Hey Everyone, I have a 70 chevelle original A/C car, all that remains is the a/c box in great shape with an evaporator core in it that looks to be in good shape too but I am not sure. When I get the money I want to put a/c and heat in the car. Whats the best way to do that, all original parts or should I go with a retro fit system from like vintage air and what system gives colder air and hotter heat??? Also, any ideas on how much I am looking at spending? Thanks again! Mike

Early on, you will need to make a decision about whether to use R12 or some other refrigerant. There are pros and cons to both, but it will influence how you proceed. For example, if you want to use R134 (cheaper and more available than R12), it will necessitate modifications to a stock system that might invalidate that approach.

Vintage Air does not, to my knowledge, make a direct fit kit for the '70-'72 models. If they did, it would also be for a non-A/C model, which has a different firewall configuration. I see this as your least viable option.

All that said, I'll start with the caveat that this is only my opinion...

The most complex part of the a/c system you already have (evap/heat/controls/blower). So, I would keep that. Then if you can find a suitable donor with a sealed system, I would try to salvage the oem components: compressor, condensor, and hose assemblies. Some components you will want to buy new - like dryer, poa and expansion valves. As an alternative, you can buy Vintage Air (or other manuf.) components (compressor, hose ass'y, condensor, etc.) to supplement what you already have.

If the factory evap. box is in good shape and your heater core is good, the heat should continue to work without the a/c.

As to cost, I am mid-stream in a similar project that I'm using an amalgamation of factory and Vintage Air parts (to go with R134). I had the factory box and evap. core. I bought my missing factory a/c parts piecemeal (read: more expensive). By the time it's all done it will be less expensive (~$800) than buying a kit with the incidentals. If you were to go all stock and "luck" into a good donor system, you could probably do it for $400.

Alan F,
Thanks a lot for the detailed response. I am not sure what you mean by a donor system...what components would I need from that and what or why would I need them to be sealed? Can they be resealed, and where is a good place to look for them. Also, when I took my air box off of the fire wall the only things in it were the evaporator ( a silver, radiator looking thing, and a wheel that spins and looks like something out of a hamster cage) For my heat, do I need much else? Thanks again, Mike

That hamster wheel is the blower motor, and its the only thing in front of the fire wall that is necessary for the heat to work. The other thing was the evaporator core.

I am currently doing a 72 Monte Conversion with Vintage Air components. You are right VA does not make a direct conversion for cars later than 69 / early 1970.

Here is the low down. I CAUTION everyone I have not done this yet. The lack of a direct fit (Sure Fit Kit) for later than 1969 / EARLY 1970 and later cars centers around the dash controls. The General changed the heater controls some time in early 1970. Some cars had 3 cables running the system and some had 2 cables. If your dash has 2 cables you cannot use the Sure Fit kit. Ya gotta have a dash control unit with three cables. The installation guide says "Attach the top cable to point a the middle cable to point B and the lower cable to point C. Without that 3rd cable you cannot control the system in terms of changing from heat to A/C mode.

I believe that I can do the 72 Monte using a dash heater control unit for a 1972 non A/C equipped car. I have such a unit and it has three cables. I HAVE NOT DONE THE INSTALL YET so I am not sure. I usually can FAB up whatever I need but this seems like just a matter of having 3 cables and connecting them as required by the install kit.

Minor mods are required to mount the VA Blower control switch (the switch that operates vertically on the 1970 to 1972 cars )to the control unit but that is easy. VA supplies you with a template.

Everything else should just bolt in. I am VERY familiar with the parts and pieces under the stock dash and under the hood. The VA Sure Fit Kit for a 1969 Chevelle (one originally equipped with A/C will attach to the firewall.

As I saifd the issue is with the control unit and the REQUIREMENT of the VA Sure Fit Kit that yor control unit has 3 cables.

[This message has been edited by oman (edited 10-10-2001).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Huevotoro:
I am not sure what you mean by a donor system...what components would I need from that and what or why would I need them to be sealed? Can they be resealed, and where is a good place to look for them....For my heat, do I need much else?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

By "donor", I meant a complete and previously working system out of another car. From a donor system, you will need whatever parts your system doesn't have. I have seen a few complete systems in the wrecking yards, however, I believe the salvage yards take the freon out when they get the cars in (safety/environmental considerations). It's important that it be "sealed" because moisture is the enemy of a refrigeration system. If it was sealed, I would probably gamble on installing the whole system (except dryer), absent evidence of leaks, and charge it up.

If you reinstall the evaporator housing with the blower motor (assuming it works) and connect the heater hoses (again, assuming the core doesn't leak), you should get heat. It may not come out the right ducts if you don't have vacuum to the air-doors.

Fellas, thanks for all the help but I now have another question! Out of what year and model cars can I go to a junkyard and look for a donor system out of that would fit my car, its an original AC car. Thanks, Mike