Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

[Joe R.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

Classic Auto Air (http://www.classicautoair.com/Factory.asp) can rebuild an original POA valve.

[Gary S.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

For some reason, a lot of folks (most of whom are smarter than me with regards to a/c) bad mouth a 134a conversion. Fwiw, when the original a/c went south on my 1977 Buick Electra, I converted it to 134a. While there was a noticeable drop in efficiency, it still cooled my car adequately. This was only about four years ago. My daughter had this 25000 mile car in college in Phoenix. It took a while to cool the car down during the summer months but it did cool it. I never took vent temperatures or anything fancy. I just drove the car and felt comfortable.

Like most of the others, I say fix what you have and make it work - R-12 or -134a is your choice.

Gary

[Larry M.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

Thanks for the feedback. Now the hunt is on for an original or rebuilt POA valve. I will also consider the GM replacement version which is probably still available from GM if I come up short on the original valve.
Regards,
Lorne

Lorne:

The correct POA valve for a 1967 Corvette is ACDELCO #15-51 or GM #5910593. This gets you the correct, service replacement valve that looks and functions almost identical to the one installed at St. Louis. There is also the ACDELCO #15-52 POA valve that differs from the #15-51 POA in the location of the auxiliary attachment ports. It will also look and work correctly, but may require some minor modifications. It is more readily available and costs about half of the #15-51 POA.

The second generation POA I mentioned earlier, costs even less. I don't have a part number, but they are generally advertised/sold as the GM replacement for the #15-51 and #15-52. They look a bit different, and are thinner and have some plastic covering over part of the valve.

Look on e-bay and in E-bay Stores under POA. They are also available from Classic Auto Air and from Old Air Products.

Larry

[Lorne G.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

Hi Joe, Larry and Gary, Thanks for the information regarding part numbers and where available. My original POA went missing at the repair shop so I do not have an original to get rebuilt. My only option is a replacement POA as close to original as possible. I will call Classic Air and Old Air to check their stock. Even a cheaper unit will work for now until I track down an original somewhere.

Thanks
Lorne

[Joe R.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

There is a seller on ebay who regularly sells used POA valves. His ebay seller name is "pacecarjeff." He usually has a "buy it now" option in the range of $150.

There are two versions of original POA valves that look almost identical, and differ only in the locations of the connections on the side. Attached is a photo of the correct version for a 1967 Corvette. Before purchasing a used POA valve, be sure that it matches this arrangement of the side connections.

[Warren F.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

Lorne,

I recently looked at a '69 L71 coupe that the original owner added original A/C to it from a wrecked Corvette. It is absolutely installed as the factory would have done, but on a Corvette that never would have allowed it as an option.

Most corvette afficianandos would look at this car and say it isn't a 435 car, but this car has the original window invoice, protect-o-plate & pamphlet and original dealer invoice and still owned by the original buyer.

The one unique item on the car, is that it still retains the vacuum operated rear vents that non A/C cars had as part of the Astro Ventilation system.

[Lorne G.]

Re: Advice needed regarding non optioned A/C

Hi Joe,
Thank you for the close up picture of the correct POA. I take it that the second version will also work but I may have to bend the lines to fit the opposite sides? Is the plug in wiring hook up the same?

Warren it appears the owner of the 69 has the best of both worlds...power and comfort.

Lorne