Classic air vs Vintage air in non-a/c Challenger

[Radiatorman]

"Hi All,

Who has installed either and which one fit/performed better? I did do some searches but everything that I came up with was 2+ years old info or updated a/c cars. I'm not worried about modern electronics because it's one more thing to fry. Cables work for me! I just was looking for how it fit advise, operation and installation/operation. Please keep it to current installations as technology/updates happen so often now.

Thanks!
Bob"

Hi all,

 I posted this on Moparts with little luck. Any info here?

Thanks!
Bob

[YellowThumper]

Installing Vintage air in mine now. My 2nd vintage air install. Other was early Falcon.
No help on question for engine side as both were custom there.
Inside side, they are top notch in my opinion. Falcon install performed flawless.
Ebody control side is handled well.
Under dash duct routing is tight but guarantee the same regardless of mfg.

Many years ago I installed a Classic air setup in a Mustang (as bellybutton a car as there is) and EVERY item had to be massaged to fit. Engine bracket and all the under dash connections for hoses were garbage.
Been many years, but it was so bad I will never use them again for anything.
My2c.

[Radiatorman]

Installing Vintage air in mine now. My 2nd vintage air install. Other was early Falcon.
No help on question for engine side as both were custom there.
Inside side, they are top notch in my opinion. Falcon install performed flawless.
Ebody control side is handled well.
Under dash duct routing is tight but guarantee the same regardless of mfg.

Many years ago I installed a Classic air setup in a Mustang (as bellybutton a car as there is) and EVERY item had to be massaged to fit. Engine bracket and all the under dash connections for hoses were garbage.
Been many years, but it was so bad I will never use them again for anything.
My2c.

Could you please send me a picture of the control panel and an othjers you have? Much appreciated!!!

Bob

[ec_co]

I'm working on my first install of the Vintage Air system for my 70 barracuda. So far the instructions are pretty good, but there are a few extras that I needed to do. I don't know if it's because I have a very early dash frame or not, but their defrost vent holes I had to drill to mount (not a biggie, not visible at all). Their instructions also make it look like it's easy to install the new control panel, reality is that you have to disassemble a lot more to get it in there, but it does fit perfectly. Thankfully my dash is already completely out so it made that easy, not sure how easy that would be with the dash still in the vehicle. I still need to get the main unit mounted though and because mine is for a slant six application, I have to do some custom hose modification BS.

Here are a few pics of the dash portion at least

[chargerdon]

i installed vintage air in my 74 Challenger (factory air replacement). Everything went in just like the instructions !!  It works well..  keeps car cool.

2 complaints.  Original factory air had a fresh air setting so that you could get outside air without running compressor.   Vintage air has u removing this capability.  The system is always in "recirculate" mode...  So that on a 65 degree day you either keep the windows rolled down and system off, or have to turn on the compressor and run cold air. 

Second complaint is that it doesn't have a light on the controls.   

[Bullitt-]

by chance I just ran across this video putting vintage air on non A/C challenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsAMvZ-o6I

[ec_co]

i installed vintage air in my 74 Challenger (factory air replacement). Everything went in just like the instructions !!  It works well..  keeps car cool.

2 complaints.  Original factory air had a fresh air setting so that you could get outside air without running compressor.   Vintage air has u removing this capability.  The system is always in "recirculate" mode...  So that on a 65 degree day you either keep the windows rolled down and system off, or have to turn on the compressor and run cold air. 

Second complaint is that it doesn't have a light on the controls.   

On the not originally equipped AC conversion, you cover the passenger side fresh air vent hole, but the driver side fresh air vent setup is still usable, just need to move the cable mounting point closer to the steering column

[YellowThumper]

Installing Vintage air in mine now. My 2nd vintage air install. Other was early Falcon.
No help on question for engine side as both were custom there.
Inside side, they are top notch in my opinion. Falcon install performed flawless.
Ebody control side is handled well.
Under dash duct routing is tight but guarantee the same regardless of mfg.

Many years ago I installed a Classic air setup in a Mustang (as bellybutton a car as there is) and EVERY item had to be massaged to fit. Engine bracket and all the under dash connections for hoses were garbage.
Been many years, but it was so bad I will never use them again for anything.
My2c.

Could you please send me a picture of the control panel and an othjers you have? Much appreciated!!!

Bob

Yes, this weekend

[Radiatorman]

AWESOME!! Thanks for the posts guys! Hopefully someone that did a Classic Air will post in. Just have to see which I like better. You know, over think it!!

Thanks,
Bob

[Radiatorman]

by chance I just ran across this video putting vintage air on non A/C challenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsAMvZ-o6I

Just watched it. It looks like there is room to keep the factory fresh air duct on the passenger side or is it a trick of the light? I would be nice to keep it if possible.

[Bullitt-]

by chance I just ran across this video putting vintage air on non A/C challenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsAMvZ-o6I

Just watched it. It looks like there is room to keep the factory fresh air duct on the passenger side or is it a trick of the light? I would be nice to keep it if possible.

I see what your saying that there appears to be room, the problem is the control & ducting is part of the heater box... perhaps a solution could be created. 

[YellowThumper]

by chance I just ran across this video putting vintage air on non A/C challenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsAMvZ-o6I

Just watched it. It looks like there is room to keep the factory fresh air duct on the passenger side or is it a trick of the light? I would be nice to keep it if possible.

I see what your saying that there appears to be room, the problem is the control & ducting is part of the heater box... perhaps a solution could be created. 

Wonder if a non a/c car's drivers duct could be mounted to the passenger side? The openings appeared the same diameter to me.

[Bullitt-]

by chance I just ran across this video putting vintage air on non A/C challenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsAMvZ-o6I

Just watched it. It looks like there is room to keep the factory fresh air duct on the passenger side or is it a trick of the light? I would be nice to keep it if possible.

I see what your saying that there appears to be room, the problem is the control & ducting is part of the heater box... perhaps a solution could be created. 

Wonder if a non a/c car's drivers duct could be mounted to the passenger side? The openings appeared the same diameter to me.

  That occurred to me, I guess finding out how much room there actually is with the new a/c box mounted first off & would there be enough room to route the cable from the right side. If the cable was an issue it might be possible to rotate it 90-degrees to make access for the cable easier or somehow modify the mechanism to accept the cable from the left 

[ec_co]

You're in luck, I happen to be working on things today. One big thing, the driver side is a round port and the passenger side is not. The best thing to do for this would be to do a custom 3D printed box for the passenger side, plenty of room for the box at 7.25", just need to figure out the cable routing and if it would work.

[ec_co]

I wish I had more time, this would actually be a fun project to engineer for printing. Ideally I could see just using an inexpensive actuator for the internal flap (the Toyota vent actuator has been used by multiple manufacturers for 20+ yrs and is super reliable) and modifying the vent pull to activate it instead of having to route a hard cable.