air conditioning for my 56 bel air

Hello folks.
I am researching aftermarket air conditioning for my 56 bel air wagon. The car is pretty original (although there are upgrades to the drivtrain, etc) with an original working "deluxe" heater.
I was thinking of keeping the heater and adding a cool-only unit like this

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catal...cap-300/underdash-complete-system-p-4315.html

The rep at Old Air said this underdash unit is 16 3/4 wide, 11 3/4 deep and 4 3/8 high. With this depth, this will take up alot of space from the front center passenger. Vintage air also has several underdash units as well.
Can anyone recommend an underdash unit with a 'vintage feel' that isn't a piece o crap, would look reasonably ok in my car and might be a bit smaller (less deep)? I have replaced the weatherstripping and window felts so there wont be any lost cool air but this is still a 9 passenger wagon so the thing needs to kick some ass. Thanks in advance and have a great day.

 

That unit works real good. But as you say it takes up most of the third person in the front seats leg room. Some of the a/c companies have slim line units like used to be installed in pick ups. Might try one of them. The blower motor would be farther to the right away from the orignal heater ducts.

 

You're gonna' need some good evaporator core area, to cool that wagon!!!!!..............You probably won't be real happy, with an underdash unit, of that size, with the hopes of keeping it "chilly" within.They work good in smaller cars, and pickups.

Just my two cents!

 

Vintage air has a system for that car and has controls that look like oem that go into the dash. It is a lot of work getting it in there i will tell you that.

 

i have that unit in my 53 and the vintage in dash in my 62. for what its worth after installing both. the vintage air unit is 1000 times better. cleaner install. better instructions. with the under dash unit the passanger will freeze and the driver will sweat. the rear does get cold in the four door but it take quite a while. if you do go with the under dash unit i would try to find something that had a remote vent out the side, it will help cool the drive. hot rod air had one but this was the only one i could find quickly.

http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ai...under-dash-evaporator-unit-remote-vent-89.php

 

A friend has one of these in a '57 Belair sedan. Keeps it cool and has outlets L and R plus center. Nice unit.

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catal...plete-ac-system-1955-56-chevy-car-p-5315.html

 

So far you folks are saying the things I have been saying to myself. The job all in is $1500.00 less w an underdash unit. I have not "cheezed" on any upgrades for this car so far and have been real happy with the results. Maybe I will have to make my wife a little longer and forego the underdash unit and pop for an intergrated Vintage air unit. Please keep the comments coming tho.

Thanks.

 

Vintage Air dealer and someone who has installed a few.

I highly recommend the new Vintage Air Sure-Fit unit for your wagon. Yes, they are expensive but you get what you pay for. The units are around $1300 and I would charge an additional $1500+ to install it.

There is at least three days worth of work there. If you have a small block with a good radiator, shroud and heavy duty fan, the three groove crank pulley and two groove water pump pulley you won't need to buy any more parts.

 

I did the install on this car, we had some growing pains with it as the kit was recently released. But it works well now and have done similar sized cars with the new units and pleased with the results here in the dry southwest.

 

Vintage Air is the only way to go. A friend installed a Old Air kit in his 68 Mustang and it does not cool very good. He has installed close to a dozen Vintage Air kits and they have all cooled great. There are a lot of cheaper kits but if you plan to drive and enjoy the car go with a Vintage Air unit with heat,cool and defrost.

 

I have Vintage Air in my 32 3W ...



This past Saturday is was 90 plus degress outside and the little coupe was showing 38/40 degrees blowing out the vents.

Now I do realize my coupe is considerably smaller than a 56 wagon and also has a lot less glass. The coupe has Lizard Skin and Dynamat to help insulate it. But I do have the smaller Generation II Mini ... not the larger unit your wagon should use. I am a very staisfied Vintage Air customer.

 

another vote for Vintage Air--have installed the Surefit units in 4 trifive Chevys and the latest Gen units in 7 40 Fords--all work extremely well--take your time on the trifive units when converting the orig deluxe controls-not that hard --just takes time and you will swear that the inside unit will not go up under the dash--it will whne turned just right--instructions are well done and easy to understand.

 

Vintage Air's Gen IV SureFit kit is the only choice for real OEM quality a/c. If you did most of the work on your car you can easily install all of the components and take it to any good a/c shop for a charge. VA has patented "cable converter" electronics that replace the cables and make your original controls operate the system. And the Gen IV is the biggest volume system you can buy - with a wagon you'll need it.

Call VA and ask for George - then decide for yourself. Good American made shit cost a little more but why save $300 on $30K car?

I am affiliated with Vintage Air, but I also own their products too.

 

just finished Vintage Air installation in my Camaro, can't say enough good things about the kit, quality and completeness.Two thumbs up!

 

if cost is a consideration, you can find a junkyard donor car that has an aftermarket air system and retrofit it to your wagon. recharge with "can duster"! ;~)

 

I have sample cars, and in the SF Valley. PM me if you wanna see what the Vintage Air units feel like and look like.