The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop A/C in a 49 GMC

I have a 49 GMC FC 101 with a SBC. I want to add A/C/heater/defrost. I used Vintage Air in my 69 Camaro a few years ago with good success so I am leaning that way but I thought some of members of this site may have some other suggestions to look into. As I see it the Vintage system for the Series 1 Chevy/GMC truck will cost me about $1,500.00.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Tom

For premium units we prefer the Old Air unit over Vintage as it works just as good and retains a full size glove box. For an economy unit we use an under dash unit from Lucky"s in Ennis, Texas. He usually has them at shows for around eight to nine hundred dollars for a turn key set up and they are not the ugly box looking unit. This pic of one in a 49 doesn't show the entire unit but gives one the idea of the looks.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Hc5MkLxr/dan-s-49-010.jpg[/img]

I just put a Vintage air Mini Compact unit in my '37. It blows 38 degree air even on the hottest days. It will freeze up if it's humid out, but I heard before purchasing it they could do that. I am really happy with it, but it was expensive, not quite $1300 with everything needed to finish the job.

Best advise I can give is get the cooling system working correctly before adding air, fan shroud and good radiator. If you can't move the heat out of the condenser and radiator, it doesn't matter what A/C system you buy, it won't cool! I have a 18" mechanical fan with no clutch on a 250 inline with a 17" wide radiator just to be sure it stays cool.