FJ40 Air Conditioning choices Vintage Air or CCOT

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SW20 said:
Can you give a review on your unit and the pros and cons? My 1979 is at the paint shop, after that I will be looking into an AC unit and would like something that is cold. I live in Southern California and we have been getting 106 degrees days this summer.
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I'm very pleased with it. Yes it is a bit loud, but I run with a bikini top or a soft top, so it's already noisy to begin with. The AC blows very cold and is enough to keep me cool in the south Texas summer heat with the top off. You can point the vents up, so it is not just hitting your knees.

If I had to do it over, I don't think I would change anything. I'm very happy with the new system with the upgraded blower.
 
JJWA40 said:
I have a brand new surefit iv that I bought 6 weeks ago. After driving this summer without AC I am going to go without having AC. If someone is interested in purchasing it’s still all new in the box.
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I am in H-Town and also looking for the VA surefit for my 74 FJ40. Could you reach out to me if you still have it? Thanks
 
Wadesters said:
The two air conditioning choices I know of are Vintage Air and the one from CCOT. I have seen and operated a Vintage Air unit in an FJ40. It cools really well but I do not like the large size of the unit. Also I would like to keep my original heat set up. The CCOT unit I like the pictures on their site of the air conditoning they offer. Normally I do not like the quality of their parts. Anyone have any experience with a CCOT unit??
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The Vintage Air unit shown before / below is not the unit they carry anymore. The newer one is smaller and looks different. It supposedly cools better/improved. I have one -haven't installed it yet. I had the original and there was a problem and they replaced/upgraded with no questions. Great to do business with. They keep their word-not a lot of that around anymore.
 
JJWA40 said:
I have a brand new surefit iv that I bought 6 weeks ago. After driving this summer without AC I am going to go without having AC. If someone is interested in purchasing it’s still all new in the box.
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Just wanted to let everyone know it sold.
 
Vae Victus said:
Input on installing the VA Gen IV Surefit kit: is there any reason to buy and test fit it before taking the truck to paint? i.e. is there any cutting, drilling, or hogging with the new kit?
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Yes, all of the above plus your cowl vent knob tab will hit the air plenum(unless your 76 doesn’t have one). You can download the install manual on their website to get a feel for what’s involved.
 
Vae Victus said:
Input on installing the VA Gen IV Surefit kit: is there any reason to buy and test fit it before taking the truck to paint? i.e. is there any cutting, drilling, or hogging with the new kit?
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Not really. You need to drill a hope in the floorfloo the AC condensation drain, drill out an existing threaded hole in the fire wall, widen the existing fan/heater control knobs, add a few holes inside the glove box, and you may need to modify the radiator housing.

If you plan on doing any wiring inside the dash, do it before u install the AC because once installed it is pretty much blocks the under side of the dash and would require significant time for disassembly.
 
Jdc1 said:
Yes, all of the above plus...
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gte037p said:
Not really...
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LOL.

So, yes, if I want to keep the paint unmolested, do it before, but there is not much modification being done (a few holes or enlargements), so I could do it after and not worry about mucking up the new paint job.

Thanks guys.

I did look at the instructions before asking the question, but I read a couple of comments that said there was "no" mods required. Those comments were probably for the older kit(s) however.

Instructions PDF for the gen IV surefit for FJ40
 
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Vae Victus said:
So, yes, if I want to keep the paint unmolested, do it before, but there is not much modification being done (a few holes or enlargements), so I could do it after and not worry about mucking up the new paint job.

Thanks guys.

I did look at the instructions before asking the question, but I read a couple of comments that said there was "no" mods required. Those comments were probably for the older kit(s) however.
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I think it is safe to say it is a "no mod" job because you're not cutting into the dash, or cutting holes in the firewall. However, if I had the energy and time I'd probably go with a more integrated design with the vents in the dash, blower more hidden/quieter, etc.
 
gte037p said:
I think it is safe to say it is a "no mod" job because you're not cutting into the dash, or cutting holes in the firewall. However, if I had the energy and time I'd probably go with a more integrated design with the vents in the dash, blower more hidden/quieter, etc.
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How are the vent ducts attached and routed (and is there room) if you want to omit the plenum and integrate the vents?
 
Vae Victus said:
How are the vent ducts attached and routed (and is there room) if you want to omit the plenum and integrate the vents?
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I contacted Vintage Air and we discussed that possibility. The standard kit has a vent knob for feet, dash vents, and defrost. It may be possible to delete the plenum with dash vents and re-route the vents into the dash, but I don't know where the direction control resides. You'd probably have to disassembly the plenum to determine if it is possible.
 
If you want vents in the actual dash rather than the typical below the dash vent, you need the kit that icon uses. Not sure the part number. Then you have to drill big holes in the dash for the individual vents and run the duct hoses. Will look nice but will take a lot of space behind the dash.
 
White Stripe said:
If you want vents in the actual dash rather than the typical below the dash vent, you need the kit that icon uses. Not sure the part number. Then you have to drill big holes in the dash for the individual vents and run the duct hoses. Will look nice but will take a lot of space behind the dash.
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The Vintage Air guy said that Icon does their own thing and utilizes VintageAir parts.
 
Jetlander said:
That looks like a great option. Have you seen anyone install in a 40?
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Yes, idk off hand but someone with an FJZ40 on an 80 chassis did one. He did a nice write up on it. Ill try to dig it up .
 
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