Vintage Air

[Dean S.]

I live in Florida and driving on a Sunday in my 1965 Coupe in the summer is very hot inside the cabin. I am looking into an A/C system such as Vintage Air. Is this the best system to install? Does it actually blow cold air? Can I still achieve Top Flight designation if virtually everything else passes for judging although my coupe originally came without factory air?

[Gary C.]

Re: Vintage Air

Dean, I have an older Vintage Air system in my '64. While it works OK, I wouldn't install another Vintage Air system. Old Air Products seems to function better etc. in the other C2's I've see with non-factory air conditioning systems. http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/

On your Judging question - recommend you ask the Team Leader for your year model.

Hope this information helps.

Gary
....

[John M.]

Re: Vintage Air

The bigest problem I have found with the aftermarket air is is they dont bring air in from outside of the car, they will at time fog up the windows, I have installed vintage air in four midyears and they all blow very cold........only my opinion...Thanks JOHN

[Bruce B.]

Re: Vintage Air

I installed Vintage Air (heat, cool, defrost) in a 62 and it was great. As John M. points out these units recirculate the cabin air but in the air conditioning mode the air gets dehumidified.
The unit in my 62 blew a ton of air and was excellent. I used a small streetrod unit and the installation was undetectable when you looked in the car.

[John H.]

Re: Vintage Air

I installed a Vintage Air "Supercooler" system in my Grand Sport replica when I built it in 1995, and you could hang meat in the car.

[Dick W.]

Re: Vintage Air

We have installed both Vintage and Old Air for customers. I believe that I like Vintage Air the best. Seems to be easier to install and does a great job of cooling

[Ray G.]

Re: Vintage Air

I installed a Vintage Air "Supercooler" system in my Grand Sport replica when I built it in 1995, and you could hang meat in the car.

Hello John;
Your comment "you could hang meat in the car. "
brings back memories of the days we sold A/C units and installation in the dealership. A great picture is painted by that description.

Thanks.
Ray

[Michael F.]

Re: Vintage Air

The bigest problem I have found with the aftermarket air is is they dont bring air in from outside of the car, they will at time fog up the windows, I have installed vintage air in four midyears and they all blow very cold........only my opinion...Thanks JOHN

My recent Vinatge Air is outstanding. Blows ice cold in a triple black C2.

If you want fresh air? Just pull your vents open a bit. The passenger fresh air opens right onto the A/C fan.

[Richard L.]

Re: Vintage Air

I have Vintage Air on my 69 and am quite pleased with it.

[Joe R.]

Re: Vintage Air

I have installed Old Air a couple of times in mid year Corvettes and would use it again.
Trick is to insulate the cabin very well and maybe some under the seats and console on the outside.
Last Corvette was a 66 BB roadster, black with black interior. The console shifter plate stayed cold.

As a side note, Vintage Air and Old Air are owned by brothers even though one is in Ohio and the other in Texas. Texas (old air) knows more about cooling that anyone in Ohio (Vintage Air). They NEED to know in Texas.

JR

[Gary C.]

Re: Vintage Air

Looked at the documentation and my '64 air conditioning is from Chisenhall Products not Vintage Air. Chisenhall Products air conditioner is no longer made. Vintage Air (the other Chisenhall brother) unit is vastly improved over the original Chisenhall Products air conditioning unit. Sorry, for providing the wrong information about my '64 A/C unit. Gary....

[Dick W.]

Re: Vintage Air

Looked at the documentation and my '64 air conditioning is from Chisenhall Products not Vintage Air. Chisenhall Products air conditioner is no longer made. Vintage Air (the other Chisenhall brother) unit is vastly improved over the original Chisenhall Products air conditioning unit. Sorry, for providing the wrong information about my '64 A/C unit. Gary....

Chisenhall is the one that drove the Studebaker at Bonneville over 200 mph, while cooling it with their AC kit. Neat guy, met him several times in the '80's and '90's

[Gary C.]

Re: Vintage Air

Dick, that was Jack the brother the owner of Vintage Air. Gordon Chisenhall is the brother that used to go to Carlisle and display his C2 air conditioner - Chisenhall Products in one of the buildings. Gary....

[Jack H.]

Re: Vintage Air

On your question of judging impact, the add-on system IS a owner/dealer inspired configuration change and club rules prescribe a full deduction for such. The lion's share of the A/C components are covered under Mechanical, Section 17, and constitute 45 points (originality and condition). So, expect to lose those points, but that amounts only to 1% of the overall 4500 points in Flight Judging...

I suspect you'll also lose points in related 'crossover' areas, like Operations where there's a single 25 point line item for Heater, defroster & air conditioning operation. Expect to lose a portion of the allocated 25 points for the extent to which the add-on A/C system differs in control/operation from the factory original system.

Last, there will be a minor impact to the car's interior (added ducts/vents) and you'll lose some points there as well because of the deviation from factory stock. But, all together, I can't see how the total impact could climb above 2% and you need 94% or better for a Top Flight award.

Does this answer your question?

[Joe R.]

Re: Vintage Air

There is another company called Hot Rod Air. Have seen it installed in a C2 and I really like the connections on the firewall. All of them use the same compressors, hardware, etc.
The proof is inside that box under the dash. If that's not compatable with the compressor it won't cool.

JR