The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop VintageAir A/C install in 56

I'm considering purchasing a VintageAir Sure Fit A/C unit for my 56. Does anyone have any experience installing such a unit? Is it pretty elementary? What are the gotchas / things to consider?

Thanks in advance for your input!!

I wish I could help you. I wanted a Vintage air unit for my '56 last July but no one could deliver for 6-8 weeks. So I went with Hot Rod Air. Big mistake. It still isn't working right. Their techs have no idea what's wrong. They've had me change the dryer 5 times, the expansion valve 3 times. I sent the evaporator back for them to check out, now the system won't hold a vaccuum. I've lost track of how many cans of r-134 I've put in it then released into the atmosphere.

If I had it to do over again I'd wait 10 weeks for Vintage Air.

I put the Vintage air combination system in my 70. It works good but I have some moisture issues. I wish I had used the Shure fit. I used the factory compressor & a savage yard condenser. Makeing up the hoses was a hassle. One of the control switches is kind of dainty & broke while I was installing it. They sent me a new one. All in all i,m well pleased with it.

I have been looking at Old Air Products because thier controls match the Taskforce deluxe panel has anyone had any experience with the Old Air system for the Taskforce trucks?

Never a 56 but I have put 5 in 47-53 2 were complete and the other 3 were in a total rebuild stage. All very easy and had them done in 1 day.
If you can read a schamtic and have a place that can crimp 4 hoses you will be fine

HH, I've used the Old Air hurricane kit in my 54 truck. Installation was straightforward and performance has been outstanding. There product and finish is of good quality. I went with Old Aire instead of the Vintage unit because of the ease of getting at the main hose connections which are on the engine side of the firewall. The advantage of this is that you don't have to wedge yourself up under the dash to make the final connections. The disadvantage is that the connections are very visible on the firewall.

They provided all the necessary mount brackets for the compressor to engine as well as the bracket to mount the alternator or PS pump above the compressor. Their hurricane system has a 3 speed motor which gives you a "Hurricane" volume of air to do the initial cab cooling and a low speed which allows you to smooth your hair down and carry on a normal conversation. They provided perfectly formed hard lines from the condensor through the core support that required no core support alterations. The underdash evaporator used 2 existing holes, from the stock heater that is removed (I got their kit with the included heat), to properly position the unit and required only 2 additional 1/4" holes in the firewall. They even included the insert needed when you shorten the stock glovebox and the cable controlled shutoff valves for the heater. All hardware was included and the drive belt was the only item not included in the kit.

I would buy the kit again if I wanted to air condition another project truck. There are some pics of the install in my webshots album.

Dave