Hi guys - I have a ‘70 non-A/C big block Chevelle and I’m moving from the cold, rainy Northwest to toasty Florida. I need to add A/C to this car but don’t know whether to go with Vintage Air or Classic Auto Air. Opinions and experiences would be appreciated. Thanks. John
Vintage Air versus Classic Auto Air
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JT454
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Hi guys - I have a ‘70 non-A/C big block Chevelle and I’m moving from the cold, rainy Northwest to toasty Florida. I need to add A/C to this car but don’t know whether to go with Vintage Air or Classic Auto Air. Opinions and experiences would be appreciated. Thanks. John
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5,100 Posts
Vintage Air.
The CAA gets as cold as any other system.
However, there is a huge deal with theirs. The temp control slides back and forth like a soggy noodle. It's like you could sneeze and it would move.
So, here's how it goes. You get yourseld all cooled off, in the same time it takes any other system. But then, it's time to adjust the temp. You turn the fan speed down. Uh'oh, still to cold. Well, it's noodle time now and you slide t=your wet sponge over to a warmer temp. Nothing happens. You slide a bit more. Hey, heat, in the middle of summer, terrific. Then you go back the other way again and you got icicles hanging off your shorts.
Get the Vintage Air and be happy.
I mentioned this on another thread and asked anyone who has the CAA to say I'm wrong. The thread ended there.
I ask anyone again, to post up if I'm full of it.
And yes, I had vintage air in my last ride and it worked flawlessly.
Please don't buy junk. I did.
The CAA gets as cold as any other system.
However, there is a huge deal with theirs. The temp control slides back and forth like a soggy noodle. It's like you could sneeze and it would move.
So, here's how it goes. You get yourseld all cooled off, in the same time it takes any other system. But then, it's time to adjust the temp. You turn the fan speed down. Uh'oh, still to cold. Well, it's noodle time now and you slide t=your wet sponge over to a warmer temp. Nothing happens. You slide a bit more. Hey, heat, in the middle of summer, terrific. Then you go back the other way again and you got icicles hanging off your shorts.
Get the Vintage Air and be happy.
I mentioned this on another thread and asked anyone who has the CAA to say I'm wrong. The thread ended there.
I ask anyone again, to post up if I'm full of it.
And yes, I had vintage air in my last ride and it worked flawlessly.
Please don't buy junk. I did.
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And to the counterpoint: I like my Classic Auto Air system. Yes, the temperature slide is sensitive to change in the middle but I'm ok with that. This evaporator case and the parts inside are all completely rebuildable and I don't believe that Vintage has that feature. Mercifully, I have not needed this capability.
You need to ask both vendors how much of the back end of the glove box you will lose with their evaporator case. With Classic, I lost nothing from my glove box.
To each his own around here, as always.
Rick
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You need to ask both vendors how much of the back end of the glove box you will lose with their evaporator case. With Classic, I lost nothing from my glove box.
To each his own around here, as always.
Rick
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
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Does anyone have both systems to make a fair comparison as to which is better? My VA works fine but never had Classic so I can't give a fair comparison.
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I think they are comparable systems. I've had the CAA one working great on my 69 since the late 90's. Back then, the CAA advantage was all controls were electric (no vacuum operated anything) and the system used the stock controls. If someone doesn't know where to set the levers to get AC, it could be tricky to figure out, but it works great. From the VA systems I've seen, the 2 look like near exact copies except for the controls.
This topic has been posted innumerable times in the last 20 years that I've been here, so a search of old posts will bring you a lot of discussion.
1969 Chevelle 2 Door Sport Coupe Malibu SS 396 clone
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Like JJ said: the "Search Community" function (see the header) is your friend.That being said: Classic Auto Air.
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520 Posts
Pugsy, I have a CAA system, and when you live in SW Florida you never have to worry about turning the fan down or moving the temperature lever. You just let er rip for all she's worth and hope its enough. LOL
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hi
Check for electronic thermostat for the air/con . Called a thermistor . Gives far better accuracy to the on/off settings . IE cools better .
2nd Look for an evaporator coil that is parallel flow ,best performance design by along way . Next lower performance is a serpentine then lastly a tube and fin . The prices go the same way .
3rd A block TXV valve is always more responsive , u can see it responding to refrigerant demands real quick when gauges are hooked up . This is not a deal breaker but if u gotta a choice
4th Have the option of fitting either a factory style condensor or a HUGE heavy duty after market unit .
5th If your not running efans already for the engine fit at least a 15amp 12-14inch infront of condensor .
40 years trade air con experience
Check for electronic thermostat for the air/con . Called a thermistor . Gives far better accuracy to the on/off settings . IE cools better .
2nd Look for an evaporator coil that is parallel flow ,best performance design by along way . Next lower performance is a serpentine then lastly a tube and fin . The prices go the same way .
3rd A block TXV valve is always more responsive , u can see it responding to refrigerant demands real quick when gauges are hooked up . This is not a deal breaker but if u gotta a choice
4th Have the option of fitting either a factory style condensor or a HUGE heavy duty after market unit .
5th If your not running efans already for the engine fit at least a 15amp 12-14inch infront of condensor .
40 years trade air con experience
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5,100 Posts
Don't you mean "moving from the cold rainy Northwest to hot rainy Florida"
I used to visit my in-laws every summer and it always rained every freakin' day at 3:00, then it got sticky hot!
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5,100 Posts
As I mentioned above my last vehicle had VA, terrific, my El Camino now has the crap OP is interested in CAA. So, yes, I had both just months apart.
Also, as I mentioned in the other thread, guys want to recommend what they have.
It's more important to them that their recommendation is used, even if it's a POS, than the guy that is inquiring's future happiness with it.
Again, I bought a piece of junk. OP, get the VA.
One poster was honest and said the temp lever was gooey as I mentioned. I think he didn't want to look bad buying junk, so he downplayed it though, saying it's not too bad.
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3,954 Posts
I have the Vintage Air in my car and couldn't be happier. The only issue is that the little blue light on the control panel doesn't work anymore, but that's minor. The system blows so cold that I don't really need the blue light to tell me the system in on!... I can't speak about the Classic Auto Air system though as I've never had any experience with them...
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No doubt we have air you can wear down here in the summer.Don't you mean "moving from the cold rainy Northwest to hot rainy Florida"
I used to visit my in-laws every summer and it always rained every freakin' day at 3:00, then it got sticky hot!
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17,266 Posts
I like Classic Auto Air just for the fact that you don't have to cut the glove box on the 70-72 like you do with Vintage Air so CAA gets my vote. I've installed several of their systems, most recently 2 weeks ago in a big block 70. Blew 36 degrees out of the vents at idle.
Summer here in Florida is the rainy season, some research would've brought that up, hot and humid when it doesn't rain. It is most pleasant throughout the spring and fall and most of the winter, here in the west central area around Tampa.Don't you mean "moving from the cold rainy Northwest to hot rainy Florida"
I used to visit my in-laws every summer and it always rained every freakin' day at 3:00, then it got sticky hot!
Easy Leo, I didn't need to research Florida weather to know their seasons, as I talked with my in-laws all year long. I was just having fun with the fact that JT454 wasn't going to get away from the rain by moving to Florida. Every part of the US has its pluses and minuses weather wise - never a one size fits all.
Sorry if you took offense as that wasn't my intention.
And sorry to hijack this thread.
Sorry if you took offense as that wasn't my intention.
And sorry to hijack this thread.
Summer here in Florida is the rainy season, some research would've brought that up, hot and humid when it doesn't rain. It is most pleasant throughout the spring and fall and most of the winter, here in the west central area around Tampa.Don't you mean "moving from the cold rainy Northwest to hot rainy Florida"
I used to visit my in-laws every summer and it always rained every freakin' day at 3:00, then it got sticky hot!
Yep, I guess I had a brain fart, it's all good!
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45 Posts
I have vintage air in my 69 and I'm being told that there is no middle ground with the system. Meaning that you either have the AC on or off. If I slide the temp bar over just before the AC light comes on there is hot air coming out. So my guy here tells me that it's the way this system is designed that it's either heat or AC, no fresh air on cooler days.
Is this really the way this system is setup?
Is this really the way this system is setup?
I run VA. No complaints. Had to chop off the back of the glove box and remove an inch to make it reasonable, but we use panel bond to glue the back piece on again. Worked well - wasn't worried about cutting an aftermarket dash.
Actually, the thing I like most about Vintage air is their Front runner serpentine system. It's fairly compact and doesn't stick out the side/above the engine like some other systems.
Front Runner
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Actually, the thing I like most about Vintage air is their Front runner serpentine system. It's fairly compact and doesn't stick out the side/above the engine like some other systems.
Front Runner
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