Different air controls for an 87 (with AC)

[bennylava]

Hi all, I'd like to ditch the factory air controls for my 87 truck and get something more modern. After 12 years of owning the truck (never gonna sell it) I find that I just don't like those old levers. I guess I never liked em.

Is anyone aware of something with buttons or knobs that would fit in the factory slot? Instead of those old style levers. Who knows, maybe there's even something out there with a digital readout of some kind. Doesn't have to be though. Just something that will fit, that I can hook up all the factory air stuff too. I do have air conditioning so that might affect which one I can get.

Maybe an odd request I know, but I just don't like those things.

Thanks!

[v30crewcab]

don't know of any direct fit, unless vintage air has a different panel for their system.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by bennylava

Hi all, I'd like to ditch the factory air controls for my 87 truck and get something more modern. After 12 years of owning the truck (never gonna sell it) I find that I just don't like those old levers. I guess I never liked em.

Is anyone aware of something with buttons or knobs that would fit in the factory slot? Instead of those old style levers. Who knows, maybe there's even something out there with a digital readout of some kind. Doesn't have to be though. Just something that will fit, that I can hook up all the factory air stuff too. I do have air conditioning so that might affect which one I can get.

Maybe an odd request I know, but I just don't like those things.

Thanks!

Whew!

I'd like to ditch the controls in my '04 and go back to something like in my '87!

K

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

don't know of any direct fit, unless vintage air has a different panel for their system.

I've heard that just about any will work once you adapt the fittings. So that leaves only the size. Which means I'll have to find a way to get measurements on different ones. Might just have to take mine to the junkyard and ask the guys working there which ones are the same size.

I'm guessing not many, but there's bound to be something out there. The modern ones are probably all somewhat larger.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by bennylava

I've heard that just about any will work once you adapt the fittings. So that leaves only the size. Which means I'll have to find a way to get measurements on different ones. Might just have to take mine to the junkyard and ask the guys working there which ones are the same size.

I'm guessing not many, but there's bound to be something out there. The modern ones are probably all somewhat larger.

Keep in mind that any modern setup the controls are electronic and yours are vacuum operated.

[Axle]

I did this with a ford, I spent a few days pouring over vacuum manuals searching for newer vehicles that had the same vacuum logic tree as the original and in my case, had a cable controlled blend door. Then I went to the autowreckers to find said vehicles and see what would potentially fit.
I'd start with having a close look at the next generation gm trucks or whenever they went to dials and see if they still operated the blend doors the same way. If so, you're golden. Just a matter of patching the old and new together.

[SunSoaked]

Do what I did, tear every last piece of the OEM system out and install a modern plug and play system in. I'm using Vintage Air surefit and it works perfect. Do the entire system, r134 Sander compressor and all. Second best thing I ever did to my truck.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Do what I did, tear every last piece of the OEM system out and install a modern plug and play system in. I'm using Vintage Air surefit and it works perfect. Do the entire system, r134 Sander compressor and all. Second best thing I ever did to my truck.

Same here.

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Do what I did, tear every last piece of the OEM system out and install a modern plug and play system in. I'm using Vintage Air surefit and it works perfect. Do the entire system, r134 Sander compressor and all. Second best thing I ever did to my truck.

Did you get a new air control unit with the vintage air stuff?

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by bennylava

Did you get a new air control unit with the vintage air stuff?

Yes, and it's all electronic like modern vehicles.

[Just call me Sean]

The next gen control would probably fit, but it wouldn't control anything without the motors that move everything.

[SunSoaked]

Vintage Air is the way to go. You also lose all the junk on the firewall. It all fits inside the cab. I live in Yuma AZ. Its 120 plus here in the summer. It blows 43-45 degrees out the vents. No rotted vacuum hoses, sticky cables, stuck relays, blah, blah blah. It's the 2nd best thing I've ever done to my truck.

[Just call me Sean]

I never had any problems getting the factory system below 50 degrees.

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Vintage Air is the way to go. You also lose all the junk on the firewall. It all fits inside the cab. I live in Yuma AZ. Its 120 plus here in the summer. It blows 43-45 degrees out the vents. No rotted vacuum hoses, sticky cables, stuck relays, blah, blah blah. It's the 2nd best thing I've ever done to my truck.

How much did you pay for everything in total?

Next question - Looking at that pic of the control unit, how do you turn on the AC itself?

[Just call me Sean]

Probably by moving one of those levers you don't like.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Probably by moving one of those levers you don't like.

Yup. The levers are connected to the computer contained on the below dash unit. Just slide towards cold and it turns on.

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by Bloodhound

Yup. The levers are connected to the computer contained on the below dash unit. Just slide towards cold and it turns on.

Exactly.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Bloodhound

Yes, and it's all electronic like modern vehicles.

Hoping someone from VA or one of the other companies with an update kit see this: YOUR CONTROLS DO NOT MATCH THE OEM LOOK. They look like complete ASSHOLE when placed side-by-side to stock controls.

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Hoping someone from VA or one of the other companies with an update kit see this: YOUR CONTROLS DO NOT MATCH THE OEM LOOK. They look like complete ASSHOLE when placed side-by-side to stock controls.

The look is subjective. The function and reliability is spot on. Choices.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Hoping someone from VA or one of the other companies with an update kit see this: YOUR CONTROLS DO NOT MATCH THE OEM LOOK. They look like complete ASSHOLE when placed side-by-side to stock controls.

Well, it's not OEM, so why would it.

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Vintage Air is the way to go. You also lose all the junk on the firewall. It all fits inside the cab. I live in Yuma AZ. Its 120 plus here in the summer. It blows 43-45 degrees out the vents. No rotted vacuum hoses, sticky cables, stuck relays, blah, blah blah. It's the 2nd best thing I've ever done to my truck.

Does that create any new noises inside the cab?

Originally Posted by Bloodhound

Yup. The levers are connected to the computer contained on the below dash unit. Just slide towards cold and it turns on.

But what if you want to use the coldest setting, but not the AC? In texas, we have long shoulder seasons. Spring and fall last for months. It's a great time to just use the outside air, and save gas and have a bit more power. Those controls look like you don't get a button to turn the AC on or off. Given that, I'd have to pass on that one. Kinda lacking in features imo. I'd probably use the rest of the vintage air system, just not the controller.

[SunSoaked]

You're over thinking it. Probably better off sticking with the old stuff.