Just had my '77 rebuilt (engine redone with Edelbrock intake manifold and .183 aluminum heads, FlowMaster ceramic coated block hugger headers, Johnny Winter 700R4 tranny, custom mod transmission tail bracket, dual electric fan aluminum radiator, stereo, motorized telescoping antenna, analog clock, other goodies too numerous to mention). Also had Vintage Air installed. Cost me about $1700 just for the kit, plus labor (my mechanic cuts me a break on labor). With that being said, my mechanic told me that Vintage Air is not really made for C3's younger than 1976. Another words, for my '77, he bought a '76 kit and then did the modifications needed for it to fit (couple of brackets/duct work/center console mods for the control unit). He did the mods while the dash was completely removed (which is needed when Vintage Air is installed).He has installed Vintage Air kits to all years of C3's (and other classic cars) knowing they would need the mods...that's why tons of people take their cars to him. He even called Vintage Air to let them know that their kits do not 'exactly' fit C3 Corvettes after '77. They told him that in 1978, the A/C unit installed on factory C3's proved to be much better. I guess Vintage Air didn't feel the need to engineer units to fit later model C3's.Having an '82, I would tend to agree, but who's to say! Knowing my mechanic could put a Vintage Air system in my '82 now, I would do that if I was keeping the car (yes, it's for sale).













|UPDATED|8/27/2018 5:01:21 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Anyone that went to Carlisle check on what Don's "product" consist of?

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1973 L-82 4 spd

There were a few drop-in replacements that came out right when R12 prices started to rise significantly. I remember Freeze12 and AutoFrost off the top of my head. I still have a 3/4 full 30 pound drum of AutoFrost. Haven't had the need to use it on a car in years but would use that before converting to R134 which works mediocre at best in old systems. It worked great in anything I put it in but don't see that company around anymore. 

I found Auto Frost is still in business through a Google search. They claim that they are a non-flammable R12 substitute and are better than R12. They also say they just got a EPA renewal of their license to make the stuff. I also bought a 30-pound tank of R12 in the early 90s when it became apparent that they were not going to sell it to unlicensed professionals. Haven't used any of it yet.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

I couldn't find Auto Frost.  Link?

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Like I said, they haven't been around in years.

refrigerantsinc.comrefrigerantsinc.com Did this on my phone so this may not be active but it's basically refrigerantsinc.com. Edit: this doesn't take you to the same place that the Google link did. Here's a screenshot of the page that the Google search took me to that also has refrigerants inc.com on it but states that it's Auto Frost products.




|UPDATED|8/28/2018 8:52:15 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

Glad I opted to keep the R-12. Found a shop fairly local that was able to do the job. A/C dryer, manifold hoses (small leak), drained and flushed the unit getting some crap out of the system, some fresh R-12 and I'm good to go. Correct that it wasn't cheap but the A/C is working better than it has in many years. The car actually stayed cool on a 90 degree day. To me, worth the money, as this was definitely above my skill level. Thanks again for all the opinions and assistance to help me make a decision.

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Glad it worked out for you. Another item I have seen on various forums a while back was to increase the performance by swapping out the blower motor for one from a C4 and adding a 3/4 inch spacer between it and the firewall.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

What ever is done to the system, make sure it is checked for leaks first.

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