Topic: Vintage Air
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
I have two C3 cars with Vintage Air. The 73 is an air car; the 74 is non air. Both systems fit very well and work very well. The installation instructions are very thorough. I recommend their systems. I installed both. Not easy.
|UPDATED|7/26/2015 6:23:56 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|7/26/2015 6:23:56 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
C3VR Life Member #4
NCM Life Member #994
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Life Member
NCM Life Member #994
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Life Member
Lifetime MemberDeBerry, TX - USA
Joined: 2/27/2002
Posts: 1006
Vette(s): 1971 383 Stroker- mille miglia red...5 speed
I wish I had gone with Vintage Air, but instead I cheaped out and had Classic Auto Air installed in Dallas area for a little less... BIG mistake.. ask Joel..lol still having problems so I rarely use the a/c
I know the voices aren't real, but they have some pretty cool ideas... 
20151224141635r.jpg)
Put Vintage air in my 1981. Living in south florida it gets a workout AND it is perfect. I also have clear/tinted T-TOPS and still the unit cools great. I recommend the system. Also..as a tech note, after the install the glove box will not fit back in(too deep) so i cut 2 inches off all around the back and glued on a new plastic back. looks good and i have a glove box back.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
longhorn294 said:
I wish I had gone with Vintage Air, but instead I cheaped out and had Classic Auto Air installed in Dallas area for a little less... BIG mistake.. ask Joel..lol still having problems so I rarely use the a/c
Not exactly cheap, if I remember correctly. Just a crappy job, with fairly crappy components. At one point, the A/C compressor was about to fall off....in their parking lot! But yea...that company's stuff just ain't up to snuff.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I noticed kbrin from South Florida put a Vintage Air unit in his(or hers) 1981 model. I too have a 1981 model, and my car is equipped with factory air. I have only had the car since March, and I have finally got the factory air working as well as it is capable of. I have glass t tops on my car, and on these 100 degree plus days here in the DFW area of Texas, the system just cannot do an adequate job of cooling my car in the heat of the day.
I have installed DEI sound deadening and heat insulation on the interior firewall, floor pan, transmission tunnel, doors, and storage area behind the seats. The car is a lot more quiet and the drivetrain heat generated into the cabin is minimal compared to what it was prior to the DEI material installation. I thought this would do the trick to help the AC cool the car on hot days, but that is not the case.
Will a Vintage Air install cool the car like the AC cools my 2012 Ford F250? Or at least close to that?
I have noticed that the C3 specific kits from Vintage Air stop being available in the 1977 model year.
Is the Universal Kit or the 1977 kit the one to use for an install on the 1981 model?
Finally, can I use any of the factory AC parts like the selector switches, air vents etc. ?
Thanks
Hi, Let me try to answer some of this for you:
I have installed DEI sound deadening and heat insulation on the interior firewall, floor pan, transmission tunnel, doors, and storage area behind the seats. The car is a lot more quiet and the drivetrain heat generated into the cabin is minimal compared to what it was prior to the DEI material installation. I thought this would do the trick to help the AC cool the car on hot days, but that is not the case. I also did this with and it made a huge difference but these cars just like to run warm..
Will a Vintage Air install cool the car like the AC cools my 2012 Ford F250? Or at least close to that? Really nothing will cool lake a newer car BUT Vintage keeps my C3 very cool in 92+ Far superior to the factory air as the core is no longer in the engine compartment. The heat if you need it is marginal.
I have noticed that the C3 specific kits from Vintage Air stop being available in the 1977 model year. I would call vintage and double check, however I installed the complete GEN IV kit. Had 0 problems.
Is the Universal Kit or the 1977 kit the one to use for an install on the 1981 model? as above. Again I would call.
Finally, can I use any of the factory AC parts like the selector switches, air vents etc. ? The kit has every thing BUT you will need to use the 3 knob billet control available from vintage and remove SOME duct as they supply flex to the registers. When I did this they did not have a factory look alike control...check, they may make one now or use the billet. You will need to fabricate a piece if plastic or thin steel to hold the switch in place.
I will try to bend some pics of the install
Personally it was very worth it for me, I would go for it!!
Thanks for the feedback KBRIN.
I will call Vintage Air. It should be old home week. One of my college friends from many decades ago was the founder/owner of Vintage Air, Jack Chisenhall. He and I were both car nuts back then.
Maybe I can talk him into doing the install at their shop in San Antonio.
I look forward to photos of your install of the Vintage Air Unit in your 81.
Former Member
Send PM
Crestview (near Pensacola), FL - USA
Joined: 9/16/2015
Posts: 22
Vette(s): 1970 built 454 coupe., M21, 336-1 rear, numbers matching . Approx. 550 hp/600 tq. #2 Condition . For Sale : $32,000 very firm . Have a full write up with closeup walk-around video for the serious minded only please.
I had it installed in my 1970 BB. It is a quality piece of material. The only thing Im upset about is that when I had it done (some 3 years ago) there was a design flaw in it : The discharge temp sensor caused freezeups of the evaporator after about an hour of operation, so, Vintage Air came out with a tech bulletin on relocating the sensor a few inches from its current location --- it meant making a new hole using something hot instead of a drill bit to burn thru the plastic casing. I never got it done because the Mechanic tried ripping me off on other things I had done to the vette at the same time. I should do it myself soon because its a pain to have to defrost the cooling coil every hour of operation. But the system really cools quick and fits perfectly behind the dash.
1970 built 454 coupe., M21, 336-1 rear, numbers matching . Approx. 550 hp/600 tq. #2 Condition .
For Sale : $32,000 very firm .
Have a full write up with closeup walk-around video for the serious minded only please.
For Sale : $32,000 very firm .
Have a full write up with closeup walk-around video for the serious minded only please.
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)