Air Conditioning, Which One to get? Theres a alot of info out there But none Unbiased

Alrighty,

Originally I was against A/C in the 49 cheby (truck) due to the fact that it is....non-trad.

That said, Its hot as hell in Florida and I HATE being hot (110 deg heat index with 90-100% humidity), I'm a huge proponent of driving the piss outta my old ****, but I find it highly unenjoyable when I'm sweating my *** off sitting in traffic.

So I decided, I'm gonna puss out and get A/C, Now I have thought this out, I plan on getting a groves bracket that will put the compressor even with the frame rail as low as it will go on the p***enger side, I'm going to run my lines in the frame rails and the condensor lines will hook into the frame as well. I plann on getting the fly by wire servo system so I can hide the control panel as well.

The evap unit will either be a under dash or the rear mounted (trunk package tray version) There lies my first question, the trunk package tray version I can mount behind the seat, it will be easier to hide the vents but I wont have heat or defrost (dont need it too much in FL, but may end up moving to colder climates in the next few years)

OR the in dash unit i'll have everything (heat, defrost etc) but will work harder at hiding the vents.

Now my REAL question, I've spent the last few days researching companies, the problem is....I've found both good and bad about the bigger named folks.

I've been hearing of probs from the vintage air folks (customer service, QA type stuff) but a number of years ago they were the best in the biz...juries out, I dunno anymore.

Southern air: same thing some good, some bad.

Cl***ic auto air: havent heard squat about them or their product and cant seem to find much either besides the propaganda sales pitch.

Air-tique: Heard the most good about this one, I dont know a whole lot about em or folks that have used em though.

Hot Rod Air: Same as V.A. and S.A.

So my question from the guys that are using em, installing em and otherwise....

Which one? And Is there anything specific I need to know about any of em? (good, bad, indifferent?)

I dont mind spending the bit of extra scratch to get quality **** I wont have to fix in a matter of months.

 

I've had excellent luck with Vintage Air. they have been doing it longer, better and at a competive price than anyone else.

If you are hell bent on doing it the cheapest way possible, trust me, you will be disappointed.

One thing to look at on all the others is the size of the evaporator and squirrel cage and fan ***embly. If the unit won't move the absolute maxiumm amount of air across a good size evaporater inside the car you won't be happy

The other thing I would opt out of would be having just the minimal amount of electronic gadgets in the system. Vintage Air does offer an awful lot of electronic geewhiz gizmos that really don't serve a lot of useful function on a true hotrod application. Go with the basics and you should be happy

 

We used the Air-tique(Cleburne, TX) system in the 32 3 Coupe project and it went in easily, had all the bits and pieces and works absolutely right as advertised.

 

Salty,

Old Air out of Texas is a very good company to deal with, I think there out of Dallas. I've had Old Air and Vintage Air and have had no problems with either one.

Cruiser

 

I've had problems with a couple of VA units, also I don't like their sealed case. For my next installation I'm considering a Cl***ic Air unit. They have a seperate coil for heat/cool and their coil's are larger then VA's. I also like the idea of Cl***ic using a Spal fan in their units. Cl***ic is out of Tampa, FL. prices are very compe***ive between Cl***ic and VA. I've also heard good things about Hotrod Air and never anything good about Southern. I believe Old Air is out of business, I think the owner retired.

 

Ask enough folks and you can find something BAD about most anyone. The larger companies will have more comments ( good and bad ) because they SOLD more units.

I prefer the Vintage Air ... the Generation II Mini is small enough to be easier to conceal yet effient enough to cool a 3W or a pickup cab.





It has heat and defrost ...
The above are photos of one in my 32 3W coupe project.

 

SO,
Southern air is OUT.

Old air is still in biz allegedly (sites still up anyway)

VA gen II mini is lookin good due to the small size, BUT with the extreme heat load that FL is gonna put on it, will that be sufficient for a 49 chopped Pickemup? Or should I look at getting a tad larger unit?

I would like that... BUT I also want to keep it as concealed as possible, with no glove box to put the controls in I kinda have to have the fly by wire stuff to be able to hide it...

 

Any others that want to throw their copper pennies in the mix?

Also looking for the sizing question above...

 

I put an Old Air unit in my shoebox. It works good and got good customer service. I was happy.

 

For what it's worth, I put a Vintage Air unit in my 37 Ford in 1989 (R12) Drove trouble free until I busted the car down for a freshen-up in 2004. Installed a new zz-4 crate with the Vintage Air front runner and switched over to R-134. No problems ever.

As you can tell, this application was not in a traditional style car, however, I built it the way I wanted and to be driven down the road. The system has performed flawlessly. Stu

 

Well out of all those companies mentioned I know of only one that has a member here that has dealt with orders, and problems for a couple of years now. ME!!! Like somebody said you'll find bad about all companies if you ask . I don't have a problem selling an air unit to a fellow board member and standing behind it.
Shane T.
Southern Rods and Southern Air

 

I have an Old Air unit in my pick up and am currently installing a VA in my '50 Fordor.

The only complaint I have against my Old Air unit is that it advertised heat/air/defrost and it does have all 3 more or less. It has two very (1/4 x 3/8) small slots on the case that are aimed at the floor but 95+% of the heater function comes out the dash vents. If I was advertising it for sale I would tell customers yes it puts out heat but not to the floor, you can have hot air in your face or thru the defrost ducts to the windshield. The A/C portion works very nice but the unit (fan) is loud enough to be annoying when you are listening to music or talking and the unit I have required a hole about 4" diameter for the rubber grommet around the plumbing through the firewall.

I haven't used the VA unit yet so I don't have any thing to add about it other than the supplied brackets ****.

 

The one thing I have learned in dealing with any of these (I worked at my dad's street rod shop for a few years, and he and I still discuss stuff like this a lot.) is that you need to get all your stuff from the same supplier at the same time. If you try to piece together the cheapest parts from a variety of vendors, you'll very likely be disappointed.

I don't think Air-Tique is still in business. (Seems I heard some of the fallout employees started one of the other companies?) The one unit I did install from them seemed like every bit the quality of VA.

If I decide to put air in my Fleetline, I'll probably go with VA unless someone convinces me otherwise.

Oh, and regarding the defrost, you may not need that in Fla, but it's woth it to consider it for DE-FOG with all the humidity and rain you get.

A fairly small unit ought to be fine for a chopped pickup... just make sure the cab's insulated real good.

 

I worked in a A/C shop in South Florida for 5-6 years. We did ALOT of retro fits in older cars. We used vintage air alot and southern a couple times. I like vintage air because of its compact design and quality product. But you'll pay for it.

Lots of times I made my own systems using hang down units and custom lines. I guess that wouldnt work in your case.

Im not sure where in Florida you are but my old shop is in Delray Beach if you get stuck on something. The owners name is Jim Bradley. Ask for him and tell him Ben sent you. He'll treat you good.

Auto Air of Delray
2829 S Dixie Hwy
Delray Beach Fl 33483
561 272 2862

 

sweet,

This is the kind of info that I'm looking for...little bits and peices that folks have noticed.....

Like I said, i dont mind spending the scratch if it saves me from wrenchin after its all done and painted...

 

I have never bought A/C from Shane T ...
But everything I have bought ... it was good, shipped quickly and got a good price on it too ...

Randy

 

I've had a couple of VAs and had problems w/ both... you couldn't give me another one. I'll mention a few of the issues and move on:
1. The fan is insufficient to move enough air. If you run the thermostat at 100% the evap will freeze. VA doesn't like to admit it but they finally did. 2. The fan position is such that the lines block its removal for service without disconnecting them. 3. I had a heater core drip/leak... had to bust the case apart to gain access for the repair. 4. If you go from defrost to dash vents, the car has to be shut off for the vacuum to bleed off or the doors won't move (VAs tech let me in on this secret).

I believe the guy that owns HR Air used to work for VA. He designed his units to address and fix all the above problems - you'll want to check to make sure we're talking about the same guy. I've seen him at several shows and talked w/ him about all this. He didn't run down VA... just showed me the differences in his units.

A friend has an Airtique unit in his 32 Ford. Moves a lot of air and cools very well.

There's a lot of negative feedback about SA over on www.streetrodding.com. Do a search and see what others are saying. I don't have any experience w/ them so do your own research...

Re VA: Just my opin... they have the biggest ad budget and the biggest rep so draw your own conclusion about where they spend their money...

 

If I ever put AC in one of my rides it will be V A...

 

i just insalled a VA sure fit kit in my 51 3100 pu
havent used it yet as truck is not finished yet.
i'll say it was a bear to intstall.
make sure everything under the dash is installed before you install it,cause ti takes up a lot of room.
kinda like 10 pounds of **** in a 5 pound bucket.
good luck in whatever you use.

 

[
There's a lot of negative feedback about SA over on www.streetrodding.com. Do a search and see what others are saying. I don't have any experience w/ them so do your own research...

Re VA: Just my opin... they have the biggest ad budget and the biggest rep so draw your own conclusion about where they spend their money...[/quote]
Beware internet feedback forums . Like I said I'll stack our stuff up against anybodies, and if ad volume is a qualifier check out Street Rodder, Street Scene, Goodguys, Cl***ic Truck, ets... We are in them all. Again do you own research, but do take internet feedback with A grain of salt. It is real esay to bash and down somebody, or thing, when there is no recourse for re****le.
Shane T.

 

Well, I just ordered a Vintage unit for the 58 a couple days ago. Hopefully I will get it in befrore the Goodguys & Greaserama in KC on Labor day weekend. I will tell you how it works. I got the Gen IV unit and am going to try to hide it under the das as best as I can.I liked the idea of it being all in one and having electronic controls (until they go out!).

 

I got a cheep temp deal just for short trips too keep the wife cool cool and happy;
http://www.kooleraire.com/
Works OK in a in 5W

 

Vintage Air in my 68 Chevy pickup and it will freeze your ******s.

 

I like frosty ******s.

 

I have a Vintage air in my 50 Buick sedanette with a cad 472 engine and I have had no problems yet. I think the most problems seem to arise when a non a/c certified person installs his own. So read the instructions carefully and follow word for word and you should be ok. Good luck, Rags

 

Ive installed an Old Air Hurricane unit in my own coupe and in a buddys F-1. both are over 5 years old and going strong. They closely resemble the stock heater box too and about the same size.
http://www.oldairproducts.com/shop/...=4234&osCsid=cb7b8c30d863b930847d5bd7fc3127a2

 

I have used three companies for air. Airtique many years ago, it was ok, but I believe they are no longer in the game???? Southern Air I have now in my 46 Ford Bus coupe. Out of respect for ShaneT I will only say I would not buy another one. The coupe is well insulated , but the air unsatisfactory for me. I have a VA Gen II Compac in my 53 F100 and it is wonderfull. I also like my a/c really cold, and the VA is. The best I have used, and I hear many others say the same. Remember to insulate, insulate, insulate. Make sure no air is infiltrating the p*** compartment. I have been in a couple of rods with under dash [not in the dash] units that really work well. This puts the most air flow close to you and that is REAL important. Don't try to hide the vents if you demand COOL. Good luck. Joe

 

I finished a Hot Rod Air installation in my '35 sedan a few months ago. It installed fine and works ok. None of these units seems to flow as much air as a good factory unit in a new car but as long as you realize that, you are ok. Mine seems to be pretty noisy on "high" blower but that's just the way it is. Dehumidified defrost is GREAT, and I'd highly recommend it for a Florida driver.

 

this one should work good, PLUS it's removable when not needed ....joe

 

I know you asked for unbiased opinions, but here is my customer service stories with Southern

One of those dual port Master Cyl's - New in the box (A few months on my shelf) but I couldn't get it to bench bleed - had to buy a new one, they wouldn't give me a new one cause I bought it too many months prior.

"Lakester" Style Coated headers for a BBC. Drove them 1 time - got caught in a small rain storm - washed the truck after and they started to rust around the cone - not to mention the flange for the exahust is only 2 bolts and doesn't seal worth ****, and you can't get gaskets for them. Had to put a donut gasket to get it to stop from leaking.
Radiator Puked Hot antifreeze and the fan sprayed it on them and the anitfreeze "etched" the coated - won't come of, tried light compound, fine steel wool - the headers are officially fu&^@#. Because I bought them a while ago (read they probably don't believe they were only used once) I can't get new ones and JET HOT wants $250 to re-coat them.

I'm not sure who makes the headers - they resemble "Patriot" style but who knows. I bought them cause they were way cheaper than Sandersons "Limefires" - You Get What You Pay For

I'm not trying to throw Shane under the bus here - but these have been my experiences with Souther Rods/Air. If he is willing to stand behind the product, that is great!