Has anyone installed a classic auto air system or vintage air system? And which is better?:confused:

I found information on this topic by running a search here and on ChevyTalk. At the time I don't think Vintage Air had a kit for the 70-72 Chevelle yet.
From what I found, I am going to use the Classic Auto air on my 70 Malibu which is an AC car but I want to clean up the engine bay. I hear both systems are good, but the Classic system has one made for Chevelles.

I've been looking in to it and i think i'm gonna do the same. The classic system looks pretty cool and the install seems pretty straight forward.

I just finished installing a Classic Auto Air in my '70 Chevelle three months ago. I bought my kit last spring when Vintage Air told me that they did not offer a kit (although I have seen one installed in a '70 that was actually a '68 kit). The install is fairly straight forward, but prepare to get cramps..ha ha! It was eventually easier for me to drop the steering column and loosen the whole dash to get all the hoses to fit in the tight space (not in the directions). Also not in the directions, I would suggest attaching all of the hoses to the plastic plenums BEFORE screwing them onto the main housing. I tried it their way, but couldn't get all the hoses drilled and attached while the plenums were mounted under the dash. Double work!!! The air works well and almost looks factory. Remember that with this kit, you lose the air vents controlled by the knobs on the kick panels. Let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help.

I just finished installing a Classic Auto Air in my '70 Chevelle three months ago. I bought my kit last spring when Vintage Air told me that they did not offer a kit (although I have seen one installed in a '70 that was actually a '68 kit). The install is fairly straight forward, but prepare to get cramps..ha ha! It was eventually easier for me to drop the steering column and loosen the whole dash to get all the hoses to fit in the tight space (not in the directions). Also not in the directions, I would suggest attaching all of the hoses to the plastic plenums BEFORE screwing them onto the main housing. I tried it their way, but couldn't get all the hoses drilled and attached while the plenums were mounted under the dash. Double work!!! The air works well and almost looks factory. Remember that with this kit, you lose the air vents controlled by the knobs on the kick panels. Let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help.

guitarguy, Thanks for the tips. My 72 was an AC car so no kick panel pulls. Do you think it will be much easier for me being my dash is out. And i will be doing this as i put everything back? Also i'm into guitars, check out my gear photos on my Myspace link an click on the pics.

It will definitly be easier with the dah out!!! That would be the way to go. I will check out your gear. I may be able to send you a link to some of my stuff.

It will definitly be easier with the dah out!!! That would be the way to go. I will check out your gear. I may be able to send you a link to some of my stuff.

Cool:cool: looking forward to it:beers:

You may also want to take an extra minute to remove the front seat(s). It makes life much easier. I Also wraped the ends of the dash and steering column in masking tape to keep from scratching things during dis/re-assembly

vintage air makes a system for the 70-72 it is custom gen IV magum i know fronk at gp superstore and owner of prodigy customs has them for 70-72 chevelles looking into getting one myself. prodigy is out of FL. just my .02

vintage air makes a system for the 70-72 it is custom gen IV magum i know fronk at gp superstore and owner of prodigy customs has them for 70-72 chevelles looking into getting one myself. prodigy is out of FL. just my .02
Shoot us a link. I'd like to check them out. I'm in FL too.

I think it all depends on what you want...

The real virtue on the Vintage Air systems is that they hide the hoses by running them out the kick panel vent, through the factory blower hole in the firewall, and up inside the fender.

The Classic system runs the hoses through the firewall so you may still use your kick panel vent.

Both systems are only recirculate with no fresh air option.

I bought both but will install the Classic in my '68 because it is easier for me to modify to my own preferences. Especially the preference to fresh or recirculate air.

prodigycustoms.com ask frank about the v/a setup for your chevelle. frank can also be reached at 1-407-832-1752 i would wait till after sema to call. hope this helps brandon

i think it all depends on what you want...

The real virtue on the vintage air systems is that they hide the hoses by running them out the kick panel vent, through the factory blower hole in the firewall, and up inside the fender.

The classic system runs the hoses through the firewall so you may still use your kick panel vent.

Both systems are only recirculate with no fresh air option.

I bought both but will install the classic in my '68 because it is easier for me to modify to my own preferences. Especially the preference to fresh or recirculate air.
recirculate only is not acceptable. I want the car to function as if it was a factory a/c any ideas.

Another thing to keep in mind, the controls on the Vintage Air are dumb looking in my opinion. The Classic Auto Air uses the stock non AC controls to control the system. The AC is completely under the dash so you get rid of that big box on the firewall as well. That is what I am using in my 70.

As a few mentioned here. We have a custom kit for the Chevelle that uses the awesome Vintage Air Gen IV Magnum and a combination of Vintage Air part we compile. As mentioned, the A/C hoses come through the old heater blower motor and through a custom kick panel we supply. So you can either smooth your firewall with a welded plate or a bolt in plate. Either will look better then a monstrosity of lines coming right in the middle of the firewall.

As for the control, you will have to use the 3 knob electric controller. Most make a block plate for the original controller opening and mount the 3 knob in there. Those controllers come in polished billet and black anodize billet. The black anodize disappears pretty nice for those not wanting to show off the trick controller.

We can fit just about any engine and pulley / accessory drive combo you can throw at us.

Any questions, feel free to call

brans, I am putting you on commision, LOL!

Thanks buddy!

recirculate only is not acceptable. I want the car to function as if it was a factory a/c any ideas.
Here is the approach I am working on:

First I am using the Classic Air system and removing the Spal blower from the case. It is simply bolted on so an easy remove.

Next I have fabricated a heavy plastic (1/8" black texture finish ABS) vacuum formed replacement for the factory blower mount and duct on the engine side of the firewall. The duct on this only comes about half as far across the firewall as the original. It also has a short connector "nipple" through the factory firewall hole.

My next step is to fabricate a heavy plastic duct/elbow to connect the evaporator/heater case to the front duct.

Thus I will use the factory blower location and air intake for a fresh air solution. I will add a factory style cowl plenum block off door and open up the passenger footwell vent for recirculate air flow. So air flow will be pretty much the same as the original factory A/C systems.

I am going to use the original non-A/C control panel to run my system albeit with some slight redefinition of control operation. One lever will be fan speed, one lever temperature control to a water valve, and the third lever will direct airflow. This is just like many modern car's control panels. That last airflow control is the tricky part ;) I am going to use a special eccentric intermediate control cam for that. The mechanical part of the cam will drive the defrost deflector door through it's full range of motion in the last 1/5th of it's movement. The other part is electrical using a micro-switch to control the internal servo driven air flow director door for lower heat or upper vent flow.

One of the technical details I have not figured out yet is how to re-label the clear plastic panel on the control panel. It is pretty easy to make up something that goes behind it and looks right in the daylight. The hard part is getting something that works with the light pipe control panel illumination and does not dissappear at night.

All the after-market kits use only recirculating air because of evap coil size limitations. On the factory air cars that is why it is in the engine compartment. let me know if the CAA kit blows cold after your modifacations. We have a flat fire wall kit that is about a month out. The test mule is going to be put through some torture tests to make sure it will last in your car. One of the the items on our "wish list" is to have new face plates with the correct mode positions silk screened onto it.

Dwight,

Not to get off topic, but could a CAA perfect fit kit be ordered with something other than the stock adapted controls? I plan on ordering a unit, but street rod controls or a similar three knob setup would be preferred, I plan on changes to my dash and the stock control is going away.

I'm still debating flat firewall or hoses on firewall, will you offer both options?

All the after-market kits use only recirculating air because of evap coil size limitations. On the factory air cars that is why it is in the engine compartment. let me know if the CAA kit blows cold after your modifacations. ...
Hey Dwight, not sure you understand the full extent of the setup I am working towards. My plans are to have fresh air and recirculate both. So if it is only slightly hot (not too often in the Ca. Central Valley) I can use fresh with A/C or to exhaust the really hot air. Then I can crank it on down with recirculate A/C when needed.

I will also have fresh air from the dash vents on those days when I don't need A/C.

Just a quick note, the new Vintage Air Gen IV Chevelle kits and we are taking orders now for delivery in the next few weeks. So we no longer have the need for our custom kits like Brans was talking about, Vintage Air did it for us.

exactly and i have already placed my order from Frank

FYI


http://www.vintageair.com/6872chevelle.asp