Vintage Air Gen IV "Sure Fit" Air Conditioner (AC) Installation Thread

[duffymahoney]

Any chance you could measure the glove box for me? I have a tuffy and I am looking into what I would need to do to it to keep it.

 

[bronconut73]

Any chance you could measure the glove box for me? I have a tuffy and I am looking into what I would need to do to it to keep it.

BC's version of the VA a/c unit allows you to keep a stock sized glov e box.

The V A v ersion supplies you with a smaller glov e box

 

[PGreenlawMD]

Very nice write up. Very little online about these installs and no YouTube videos to speak of.

What engine do you have and did this kit come with premeasured and precrimped AC pressure hoses? Any problems with the standard hoses for your setup. By pics it didn’t look like any issues.

I have a 351W and just starting this install. I was sent the “modified” hose kit which means find/buy a beadlock crimping device and measure cut crimp hoses and hope they are right!!!

Almost ready to buy the standard set of hoses premeasurec and precrimped and take my chances with them, knowing I have a set that can be adjusted on hand if needed.

 

[bronconut73]

PGreen,

Do you have the BC kit?

If not your compressor and bulkhead may not be in exactly the same spot and therefore their hoses may not fit. Mine fit perfect with my 351W.

 

[PGreenlawMD]

I have the same gen IV version bought from summit racing as jatepper except mine came with the hoses uncrimped. I already had a chrome Sanden compressor on the shelf and AC PS bracket already installed, so I opted out of those products from the vintage air kit. Based on pictures and instaation description by jatepper the install looks to be identical, except he has the vintage air brackets for the AC PS. That is why I am questioning his experience with his kit.

 

[JaxLax]

I have a 351W and just starting this install. I was sent the “modified” hose kit which means find/buy a beadlock crimping device and measure cut crimp hoses and hope they are right!!!

Almost ready to buy the standard set of hoses premeasurec and precrimped and take my chances with them, knowing I have a set that can be adjusted on hand if needed.

Don't buy a crimper.
Measure and got the hose length you need (+10% for bends) from NAPA.
Use Universal A/C part numbers to search amazon/ebay/stores and get the female barbs ends and some good hose clamps.

Here's a picture of the ones I made myself.

 

[PGreenlawMD]

Very nice on the hoses and pics. Certainly an option when I get to that point in the installl. Much more adjustable option than crimping the hoses.

 

[jatepper]

Very nice write up. Very little online about these installs and no YouTube videos to speak of.

What engine do you have and did this kit come with premeasured and precrimped AC pressure hoses? Any problems with the standard hoses for your setup. By pics it didn’t look like any issues.

I have a 351W and just starting this install. I was sent the “modified” hose kit which means find/buy a beadlock crimping device and measure cut crimp hoses and hope they are right!!!

Almost ready to buy the standard set of hoses premeasurec and precrimped and take my chances with them, knowing I have a set that can be adjusted on hand if needed.

Sorry about the late reply. Don't log on here enough. Hoses came with the fittings on them. I have the 302 motor. Everything seemed perfect length. You have to contort yourself to get to the kick panel and make the connections, but it is what it is.

 

[nvrstuk]

Following this thread....thanks for the detail !!!

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

Stock knobs for Vintage Air set up.

I followed a lot of this thread for my install, but I thought I'd share how I deviated on the knobs. I like the original knobs texture and look. I bought 5 extra from Tom's Bronco parts that are with an allen screw on the side.

I popped out the plastic piece with the silver backing that makes it look like chrome, turned it over and while in my hand drilled lightly in one off center spot with about a 3/8" drill. I lightly drilled till the spot was what I eye balled as just right, did all three (I actually did 5 as I ruined 2 in the next part). I then marked the plastic that I drilled on with a sharpie giving the plastic window a black dot.

I then tried to drill out the brass sleeve in the plastic handle to the size of the rheostats that control the functions for the vintage air A/C. I tried a vice, but that just spun the knob which ruined the edges (throw 1 away). Next I used soft coated pliers and that marred the edge as well (throw #2 away). I then went real slow, with just 1/16" larger drill bits with the cordless drill and held the knob in my leather gloved hand with a white shop rag. It caught a lot, but it did not burn off the outside rubber black edges as you could stop quickly, reverse, and start again. Very trying process, lots of patience needed. Sometimes the brass was drilled off center, but I'll stick with the final product.

I re-threaded the allen stop nut hole, and viola, I have knobs that look like the originals, with black marks denoting where the range is when turning the knob for air. Down side the knobs are a little bigger than Vintage Air's are, so, from directly on, it may be hard to see the underlying decal. But from the driver side, I can now see it clearly, and at what degree of cold or how high the fan is with the original knobs.

 

[Madgyver]

i need those knobs

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

Built after I bought them from Tom's ;D

 

[gilmakil]

Nice one! I'm also planning to install this Vintage Air kit. All the steps listed above are pretty based. Especially the first one - removing OEM components: heater/blower, control knobs, radiator, power steering pump (if equipped), battery and battery tray, fan, and shroud. The start is the most important as the rest steps could vary depending on your car. I just wonder, is it hard to maintain this air conditioner? The one in my bedroom is pretty modest - just two times per year, I do chemical cleaning from these guys airconservicingsingapore.com. But unlikely I will spend money for cleaning my car aircon.

 

[tripleJs15]

Great write up - thanks for documenting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BroncoBub]

Anyone who has installed this Vintage Air kit on there stock 302 can tell me if you had to use a longer fan spacer? And if so, what size? Or did you have to modify the fan in anyway.

Thanks, Bub

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

I replaced my fan clutch to extend it away from water pump connection as I went with the Explorer Front Serpentine setup so I could get the fan closer to the champion radiator I had installed. Don't know off the top of my head what it was out of, but it is here on CB

 

[BroncoBub]

I replaced my fan clutch to extend it away from water pump connection as I went with the Explorer Front Serpentine setup so I could get the fan closer to the champion radiator I had installed. Don't know off the top of my head what it was out of, but it is here on CB

Thanks for the reply. I was looking for someone that had the stock two pulley setup with the VA.