Ravis22

I live in Houston, Texas where it gets HOT, and I mean big time hot.

I had a 65 convertible with no air-conditioning before. Now I’m looking at a coupe that has the aftermarket vintage air added. So I’m wondering if anyone has experience with it in places where it gets very hot? Does it actually work well enough to cool the cabin? I just wasn’t sure how effective and powerful the aftermarket air conditioning is, in general air-conditioning in older cars isn’t as effective as newer cars anyway. I’d like to be able to drive the car in summer and to work without showing up all sweaty. Appreciate any experience anyone has.

leif.anderson93

A Vintage Air unit properly installed and serviced will freeze you out of the cabin...but, then, so will an original factory A6 A/C unit (properly serviced).

road pilot

I live further South than the OP, and the VA serves me well ,It can freeze me out at 32 degrees.

mblake101

TexasSteve711

[QUOTE=Ravis22;1607060776]I live in Houston, Texas where it gets HOT, and I mean big time hot.

I had a 65 convertible with no air-conditioning before. Now I’m looking at a coupe that has the aftermarket vintage air added. So I’m wondering if anyone has experience with it in places where it gets very hot? Does it actually work well enough to cool the cabin? I just wasn’t sure how effective and powerful the aftermarket air conditioning is, in general air-conditioning in older cars isn’t as effective as newer cars anyway. I’d like to be able to drive the car in summer and to work without showing up all sweaty. Appreciate any experience anyone has.[/

! I live in Houston and have a 63 convertible and it cools great! Even riding with the top down at stop lights etc it does great! ​​​​​​​

Tampa Jerry

I installed a VA unit in my black/black 66 coupe years ago. I live in Tampa. I got the vent temp. down to about 38 degrees. I did insulate the floor, doors and roof with ThermoTec and added an aux. cooling fan to my Dewitts radiator. I never use the fan. Jerry

Ravis22

appreciate the feedback, so you have any heat shield/insulation installed on flooring and/or between engine compartment and cabin?

Ravis22

[QUOTE=TexasSteve711;1607062205]that’s great to know!! Do you have any shop you use in houston area? Some work I can do myself, but some might need a reliable and quality shop. Thanks!

kingwoodvette

Check with Gordon Andrus, Houston Corvette Service. He installed a VA unit in my ‘63. They’ve done a bunch.

ScottGPM

Had Mike Danks install VA in my 65 Coupe. Drove the car in the Arizona Heatwave and stayed pretty cool. Nontinted windows don’t help but VA did a great job in my opinion. I recommend the VA electric fan also. Never overheats. That, with a Dewitt radiator, and you are good to go…

Ravis22

thanks for sharing, I’m not sure if this 67 coupe has any heat shield/insulation installed, but it is another option to help keep car cooler if needed.

Sherry Red

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm looking at purchasing a 65 coupe that already has a Classic Auto Air A/C system installed. Is this system just as good as the Vintage Air system?

Factoid

No, but for N.Y. it should be fine.

road pilot

YES I also have a cut-off valve ,to keep the hot water from going to the inside heater core.
Good luck

Ravis22

awesome thanks, you know i think I had him do some work to my 65 over a decade ago and I was trying to remember who I used and after looking it up, I’m pretty sure that is the place!

Ravis22

car I’m looking at has non-tinted windows as well and has a big block radiator, though a SB engine, I think it’s a GM radiator though. I’ll keep the electric fan in mind, not sure if it has that… was that a secondary fan or does that mean the other fan was not electric?

Ravis22

the cut off valve is interesting , will keep that in mind.

seller didn’t do the resto and isn’t sure if they put any heat shield/insulation in… he “thinks” so but isn’t sure. Don’t want to pull up the guys carpet, but if I buy I would check it out, hopefully it has it!

kingwoodvette

With the VA system, you would not need a cut off valve for the heater. Unlike the the stock heater, The unit doesn’t flow hot water through the heater core until it’s in the heater cycle. Another cabin heat improvement.

TexasSteve711

[QUOTE=Ravis22;1607063633]yes I’ve tried several. What part of Houston are you located?

Ravis22

[QUOTE=TexasSteve711;1607069265]in the spring/woodlands area