1970 suburban A/C question

[GU3]

So I just brought home a 1970 1/2 ton 4x4 Chevy suburban. I've had 2 others when I was younger and been looking for another one ever since.

So the first of many questions is about the A/C. I haven't taken the time to look under the dash but it has a compressor, tubing going back to the back and the factory rear A/C. It seems to be missing the blower motor in the back.

I realized when I got it home that it doesn't have the 2 ball vents and center vent above the radio. Is it possible that it has rear A/C but not in the dash??

I thought that those 3 vents in the front were standard for A/C from 67 through 72. Am I wrong? '

Any info is greatly appreciated as I start this project.

[Bigdav160]

Someone else will know better than me but I recall roof A/C was all that was available until '72 (maybe '71?) when GM went to front and rear A/C

[GU3]

Ok thanks. It seems like there was not a front A/C option in 1970. Vintage Aire has options for trucks without factory air or with factory air. I'm hoping there is a way to add the vents up front and tie both front and rear air together so that the factory controls work for both.

I live in Arizona so A/C is kind of mandatory. Any input??

[BB72CHEVKT]

You have dealer installed a/c. At one stime there would have been a unit under the dash with blower motor and a rear unit as well.

[BK72BURB_3/4Ton4x4]

I recently aquired my '72 (from AZ interestingly enough) which does not have factory A/C. I have a local hot rod guy who runs a shop out of his home and only does heat and A/C. He is going to install the Vintage Air "package" for non-AC Suburbans in my Suburban soon (once I get it back from the body shop doing rust repair around the windshield pinch) The install will require cutting holes in the non AC dash for new vents and I'll lose 1/2 my glove box but the factory box/fan comes out which really cleans up the engine compartment. I already have a compressor so the balance of the setup/installation is going to lighten my wallet by about 2500. I'll be sure to snap some before and after pics and post back once done.

Brian

[Bigdav160]

Does it look like this?

[1leglance]

I also have a 70 burb, also live in Phoenix and in pretty much the same all around boat you are

I am going to go with the Vintage air in dash setup as I run it on my 72 truck, yep gonna cut the holes in the dash for the 3 vents.
Then I am gonna ALSO run the rear roof AC setup with a seperate fan control so I can set the fan speed as needed.
However instead of the original roof tunnel I am gonna use a later model cover as I have seen others do this and it works well & looks good.
All I am waiting on is a Good Guys Show special next weekend or a Black Friday deal after Thanksgiving to buy my Vintage Air stuff.

Lastly Vintage Air makes a larger condensor that I plan to fit into my rad support as we need all the help we can get here in the Valley of the Inferno.

Oh and anytime you want to hit the trail with me & another board member who runs a 72 burb just pm we...or check my build thread for info on how mine has come along.

[GU3]

Leglance, how much is it going to set you back to do everything you listed? Where are you planning on locating the rear A/C control? Are you doing the work or having someone do it?

The picture shows that the center part running down the middle for A/C was removed before I got the suburban.

I agree that it would be best to do the vents up front and the rear just in the back like the 72's. Thanks for all your input

[unclefreddy]

Find a rear air. I paid $400 for mine and have been looking for a while. 2 days after I bought it I fount two on Craigslist for $150 each and he would ship. Boy was I unhappy that day.

[blfuller123]

Originally Posted by unclefreddy

Find a rear air. I paid $400 for mine and have been looking for a while. 2 days after I bought it I fount two on Craigslist for $150 each and he would ship. Boy was I unhappy that day.

Ive been looking for an while and havent had any luck.

[unclefreddy]

Keep looking, they are out there. Most wont ship. I had to drive 6 hours to get mine.

[GU3]

I've been looking but no luck yet. Hopefully I'll have it figured out before summer when the Arizona heat arrives.

Has anybody done a separate control for the rear A/C? If so, where did you mount it and what kind of a control did you use??

[twistedchevy]

Originally Posted by GU3

I've been looking but no luck yet. Hopefully I'll have it figured out before summer when the Arizona heat arrives.

Has anybody done a separate control for the rear A/C? If so, where did you mount it and what kind of a control did you use??

On some of the suburbans with only rear ac their was a switch for it in the gauge cluster under the headlight switch