I have a 71 chevelle, it didn't come stock with a/c. The guy I got the car from either tried to rig one up or had something in it and some extra pullies and stuff but I took them off. Anyways, I went to a salvage and found my exact car there and took the a/c housing and brackets and stuff off, the lines and comp. and took it home, cleaned it up and it doesn't bolt up to were the regular blower and stuff is. Can it go on there, or do I need to get something special for it to fit? Also I've been told you can get some kind of gin-air or something that just like bolts under the dash or something. Anyone ever heard of anything like that? I'm 16 and was rebuilding this car and realized I might not have airconditioning. Thats gonna suck in the summer. Girls don't like it hot in the car! Any opinions are appreciated! Thanks

Tyler,
I think its possible to put a factory air conditioning system into a non air conditioned car but it will take alot of fabbing I think you will have to cut the firewall to install it. Another easier sollution would be to get a vintage air system this will have every thing you need to have air conditioning in your 71 and it would be all new parts too, I'm sure someone who has a vintage air set-up will chime in and tell you more I know there are several people on here that have vintage air.

Brandon

I have done both swaps: Non air car to factory air and factory air car to Vintage Air. Do not assume that putting VA in is easier than doing the stock A/C conversion. VA "Sure Fit systems are "fits all" systems and believe me to get a good professional install that you can be proud of you gotta go WAY WAY above and beyond what is in the instructions. That means FABRICATION!

In response to your inquiry you got the following "but it will take alot of fabbing I think". The key words are "I think" in that sentence. Look at my posts about this in the "Heating and Cooling" section. I see this over and over: people here have speculated on how hard or easy it is to do this non air car to OEM air conversion and they "shoot from the lip".

At least this poster said "I think" but like so many things this "a lot of fabrication I think you......." will rapidly become iron clad "fact" and it just ain't so. Yes you have to cut the firewall and you also have to cover the non A/C system hole in the firewall. It is long and involved to write this all out and I ain't gonna do it now so look it up in the archives. Like I said if you think VA is just a quickie bolt in I got a bridge I want to sell ya.

The non A/C to OEM conversion can be done WITHOUT any welding I did it I know. I would add that people never knew my car was converted unless I told them and pointed out where the firewall mods were done.

The only thing I agree with in the first response to your post is the mention of the positive points of having all new parts. If you replace all the "Key" parts of the donor car A/C system you got in the wrecking yard or wherever you would also have all new parts.

What you should think about is R134a versus R12 before you take this task on. R12 is freakin expensive, that would be bad enough but because of the Greenies and our "Sky is Falling do anything to get the Green vote" government ya can't buy R12 unless you have the secret certified mechanics handshake at the parts store.

With R12 you gotta have somebody do the recharge every time you open that system for repairs...period. Most shops don't wanna hear about charging a system somebody else fixed. Because of the risk of getting fined right outta business by the gov't if they charge a system that has a leak they don't wanna be involved with some kid who fixed the system under a tree, claims that they screwed up the R12 charge and now wants a freebie R12 reload. Since I want to be independent of these shops that rape ya on R12, charge ya a ton of money for their "skilled technician" and scratch the hell outta my paint in the process I went to R134.

I have never gotten a straigh answer about the performance of conversions from R12 to R134 with systems design originally for R12. Some people say it works, some say it works great some say it doesn't really work very well at all. I even read some nonsense that peole are spiking their R12 systems with PROPANE is "simulate R-12" without the aggravation of buying R12. I mean God In Heaven propane is explosive!!!!!!

This forum has archives that go back forever: do some research.


[This message has been edited by oman (edited 01-15-2003).]

[This message has been edited by oman (edited 01-15-2003).]

Year one makes a conversion kit. www.Yearone.com (http://www.Yearone.com) comes with everything.