I DID call him. He was real vague and wouldnt reply when I asked him if he had ever tried to install his underdash unit in a 57 Chevy. I have been working on old cars for more than 40 years, dont even own a car newer than 1966 and getting his unit into position took me four months! One reason is because he supplies mounting screws with a warning that they may poke a hole in the freon tube. I made up studs so that can not happen. (he could do that do) Then as I was completing installation, it turned out that NO WAY had they supplied enough defost hose. When I called on that they made me pay for more hose. That is WRONG! I bought a kit that was supposed to have everything needed. Finally after getting the system working and blowing 37 degree air, there was NO WAY the puny fan would even cool the front passengers, much less the back seat
I had problems with Southern rod parts and Tom on a purchase. Tom kooled his tool when I proved to him what I was saying did happen in packaging and shipping. He made good on the problem. I ordered up a catalog from some rodding a/c company in Texas. Air Tique(?).. With the catalog i also received several religious pamphlets/booklets. I contacted him about the pamphlets in the package in case he did not know this stuff was going out with his catalogs. After he told me that GOD owns and controls everything on earth the discussion went down hill.
Well heres the issue I guess. I can afford the southern air kit. Its under $700 bucks. The vintage air kits I have seen are al over $1k. Where can I get a complete kit for about the same price as the southern air?
Here's some questions to ask each a/c seller: (hope they're honest with you) Do you actually design and manufacture your own systems? Do you have a complete R&D department? How many engineers work for your company? (this ain't tree shade work) How many road miles have your test cars covered in the past 30 years? Have your systems been tested in extreme environment chambers? Are your products and manufacturing processes ISO Certified? Which OEM cars are you producing climate control systems for? (i.e. Vintage Air builds systems for Shelby and the Ford GT and many other limited exotics) How many years have you been in the climate control in business? Can I see pictures of your manufacturing facilities? Yeah, I'm biased. But I have known all the Vintage guys for over 30 years and they are truly dedicated to producing the finest product possible and they design, engineer, test and manufacture everything right in their own AMERICAN factory. And yes, their system cost more than off-the-shelf, 20 year old technology. So here's one example of actually getting what you pay for. And hey, you'll drink more that $200 worth of beer just trying to figure out why your a/c freezes up or won't cool you ass. But it's your call.
Here's a few to try. Luckys Rod & Kustom 1006 S. Kaufman Street Ennis, TX Universal A/C Systems & Street Rod Parts Specializing in Complete A/C Systems starting at $500, Sanden Compressors, A/C, Alt, Ps, Brackets, A/C Installs, Brake Kits, EZ Wire Harness and Power Windows, Dolphin Gauges, and LED Lights. Look me up on the web at www.freewebs.com/luckysrodandkustom Or give me a call or email for a free brochure at 972-875-2741/ my cell 469-337-9307. My email is street-products@sbcglobal.net Owner- Shane Gill http://www.rainbowproductsonline.co...reen=CTGY&Store_Code=EMP3140&Category_Code=25 IGNORE the end sale date for this one. I think Mike will honor this price. http://wheels-of-time.com/acsystems.aspx Tell Gary Donald in Tennessee with 55 F100 referred you. I have never bought from Shane. But he is a Hamber and was very responsive when I had general ac questions. Best of luck with finding something. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
Do you actually design and manufacture your own systems?...YEP We have an operateing aggreement with one of the largest AC manuf. in the USA I design my own and came out with the all electric operation,including 4way and and now 3 way state of the art electric water valves with the help of the 4 engineers on staff full time. Do you have a complete R&D department?..You bet and 4 engineers on hand and a complete climate controlled AC/Heat dyno room that 30X40 that can duplicate any weather condition and all of our products are tested in this Climate control dyno. How many engineers work for your company? (this ain't tree shade work) See above and they are all real engineers with degrees. The truth is we are all assemblers..what does this mean? All VA makes is the plastic case..they buy the evaporator coil from an outside source,the motors from Ohio Manuf DCM,the fan wheel from Cary Products,more than likely, the expansion valve from Parker or one of the four manuf.,the hose from Goodyear or Dayton, the driers from Universal,more than likely, the Compressors from Sanden, the fittings from one of 3 manuf.,the compressor bkt from Alan Grove or have machine shop make the billet ones,the plastic dash louvers from Cary,Coyote or Revcor and the condensors from TCI in Alabama or they were. The bottomline is we and they make the plastic and assemble these units and design them to look different but they both still pump freon thru the coil,the fan blows air over the cold coil, the air comes out of the louvers and walla cold AC..not Rocket Science but the trick is to have the resources to buy from all of these sources and test the product in house before it hits the street. Not shade tree at all but must be a good assembler. How many road miles have your test cars covered in the past 30 years?..Too many to count! Have your systems been tested in extreme environment chambers?..See dyno room answer. Are your products and manufacturing processes ISO Certified?...ISO? Absolutley Which OEM cars are you producing climate control systems for? (i.e. Vintage Air builds systems for Shelby and the Ford GT and many other limited exotics)..We sell 2 new electric/hybrid independent car companies a unit we make for them. Army Hum Vees and Shelby Cobras are kit cars and the new Shelby Mustangs have factory air.All of these cars do not have to meet the requirements of regular OEM because they are under 10,000 units produced so ck that out. The company that we use does all Winnerbago MH and others and thousands of military vehicles...we are not beginners as you want others to believe. How many years have you been in the climate control in business?..Made out first unit in 1992 and VA has copied us every step when we came with the electric units at the 1998 SEMA show,see new products entry, then they finally came with one in Feb. 2001. Can I see pictures of your manufacturing facilities?.I'll invite you to come look and leave your camera and VA pals in the car. My private email address is in the first post. I go there once a month or so and will be there again in Oct because I have the Louisville Nationals and the US Nationals as I drag race to not just another pretty face, and I will guaruntee you your Jaw will hang down when you see it as the folks doing our AC have been around for a long time in fact longer than any others mentioned on here. I will be there around the 20th to 25th of Oct so why don't you put together a road trip with as many Rods and Customs as you want and let's schedule a tour you will not be disapointed and then write about it on here. This thread is turning into them aganist Us well that is good and competition is good but some mentioned on here should be asked the questions I just answered as those are legitimate questions although I'm sure these arn't the answers the gentleman wanted but are facts. As for our management Shane is no longer there but working for the Government so if there's a customer service problem ever email me or therodgarage@aol.com as I don't ck these boards often and you only vent here and emailing us direct gets you direct service not lip service. We are paying attention and there will be better comunication now. One person stated that "All of us use Chineese motors" WRONG>>VA and us use a motor made in Ohio,unless they've changed,DCM and stamped right on it and one other competitor uses one made in Ft Worth also a good motor. As stated before you ask "Why is Southern Air so much cheaper"? It cost us just as much to make our unit but we don't have the mark up they have to put on their units to sell to dealers so the dealer will have a margin of profit. We buy the same parts they buy from most of the same people and we make and design our PLASTIC and ASSEMBLE it.. Good question thanks Tom,,,,,OH AC only freezes up if you didn't install the capilary tube in the coil from the temp control or you over charged..98% of the time it's the temp mistake
I've been to the Southern Rods facility in Greenville, SC. Didn't tour the assembly area, but they do have a nice big shop up there with knowledgeable counter people. I'm in Leesville, SC, a couple hours away. Southern Rods and Southern Air have been around for a long time. Vintage Air may have been around a bit longer, but the Southern Air products are just as good. I've seen both VA and SA, no more complaints about one than the other. Most of the time the complaints I've heard can be attributed to the installer -- not measuring to see is the units will fit exactly where they want, not ordering a big enough unit or using a big enough condensor, etc. I've put my own AC system together from junkyard parts -- original 63 Rambler evaporator and expansion valve (might have to contact SA about a new one of those, but mine appears to be okay -- gotta get it charged again since I found a leak!), Chrysler LS condensor, Sanden compressor from 88 Jeep (I used a 88 Jeep 4.0L core engine), and custom hoses with o-ring ends for the compressor and flare ends for the evaporator. This isn't the first time I've done it either! All the parts have to work well together! Some guessing on my part -- I got the biggest condensor I could find that would fit. Connecting it all together was the real chore! Oh, have a pretty much universal receiver/dryer too. Using Freeze 12 now, but I have used Envirosafe and liked it too, just as good or better than R-134a.
I'm going to buy 2 units from southern air when I'm in Louieville.A friend of mine bought one and hasn't had a problem with it and I need one for my Cord and Auburn.
Sorry to hear that ... Shane is good people. Must be fairly recently ... I spoke with him about 3 or 4 weeks ago ... about a LeCarra steering wheel and horn button .
this has been an interesting thread...I emailed vintage air to see if they wanted to participate. I hope they do!
Tom is a great guy ..Stands by his product 100% I use them in all my vehicles. Now that guy name Rob is a different story ! ..heee
Tom,,,,nobody will ever accuse you of having a pretty face! Could it be that Air Conditioning companys are like home state football teams,,looking at MOST of the negitive responses the posters are from the TEXAS area close to Vintage Air.,,or is it like the Ford & Chevy camps Reguardless they both work,if they didn't they would not be in business today I learned a long time ago,If you have a problem with any company go to the top man if you are unhappy with a product. Shane was Southern Rods/Southern Airs goodwill ambassador here on the Hamb and was the go to guy and always treated me fair,,,as does Tom. Over the years Southern Air has grown into a hugh supplier of hot rod parts and as I said in a earlier post,,I had a problem with 1 air unit and Tom personally made it right,,that could have been the last one I ever bought but because he did right by me I have bought 3 more units and intend on buying a 5th unit for my 32 coupe. Another observation,,I am lucky enough to live within driving distance to Tom's facility so within a hour I can be at Southern Rods,I prefer to do my business face to face and have always ask for Shane or I picked up the phone and called my fellow club member Will Drake who helped Tom at shows and seemed to be at SR a few times a week and he would bring me what I needed. I will now find out if Tom is in before I make to trip or send him a E-mail. I will say that Tom has lost two stand up guys that really looked out for Tom and the hot rodders best intrerest,,Shane who now works for the government and Will who passed away recently. HRP
Unfortunately SR/SA is too far away to go apply for a job! Would be neat working in a rod shop, even if just selling parts... A two hour drive each way sure wouldn't be though!
Shane being gone really sucks. He came into the picture and worked past some bad experiences I had with Southern Rods. Now I have no idea who to talk to....
This is in one of Tom's last threads,, If you have a problem email me as I don't ck these boards I'm too busy I want to hear them and pull the paper work and find out what the story really is. srp707@aol.com.
I still have Annette or A-Nette as Sue,her Mom, calls her,Wills Wife. I lost a great friend in Will as did you and you Randy we were all at the service. I'm headn to Louisville in the morning and it won't be the same without him there holding court...no what I mean. Thanks for the kind words and you guys know where my office is. Shane is a stand up guy but works for Obama now He He He He! In other words he's a bueracrat. Bad news is he didn't vote for him but good news to me. Danny at least my dog still thinks I'm pretty! We have several good guys here and if one of them is ever anything other than a gentleman I need to know unless someone calls one of them and starts ranting like the guy from Boston then that's another story. See you all at Louisville..thanks again
I'm talking about to place orders and actually get stuff, even the last few things I ordered through Shane I had some issues with, drop shipped and the manufacturer didn't include everything or wrong stuff. I like to have one person as my contact with parts suppliers.
I have Southern Air in my 46 coupe and Vintage in my 53F100. I put a Vintage in my 40 coupe, still not finished. When I bought my Southern Air unit [it was a few years ago] two of my friends did also, they neither still have theirs, they switched to Vintage Air. If my 46 was my only rod, I would change it also. I have bought other stuff from Southern Rods and I am sure Tom is a great guy, maybe the new Air units are better, but you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Joe
That's a good way to do it but the best way is with part numbers off our site. Carry or Shaun are good for help and so is Kevin but if you talk to only one salesman it won't get confused I agree 1000%. You can email me any time with a request thru my email srp707@aol.com We always ship same day if the order is before 3PM and one problem we've had during this recession is ,manufacturers of parts we sell but don't make , no inventory on the shelf and sometimes takes a long time. We have a large warehouse full of stuff but seems like it's never enough. All of you going to Louisville ck out all of our new products in the new products room I just got,at the last minute, our remote master cylinder kit that has taken me 6 yrs to make. I am proud of it, ck it out.
When I had my business I had a sign in front of my cash register that stated,,HRP If you are happy with my product or service tell everybody you know,,if you are unhappy with my product or service tell me first because i can't make it right if I don't know there is a problem!
srp707, okay maybe you can answer this question for me that vintage air and old time air can not answer. 1) why is it you cant find a system to run off of 6volt.? 2)is it the fan or the compressor that draws to much amperage? 3)what is the amperage draw of your unit? compressor? 4)Do you have a cable controled unit? 5)can your unit run off of a positve ground system? 6) do you have a trunk mounted system? 7)what is your most powerful system? what is the btu's & CFM of this unit? 8) my car currently has the blower, and heater core mounted in the engine compartment. because the limited under dash area is it possible to mount any of your systems in this location? If you can answer these questions i will be happy to drive one state over and buy from you.
I explained in detail how ac works and how all parts are basically the same and as Danny said if we don't know we can't help. We go to shows and people come up to our booth with the same problem"My ac blows cold when I first start the car then gets warm" No lie we help so many with this one and even people with other vendors AC Va ,Old ,classic ,you name it. They put the water shut off on the wrong heater hose. Easy to do and some just raise hell about the ac manufacturer without even telling them. There is only one thing a competitors unit will do that ours won't do.........cost more. Hey Danny you need a job?
The fellow who owns Vintage Air is already a HAMB member. He goes by ... twokul Here is his HAMB profile but he is not very active here. He last logged in in June of 2009. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=8778
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