The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Old Air

Look for information on the Old Air a/c set up. What has everyone done? Not sure I like the photos on their website of the under dash vents (an actual picture from someone's truck would be great) but not sure what to do for speaker placement in the cab if I was to go with the speaker grill vents (the kick panel speaker set up looks cheap and flimsy, at best). I live in Connecticut, today the high temperature will 93 degrees, I feel dishing out the $$ for a/c is worthwhile to enjoy my truck.

Thoughts, opinions, photos, and rants are all appreciated.

Thanks.

It seems like I'm the only one with an Old Air A/C unit. Most people go with Vintage Air. I just got a huge discount on it via Brother's Trucks yearly discount clearance. Here are my thoughts.
1. The website is worthless. (Call me Old Air, I design websites for a living!)
2. They should provide more in-depth installation instructions and photos.
3. Ran into a problem with mounting the dryer on my 55 Chevy radiator support. Called them and the problem was solved easily.
4. The condenser brackets have screw heads that hit the radiator fins. I had to bend the crap out of the brackets and added padding for insurance.

The whole process is time consuming and annoying. I finally got everything hooked up last weekend and am getting it filled next week. I'll let you know how it goes. To be on the fair side, I bet installing a Vintage Air wouldn't change much of the issues. Oh, forget about a glove box if you mount the unit up high under the dash. I will try to get some photos for you this weekend.

I found Old Air to be very helpful and supportive. I also found the unit to be surprisingly easy to install. If you take your time and follow the directions, like any other part, you won't have a problem. I choose Old Air because I have never liked the look of a vent running along the base of the dash. They have the option of routing the main vent through the old speaker grill leaving only a vent at each end of the dash.
I was also able to divert my cowl drain from exiting above the distributor to exit into the right wheel-well.
I would buy another unit from them if ever I need one. The truck is in the shop to have the unit charged but I'll post some pics of the whole deal when it gets back.
OLD AIR 1
OLD AIR 2
OLD AIR 3
OLD AIR 4

Big Chevy 3600 - Would love to see the pictures when your truck is back. I agree about the under dash vent, where place your speakers for the radio?

I bought a set from Chevy Duty SPEAKERS that were to go in the original location. However when I saw the Old Air set-up I changed my mind. Still have the speakers and plan on getting another set and hanging them both behind the seat.

Oh, and by the way, my compressor came with my 350 crate engine. One would assume if the engine was new that the compressor would also be new. My air man, before he hooked up the hoses thought it best to make certain the compressor was full of oil. None of the paperwork that came with the engine mentioned if the compressor had been oiled. When he removed the compressor and drained the oil he noticed two things, the oil was less than full and there was debris (metal filings) in the oil. It was obviously to a blind man the unit was rebuilt and not very well done at that. Those metal filings would have shortened the life of the compressor and fouled the entire system and gives credibility to the old saying, "a stitch in time...".