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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's

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+16

Scott

panelmanrd

vanner68

mbasaraba

veefre

DanTheVanMan

Big W

EconoCarl

Lazarusvan

Bear

Digz

Van Halen

sasktrini

Twinpilot001

SteelyVan

donivan65

20 posters

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Chevy Van A/C kit

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°1

Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Tue Aug 02, 2011 10:38 pm

This would be the parts picked out from www.classicautoair and installed on a 1970 Chevy van with a 350 engine. The 1st concern is to find room for the evaporator unit,,,,,,the Heater assembly was in the way. So we removed the heater assembly and installed a combination A/C - heater core unit in its place. The Alternator was relocated with a new bracket and the Compressor was installed in its place with a new bracket. The condenser has a fan mounted on it and gets installed under the floor behind the battery box with the drier. I guess it's time to start a new club,,,,,,those who actually have driven in a van with A/C in it!!!!!!

Chevy Van A/C kit Cruzin12

Chevy Van A/C kit Cruzin13

Chevy Van A/C kit Street10

Chevy Van A/C kit Street11

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_20

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_21

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_22

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_23

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_24

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_25

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_26

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_27

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_28

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_29

SteelyVan: Number of posts : 112
Location : State College, Pa.
Registration date : 2009-08-14

Post n°2

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by SteelyVan Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:38 am

Drool! I'm in the preliminary stages (new rad/fan/shroud/reservoir/set-up) to run the same system next summer. Would love to see pics of the evaporator location and mounting method under dash.

Thanks (as usual) for the pics Don!

Twinpilot001: Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28

Post n°3

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Twinpilot001 Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:28 am

Nice!! Heres 3 questions for you -Don= what was the total cost of this kit?? As i dont think the van is a 4 x 4 -still 2 wd- how many spring leaves are on each front & real leaf setup/ I like that stance. also -last - in the next to last foto posted-the underside pix of the evaporator mounting- what is the Chain?? hainging there for?/ Thanx

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°4

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:32 am

The Evaporator unit has built in mounting holes behind it, so by mounting 2 pieces of Aluminum flat stock to it, we just used sheet metal screws to mount it to the inner wall under the dash,,,,,,,,now if you you used long screws, you would be seeing them sticking out the front of the vehicle,,,,,,,,the heater core has 4 outlets to run up to the defrosters and floor,,,,,,,the A/C also has 4 outlets to run to anyplace you want to put your cooling vents.....

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_30

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°5

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:43 am

Chain looks like it was used to hold and hide something under the van in the old days,,,,,,,,,,Kit was $1700 and did not include an A/C shop crimping on the hose ends and charging the system,,,,,,,,Van is 2 wheel drive, 1970 Chevy,. 350 engine, Th350 trans and a 3.08 rear end.......

Chevy Van A/C kit Chevy_58

Chevy Van A/C kit Harry_31

sasktrini: Number of posts : 2067
Location : Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Registration date : 2008-05-20

Post n°6

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by sasktrini Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:01 am

Excellent!

Van Halen: Number of posts : 1785
Location : charlotte
Age : 49
Registration date : 2010-04-30

Post n°7

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Van Halen Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:09 pm

Very nice!! So was it woth it? How does it feel? I have been struggling with that investment.

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°8

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:24 pm

Ask Scott in Dallas if A/C is worth it,,,,,,,,(33 days over 100 degrees there so far),,,,,,,it works good,,,,,,A/C sure makes life more pleasant ,,,,,,,,almost a necessity,,,,,,but not all of us have that kind of money to spend on it. I sure like that Evaporator/ Heater unit with the vents in it,,,,,,then I would get a Sanden Compressor, make or buy their bracket for it,,,,,,,buy a drier,,,,,,,and look for one of those remote condensers with a fan on it,,,,,,,Thunderbirds might use something like that,,,,,,,,so the A/C bar has been set ,,,,,,,lets see if we can do it for a better price with more available type parts,,,,,

Twinpilot001: Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28

Post n°9

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Twinpilot001 Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:01 pm

looks like 10 leafs on each front spring?? and i see the rear has a spacer -maybe 2-3"?/ thats a nice A/C unit-they do build a nice setup.

Digz: Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17

Post n°10

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Digz Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:48 pm

So this unit just recirculates the cabin air ?

Van Halen: Number of posts : 1785
Location : charlotte
Age : 49
Registration date : 2010-04-30

Post n°11

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Van Halen Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:06 pm

I might miss the old skool knobs on the column.

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°12

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:08 pm

There are just 4 A/C and 4 heater outlets on the dash unit, so it gets its source from in the cab,,,,,,,,it does come with cables instead of switches as well as the controls mounted on the unit if you don't want to see them. I think it has some kind of Dehumidifier setting with the knobs,,,,,,but it's just a universal hang on, under dash, add on Hot Rod A/C System,,,,,,,,,and anything with the Hot Rod name surely adds to the cost of it.

Bear: Number of posts : 849
Location : dearborn hts michigan
Registration date : 2010-11-23

Post n°13

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Bear Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:36 pm

this set up is much like what the airport shuttle buses run but a much bigger condenser a/c is not hard to do if you under stand how it all workes and goes togther.

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°14

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:20 pm

Now thats a plan,,,,,,,look for remote condensers on a shuttle bus at Pick a Part,,,,,,,,,

Guest: Guest

Post n°15

That's Cool!

Post by Guest Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:43 pm

Im going to have to get my 108 back on the road first. but next year....
Thanks Don! (lost password, new forum,
new handle, you know who I am!)

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°16

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:35 pm

Peter, you should of taken a picture of your password,,,,,,

Bear: Number of posts : 849
Location : dearborn hts michigan
Registration date : 2010-11-23

Post n°17

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Bear Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:36 pm

i am in love with the look of that 2xwheel drive 70 van if i can get my 70 sitting that good i will be a hap hap HAPPY MAN

Lazarusvan: Number of posts : 1293
Location : Charleston, South Carolina
Age : 51
Registration date : 2011-02-22

Post n°18

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Lazarusvan Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:18 pm

Don, what would you estimate is the total cost of this upfit? Interested for myself and another whom I sent this thread. Thanks!

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°19

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:42 pm

All those parts cost around $1700,,,,,we installed and wired up everything.....Then he took it to a local Air Conditioning shop to remove the hoses and fittings to crimp them on and charge the system,,,,,and that ended up being $600 more.

EconoCarl: Number of posts : 1109
Location : Beaumont, TX
Registration date : 2008-05-19

Post n°20

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by EconoCarl Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:07 pm

I spent $1200 for my kit from Old Air Products, had to make our own A/C bracket and then spent another $200 or so for misc. stuff (relays, wire, etc.). I was able to borrow a crimping tool for the hoses. The system works great in the mornings and evenings but it's has a hard to keeping up with the 100 degree afternoons we are experiencing right now!

Lazarusvan: Number of posts : 1293
Location : Charleston, South Carolina
Age : 51
Registration date : 2011-02-22

Post n°21

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Lazarusvan Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:30 pm

So realistically, this would cost one a good $2500-$3k if hiring someone to do all the work? Carl, when you say it has a hard time keeping up, is it really doing anything at that point? 20% improvement? Thx.

EconoCarl: Number of posts : 1109
Location : Beaumont, TX
Registration date : 2008-05-19

Post n°22

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by EconoCarl Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:53 pm

Lazarusman, I'm a little new to the early van scene, bought our first one in 2008. Since then I've driven 2 different Econolines roughly 30,000 miles (mostly without A/C) and here are some things that I've noticed since installing the A/C. Modern cars, trucks and vans have you shielded from the sun for the most part. Now that I have A/C I realize that no matter which way you're driveng the sun beats down on the interior. Also, earlies have a lot of metal inside and once the metal warms up it is hard to cool it back down. I'm going to keep trying things to make the A/C better, but a least Martha will ride in the van during the summer now (mornings and evenings anyway)!!!

Big W: Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 59
Registration date : 2011-01-13

Post n°23

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by Big W Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:48 pm

Well ya no....tinted windows aint all that bad. You could go with a mild bronze tint on all side and back windows and a light green( which I believe we are allowed up here) on the front window. Now I no.. "GREEN".. But it only looks green from inside out, and it's just enough to take the shine off the roads when it rains and then the sun comes out. out side looking in it takes on a hole new look, sort of takes on the color of the side windows so you really don't see it as green. All my mini vans have it and It makes a huge difference on the inside temp. The kids are always complaining to me to turn off the air conditioning in the back of the van. Just my 2 cents worth for Crowen

donivan65: Governor; Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12

Post n°24

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by donivan65 Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:56 pm

crowen57 wrote:I spent $1200 for my kit from Old Air Products, had to make our own A/C bracket and then spent another $200 or so for misc. stuff (relays, wire, etc.). I was able to borrow a crimping tool for the hoses. The system works great in the mornings and evenings but it's has a hard to keeping up with the 100 degree afternoons we are experiencing right now!

Lets see a picture of how the Evaporator looks,,,,,and where did you mount the Condenser?

EconoCarl: Number of posts : 1109
Location : Beaumont, TX
Registration date : 2008-05-19

Post n°25

Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

Post by EconoCarl Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:11 am

I mounted the condenser under the van behind the drivers seat. Pics are in my showcase: https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t14372p180-carl-s-econo

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Re: Chevy Van A/C kit

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