors that I've checked with offer one.

This company in Wisconsin makes an adjustable AC bracket for the L6 that gives clearance for HEI.

https://davisspeedequipment.com/prod...62-84-194-250/

There's this one too from Old Air Group, but has to be small cap distributer.

https://www.oldairproducts.com/produ...assengers-side

[67/Heaven]

Originally Posted by 57Suburb

This company in Wisconsin makes an adjustable AC bracket for the L6 that gives clearance for HEI.

https://davisspeedequipment.com/prod...62-84-194-250/

There's this one too from Old Air Group, but has to be small cap distributer.

https://www.oldairproducts.com/produ...assengers-side

They make a quality product, I purchased a PS bracket for my 292 from them on ebay.

[Myoldtruck]

For those who have done the conversion. Are you happy with the cooling ability of the unit. Im thinking of doing a system for my every day driver, but i want it to work great.