My new issue of Vette magazine had a new product anouncement for add on air conditioning for C3 vettes. Proof once again that God looks out for Corvette nuts. The company is Hod Rod Air Inc. located in Texas. I've ordered their catalog and spoke with their sales engineer on the phone. It sounds like a well thought out and comprehensive system that replaces most everything that currently resides under the dash related to the HVAC system. However it does have it's own set of controls that mount descreetly under dash just to the right of the wiper and headlight door overrides. This allows you to keep the stock controls inoperative in the console and not butcher things up. The system uses a Sanden compressor that robs about 3hp off the engine and is driven by a stock 3 groove crank pulley and a 2 groove water pump pulley. Before I order and install this little gem in my sauna bath-like 69 coupe, can anyone tell me what kind of nightmare to expect when I try to extract the existing ducts, plenum and stuff behind the dash? I Know it's probably not a task for the timid or tool challenged individual, which I am not, but I'd appreciate some advise from someone who's been there and done that. By the way, my car is mostly stock with numbers matching drivetrain, 350/350 4speed, side exhaust equipped and used as a driver. If it had A/C I'd drive it a lot more!!
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Re: C3 aftermarket air
I honestly don't know didly about 69 Vettes but as far as underdash should be concerned. Nothing should need to be messed with.
My knowlege base is GM 65 and up everything but Vette.
If my Camero or Firebird didn't have A/C. All I would have to ad is a evaporator condenser pump and the evaporator box on the firewall. All underdash components are the same. Except the control panel and wiring.
Kit Schmit it would be time to hit a junk yard.
I hope I don't get Bitch slaped for not knowing something special about vettes here, but other cars could be done with factory and junk yard parts for sure. -
Re: C3 aftermarket air
I have looked at the add-ons for mid-years, when I was at Carlisle. It doesn't answer your question directly, but I can tell you that the kit from Vintage Air, for mid-years, is a very nice looking and complete kit. The underdash vents are fairly unobtrusive and seem to work well. In addition, if the C2 conversion is anywhere near as nice as the C2 a/c conversion, it is all replaceable should you choose to remove it for any reason.
GaryComment
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Re: C3 aftermarket air
I did search on the internet looking for this company and came up empty. Do you have a phone number, web site, address?Comment
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Re: C3 aftermarket air
http://www.hotrodair.com I came with this as the first hit on Yahoo. Good website with lots of information.
GaryComment
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