Calling all vintage air/classic auto air owners

[p0508]

Hey all,

I'm trying to decide between vintage air and classic auto air. The main difference i see after reading through both the install manuals is with classic auto you have to cut out a pretty large chuck of the firewall but with vintage air you don't. I've also read that classic auto air cools and flows a bit more air than vintage.

I'd like to hear straight from the owners on this one. Tell me what you like and what you don't like about your respective system, and if any representatives from either company are on the forums, tell me why I should buy yours over the other.

-Drew

[flashed]

I have Vintage Air and it blows Cold and Blows Strong , will use it on my next one too . Cant say about the others but Im sure they all work good . I used the Vintage Air Sure Fit system . And there is a member on here (or was) that worked for Vintage Air .

[p0508]

Good to hear, i've been leaning toward vintage air cause i dont want to cut out that middle chuck of my firewall..

[Metaldoc]

Vintage Air Gen 5 sure fit kit works great and fit great.

[shoveldug]

I have put 2 vintage air systems in and have no complaints. Can’t speak for other systems.

[dfwright]

I have Vintage Air and am very happy with it. The only thing I don't like, is that I can't turn the fan on and blow air without the heat or A/C running. I've put in a switch to bypass the compressor so I can accomplish this, but it should be built into the system. Sometimes I just want a little air moving, and I don't need the A/C running.

[Andy4639]

Classic air is in my 56 and love it. Better fit than vintage air. No cutting and it used the stock defrost vents.

My 71 had the classic air motor bay kit for 134-a before the LS swap and it was great to.
They even put me on the catalog!

[shoveldug]

Originally Posted by Shinysideup

This thread is the same as all the ones you could read if you searched. I personally have used and like the VA brand.

Hopefully he will apologize for his actions.

[morepwr]

Vintage air in 2 vehicles for me and they both fit and work perfect.

[weq92f]

.
I've got VA and use their 4 dial controller.

dial 1 = fan
dial 2 = air vent selection
dial 3 = heat
dial 4 = cool

If dial 4 is turned all the way "off" the compressor never comes on.

-klb

[bigbadchev72]

I have the newer vintage air system in my 68. I shaved the firewall and used their blockoff plate as a template. It went in and works without a fit. The instructions are very detailed and leave no questions.

On the flip side I am installing an old air hurricane system in a 66 k20 for a friend and the instructions are absolutely garbage, looks like a 10 year old originally put it together and then photocopied it a thousand times so the pictures are super blurry and not detailed. Wiring schematic is even hand drawn.

That being said that there are a ton of options out there and everyone is gonna have their opinion. Most everyone has vintage air in their trucks because it is proven and work great IMHO.

[57larry]

I have used VA several times, cool & heat great

[leddzepp]

If you aren’t restoring a factory system, VA is the way to go.

[Slowguy]

I’m confused when I look at the va site. I see, at least on the forums, there lots of different configurations. It looks like the easiest are the vents that just mount below the dash. I prefer the factory look and don’t mind a little work. Is there a va kit that allows you to have a factory vent configuration in a non ac cab? One that would require me to drill holes in the dash and a square one in the center? I also have a factory Chevy ac/heat control that I picked up along the way hoping to use that to retain a factory appearance.

[elf w/capital T]

Vintage Air Gen 5 sure fit kit works great and fits good, you can install it by yourself, customize the hoses and locations, their customer service is good too! Troubleshooting is easy too

[Slowguy]

So when someone says “ac or non-ac cab”, are they referring simply to the holes made in the dash? Or are there other major differences?

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by Slowguy

So when someone says “ac or non-ac cab”, are they referring simply to the holes made in the dash? Or are there other major differences?

No AC cab has no holes in the dash and doesn't have the vents. They use your old controls that need a modification, but easy

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by Slowguy

So when someone says “ac or non-ac cab”, are they referring simply to the holes made in the dash? Or are there other major differences?

Firewalls are also different. The factory openings thru the dash are different for an a/c vs. a non-a/c cab. VA will allow you to mix. I have done 2 trucks with Vintage Air. Both were non-a/c cabs that I put the factory outlets in the dash, both the rectangular vent over the radio, and the chrome housing with the round "balls" in them as from the factory (available as re-produced very economically).

Again, there are likely dozens of threads on this site regarding this. Most of them have covered everything discussed here.

Either will work well, and everybody has their preferences. I will say that from my observation, vintage air has more outlets for their products or that they are more widely used. Just my opinion...

[my kids toy]

Is there a va kit that allows you to have a factory vent configuration in a non ac cab? One that would require me to drill holes in the dash and a square one in the center?

I would like to know this as well...

[darrellyates]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

Is there a va kit that allows you to have a factory vent configuration in a non ac cab? One that would require me to drill holes in the dash and a square one in the center?

I would like to know this as well...

Yes. Order the non-a/c kit, and then just get the factory vents from one of the vendors on here (GMC Pauls, LMC, Brothers, everybody has them).

Then, cut the holes for the factory vents in the dash, the rectangular one above the radio is the same in either kit. I made a template for the vents in the dash with a scrap original vent I got at Pull-A-Part... Cut of the back, held it up, traced and then cut. I then used paper and reversed it for the other side....

Here is what it should look like. If you call v/a and discuss it with them, they will even switch out the controller for a small fee (at least they did for me)...

Here is what it should look like. Non A/C cab, Vintage Air with factory style vents in the dash. I did smooth my firewall, but V/A comes with a block off kit that i didn't use...

[Metaldoc]

My dash after the kit was installed in a non AC cab. I like the non factory side vents better.

[my kids toy]

metaldoc, were did you get your vents ? they do not look as big as the ones darrellyates has.

[flashed]

They should come with the kit , mine did .

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

metaldoc, were did you get your vents ? they do not look as big as the ones darrellyates has.

Yes they came with the sure fit kit

[Metaldoc]

I also shaved the firewall for cosmetics but I was able to shift it towards the center to gain more air flow through the side vent.