Vintage Air - Buyer Beware

[coleman2347]

You may consider this a dumb question, but having read the thread I wonder why you guys don't just build your own or have a knowledgeable local A/C dealer do it for you? The reason I wonder is I remember when I was young and A/C was not a normal option on cars my Dad had one installed in our old Ford. Also here you can not just order one if you want one in a 40 you find a compressor, dryer assm. etc. build the brackets and make it work...as I get further in my build you will see this though it was already done on my BJ40 and I will just make it more efficient and fit my new engine...
I would think in the States there would be many choice's based on the number of scrap yards livable there. Please do not get me wrong I am not being a smart ass but this is one of many threads I have read on the sorry products available to you guys and was just wondering why not by-pass all that?
Just saying.....Lee

 

[crumbo]

Unfortunately I may have missed your review "Crushers". In general, the different reviews were OK. The info I could find on the CCOT system pointed to frozen knees for the passenger and not much else. Hopefully this will all work out but I simply can't suggest Vintage Air to anyone.

No passengers, remove passenger seat, stack beer, turn on air con.......its part of the design.....it's brilliant

 

[DieselFJ]

I have been disappointed in my Vintage Air unit as well. Besides the cheap feel of the parts, the functionality is poor at best. I have had issues with the cycling of the compressor as well as the fan switch. I still have not worked all the issues out, and at this time I don't know if that is even possible. I have worked with the Vintage Air tech line and have been very disappointed in the tech info they were willing to provide. Again, buyer beware. At this point in time I would love to remove it for something better, but I would even take a working fan switch that would turn the fan off all the time, should have stayed with the stock heater and forgot about A/C.

Just my 2 cents
Scott

 

[jmdaniel]

I was considering Vintage when I bought my 40, and from reading these comments, am glad I didn't.

 

[donny paradise]

Had one now going on 5 yrs and am glad I do, no problems at all

 

[yotamudin]

Vintage Air and Lower Dash Pad

I too have purchased a Vintage Air System and am now in the middle of a resto. Does anyone know if the lower dash pads can be installed with the Vintage Air System which will stick out about an Inch.

 

[DougAustinTx]

Yes, the pads all clear if you get the blower unit mounted correctly.

 

[Hzj45]

I like my factory air con in my 84 fj45, nice and cold

 

[Trollhole]

Would be nice if someone built a unit using the area below and between the seats.

 

[SSCR]

I think you have your next idea to work on Marshall!

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Does any one remember in Ford Galaxies and Mustangs the chrome ac that hung below the dash. Extremely well made and cold , very cold. Mike

 

[Cdaniel]

You can by aftermarket versions of the old 60s under dash units at several vendors. Don't think they would fit well in an FJ40 though. And the r12 that used to make them so cold is really prohibitive to use. In my opinion the engineering to use r134 in a lot of these bolt on kits is weak.

 

[Michael Hanson]

R-12 is not that bad to buy , ESP. In a closed system it lasts for years . Heck in Costa Rica and Mexico it's still 1.00 a can. Mike

 

[Cdaniel]

Not bad is subjective I guess. In the US you need a license to get it (Technically). And its north of $40 a pound to buy it.

 

[57cadillac]

I just intalled a Vintage Air (with cables) on my '77 fj40 and had no serious problems installing or firing it up. So far working perfectly, just need to see how it holds up. My only real issue was needing to modify a lot of stuff, including condenser mount (I've got a thicker than stock radiator and maybe a non-stock radiator support frame), then the drier location (which made the supplied tube and hose to the drier not fit easily.. but it worked) and certain mounting details in the cabin for the evaporator and case. I jiggered the heater set up to use the stock valve. I feel the package is well crafted, but just be advised that you may have to make modifications and that the instructions, while detailed, still leave things to the imagination and seem to get out of order.. not like a shop manual procedure.

 

[emac]

Its a shame that CCOT is no longer selling their units. I like the design, installation was pretty straight up and it seems to work pretty good. My only complaint is the thermostat doesn't seem to cycle well. It is either on or off. If someone could buy the CCOT design, copy it and use high quality parts, I think it would sell.

 

[Michael B]

When I spoke with CCOT a couple of weeks ago they said their AC supplier had gone out of business.

I didn't like Vintage Air when I spoke with them. They kinda ticked me off when they insisted their unit couldn't be installed in an FJ45 because their engineer said the truck was different from the 40 series.

So I went with Old Air Products. I liked the setup (especially the controls) and their specs better. They didn't offer an air duct replacement like the CCOT unit so I resolved that on my own.

 

[emac]

That looks really nice. Your intake fittings look better than CCOT! I like the idea of keeping the factory heater, and was one of the main reasons I went with CCOT. Your unit appears a little smaller (length) than the CCOT, and I like the knobs on the unit. No drilling in the dash.

 

[Michael B]

I had a friend that owns a machine shop make the delete plates. They are cad drawn and CNC machined. So they can be reproduced.

 

[DieselFJ]

This is my favorite unit.

Nostalgic AC - UD-170 Slimline Under-Dash Evaporator - Underdash Evaporators - Evaporator Units