Let's assume you find a 60's era car that you really, really want but it doesn't have AC and you need it due to where you live. Assume it's a driver and not a collector. Do you try to find a donor to install OEM air or do you install some sort of retro kit? If the latter, what sort of overall cost are you looking at, including installation?
Factory a/c wasn't all that common back then except in premium cars like Cadillacs, so finding original parts in most cases will be tough. The aftermarket (Vintage Air is probably the most popular but there are several other companies) has come up with direct fit a/c for certain popular cars like Camaros or Chevelles, but in most cases it will probably be easiest to put in an underdash unit. The aftermarket has that covered as well, with new units that match the style used in the 1960s. You can look at the Vintage Air catalog to get an idea of cost, but of course you also have to include getting the system charged once it's installed. https://www.vintageair.com/
Vintage Air. About $1,500. I wouldn't mess with OEM A/C parts from the 60s.
Having done Vintage Air, classic auto air, and roll your own installs into 50's through 70s American cars, I would say that it is such a non-issue for something mainstream to not even worry about. Something very strange on the other hand would pose a bigger challenge due to engine brackets. A flathead Lincoln V12 is definitely in the roll your own category. Look at Classic Auto Air and Vintage Air to see if they have a bolt in kit for your application and click the Buy It Now button
+1 with Duster, after doing some DIY kits and a couple Vintage Air kits. IF they have a kit for you car, click the easy button.
FWIW, my Vintage Air kit is currently not working. Either a clogged drier or stuck expansion valve. Both are on their way to my door right now.
But whatever you do, make sure it works with R134a because it's cheap, everywhere, and supposedly way less toxic.
I've looked at the Vintage Air (and equivalents) for my '61 Apache, but what concerns me is they all block off the fresh air intake to the heater unit.
Has anyone run this in winter and can speak to how well it can actually defrost the interior whilst only on "recirculate?"
In the south ive never had a problem.
But with a little bit of effort I am sure there is a way to add a fresh air and recirculation intake and door without much hassle
I am leaning towards going all Binky and fabricating my own everything, using off-the-shelf OEM components.
But a kit is certainly the Easy Button. But dude. Canadian winter.
I have done some with cobbled parts. The real secret is to adequately size the condenser. You should be able to scour parts catalogs for a condenser of the right size. Bolt on a Sanden 6 series compressor, source the orifice from a similar vehicle (make sure it is for R134), then use a properly sized evaporator.
Depending on the car, you can likely fit something from a later vehicle. For example, a B-body GM hasn't changed much from 1964 - 1997. So if you're looking at a 66 Impala, snag a dash box from a 96 Caprice and screw it in.
Sometimes you can buy complete kits that were sent to the Honda dealer etc and never installed,
I found one for a Honda at LA Roadster show ( Father's day weekend) for $50
Then you just have to make it fit under the dash and mount the pump , but it's all top quality stuff made to work together.
What is the lowest temps that you can expect out of the dash vents with everything set up right ?
SkinnyG said:I've looked at the Vintage Air (and equivalents) for my '61 Apache, but what concerns me is they all block off the fresh air intake to the heater unit.
Has anyone run this in winter and can speak to how well it can actually defrost the interior whilst only on "recirculate?"
no personal experience, but if you are running the cooling coil at the same time as the heater, it would remove the moisture as condensate an operate just fine. I believe some modern vehicles run this way.
In reply to Apexcarver :
Usually the evaporator coil is before the heater core, however. So once it gets too cold, this is no longer effective. And eventually it gets so cold that system pressure drops too low and the compressor won't kick on much anyway.
In the middle of this learning curve myself. The Miata AC evaporator and the condenser and dryer are all Miata while the pump is Ford/Mustang. I am hoping that it is just a matter of connecting some custom hoses and tripping the clutch on the AC pump.
Course I know there will be more to it than that!
Pete
My Dad's '53 Merc has a Vintage Air system in it, one of the universal kits and it cools great. It was already in the car when we got it so I can't comment on installation, but it looks pretty straight forward to put in. The VA kits are usually easier to put in a non a/c car too.
Install even in a universal application is relatively simple. I've probably done 40 or 50 installs all told
I had an aftermarket system installed in a 95 F250 that didn't come with A/C. It was so cold it would fog up the back window on the outside.
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