[Dan6974]

I am thinking of buying it for my 69 ss 396 4 speed.
Does it use the stock heater control?
How cold does it get?
Any other insight?
Thanks, Dan

[paulm]

I just put their kit for camaros that originally didn't come with AC in my 69. You have to pull the dash pad, dash carrier, glove box, heater box and blower motor. I pulled the heater box/blower motor without removing the fender, but it was a PITA!!!! That is by far the most difficult part.

Once everything is out of the inside you have to install the evaporator which goes under the dash, all of the duct work, wiring and hoses. The wiring is simple, the original three wire plug that went to the top of the old heater box gets three wires from the vintage air unit plugged into it to run the new blower motor(although I am a little concerned that they power the blower motor using the original 16 awg wire...it pulls about 15 amps on high). You also have to hookup/adjust the linkage from the original heater controls to the AC and defroster switch on the evaporator which is pretty simple, just make sure to adjust it correctly so it works with the sliders. Then the AC, heater and drain hose are installed. After all of that is in place you can button up the interior as the rest is underhood.

Underhood is pretty easy, just routing hoses, installing the condensor, compressor and their new firewall plate.

I finished my installation during the hottest week in AZ this year. During the first week I think it got up to 117 here. It didn't blow ice cold when it was that hot, but it was very cool and I didn't get a sweaty back(which is common in AZ in the summer). Since then the temps have maybe only gotten to 113 or so and it has been very very cool in my car....almost uncomfortably cold.

I use a lincoln mark viii electric fan for cooling and if I wasn't using that giant fan I'm not sure that the AC system would cool as well. Without the fan I'm sure my engine would have been running very hot with the AC on as well. My point is....if your cooling system is not up to par, the AC probably won't work well and your engine will overheat. With that lincoln fan my AC blows very cold at idle....as a matter of fact I don't think it gets any cooler at cruise as the fan moves as much air at idle as I get at 60 mph?!?!