Air Conditioning options

[mcknight77]

My '71 is about to come out of the paint shop. I took the dash out and filled the radio hole and had it painted before the Bronco went in for paint. Since the dash is out this may be the best time to install A/C.

I have an NP435 transmission in it so under dash units won't fit with my shifter. I will eventually install a 5-speed (AX-15) that I have, but I only have enough cash to do A/C or the 5-speed.

The Vintage Air system from either Tom's or BC seems to be the way I want to go. However, BC has their own system, too. It appears from their picture that their system hangs down and uses part of the passenger foot well.

Can you guys who installed A/C let me know what you installed and how well you like it?

Jim

 

[bronconut73]

It doesn't really hang down .....
In fact I think it tucks up better than the old VA unit did.
The BC/VA unit is great but you really need to insulate your eb like a new car to keep the cooling inside.

 

[mcknight77]

It will be well insulated.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I've had two different A/C units on ours.
The first was a dealer installed ARA unit that had the evaporator and fan in the middle, and a duct that ran along the bottom of the dash. It uses the factory heater. I think some of our vendors still sell that same unit.

The one I have now is a Vintage Air unit. It's not the BC unit, but they operate the same way. It cools and blows lots better than the other unit ever did. The one big drawback though is the VA unit has it's own heater core. It has to have the compressor running for the defrost to work, much like a modern car. However, there is no way for to introduce outside air like a modern car. I have a problem with that.

That is a good "first project" project for the R&D Dept. at the new BC Bronco office. I'd say as it is right now, you have to choose between fair A/C & a good heater/defroster, and a great A/C & poor heater/defroster. If someone manufactured one that does both well, I'd buy it.

 

[surfer-b]

What Blu said. This is the reason I am sticking with the older "under dash" style so I can keep the fresh air intake. If it were me I would install the 5 speed tranny and save for the AC later, espec since you are in ID, how often do you really need AC in that part of the country. One good thing about it though is its much dryer in that part so you really don't have to worry so much about windows fogging like here in the SE, and you could prob get away with not having the fresh air intake.

 

[bronconut73]

I still have a fresh air intake.
The stock one on the drivers side below the dash, haha.
But seriously though with a little mixing of temps, i.e. adjust the cold dial enough to keep the compressor on and adjust the heat enough to make it all work out.
I have no trouble with fogging Windows once I get that adjustment right.
A little frustrating at first but it's cool now.
By the way, all new cars with a/c have the compressor come on when the defroster comes on.

Blu is right though a legitimate fresh air intake for the a/c system would be really cool, no pun intended.
Haha

 

[blubuckaroo]

I think the bottom line is Vintage Air got started making retrofit A/C units for show cars. How often do those really need a defrost, or even a heater for that matter? With a large number of their A/C units going into real transportation cars these days, Vintage Air needs to go back to the drawing board.

 

[mcknight77]

Thanks for the help, guys.

My Bronco is a daily driver (at least it will be when it finally gets out of the paint shop). And, yes it gets hot in Boise. It's been over a 100 for the last 10 days. I had to stop driving my '65 Mustang and start driving the pickup because it has an a/c.