Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Know anyone who has an original 66 AC system for sale?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Hot weather has got me thinking of putting in a AC system. Would like an original system rather than vintage air, etc. thanks.

OscarZ · Mega Poster

Used to have a small block set up off a 66 El Camino. I know the brackets are gone but not sure about the compressor. It might still be in my father's garage. I'll check next time I'm over there.

Enganeer · Mega Poster

If AC brackets of a 70 sbc will work, I have them if you need.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Enganeer wrote:
If AC brackets of a 70 sbc will work, I have them if you need.

Thanks, 66 SB and BB engine brakets are different, Probably also ture on a 70.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Have you checked with Karl? I'd bet he has everything, including a firewall with the holes in the proper locations.

My concern with doing this would be the cutting of an original firewall, and preserving the con vins stamped in that area on an original 138 car.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I know the VIN tag is on the door jamb, but on a real SS where proving the car has never been "rebodied" may one day be necessary, I'd be cautious of damaging any of the hidden VIN stamps.

I don't know if '66 had them there, but my '69 had the VIN stamped in 2 places on the firewall hidden under the heater box. They're gone now (smoothed firewall) but my car is not one where anyone will ever need to prove anything... just something to consider anyway.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
Jim,
Does your cowl tag show factory installed options?

Yes, it has the codes, that when decifired indicate some of the options; but not all of the options.

Lots of fake cowl tags, you can buy them for whatever codes you want indicated, rivets for sale also, and I guess it is not illegal to change them.

-- Edited by jim larson on Friday 6th of July 2012 10:39:34 AM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:
I know the VIN tag is on the door jamb, but on a real SS where proving the car has never been "rebodied" may one day be necessary, I'd be cautious of damaging any of the hidden VIN stamps.

I don't know if '66 had them there, but my '69 had the VIN stamped in 2 places on the firewall hidden under the heater box. They're gone now (smoothed firewall) but my car is not one where anyone will ever need to prove anything... just something to consider anyway.

Yes I've heard about the 68 and up cars having the con vin stamped on the firewall. But as far as I know this was never done on 66 and 67. Also no build sheets on any 66 chevelles built except those at the fremont plant. So as far a documenting 66, you need original POP not the fakes and the original documents and an untampered with vin tag.

And other stamps like the con vin on the frame and date stamps on various sheet metal parts, untampered with cowl tag, etc.

Interesting discussion on Curt Dillers 67 L78 being sold by Nickey Chevorlet on TC.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385669

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Jim,
Does your cowl tag show factory installed options?

SShink · 3K+ Club

Jim, here's your AC dash in Duluth for $100:

http://minnesota.freeautoshopper.com/auto-parts/1966-chevelle-dash-with-air-option.html

1966 chevelle dash with air option

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I think the cowl tag just gives the paint color, interior color, and whether bench seat or buckets.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

And that’s what I thought also but my 65 Buick trim tag shows every option installed on the car.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Interesting... I think I need to educate myself a little more on the earlier cars.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Jim should be on his way to Duluth right now. I don't think you’re going to find to many 66 AC dashes, certainly not this close.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:
I think the cowl tag just gives the paint color, interior color, and whether bench seat or buckets.

Depends upon plant. Also listed are certian options in addition to color and interior code; bucket or bench seat not always indicated, depends upon plant. Dale M CD has lots of examples. Like If it is a SS car, after the number 2, if you have letter to indicate a M20 or M21, or powerglide. (2L= M21).

jim larson · 2K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
And that’s what I thought also but my 65 Buick trim tag shows every option installed on the car.

Not every option.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Stan, your going to have to give me a list of your search engines,

SShink · 3K+ Club

jim larson wrote:
Stan, your going to have to give me a list of your search engines,

Saw the AC dash on www.claz.org. I have a search set up by 'Chevelle' within 250 miles, and I get daily results. It reaches out across CL, and other 'for sale' sites.

I can thank Pops (Tim H.) for enabling my addiction with that site!

Lost in the 60s · President

SShink wrote:
Jim, here's your AC dash in Duluth for $100:
http://minnesota.freeautoshopper.com/auto-parts/1966-chevelle-dash-with-air-option.html
FYI the strip across the top for the center outlet is NOT reproduced and is a hard to find, big buck item in restorable condition. The strip in the pic is worth almost the asking price.
For someone who knows what they are looking for and at, that dash shouldn't stay available for long.
My car came with an A/C dash in it with a good top strip, so I'm all set when I add on A/C. Like Jim, after this past week, I'm ready now, but I will go with an aftermarket set-up. No firewall hacking...
As for VIN's stamped on the firewall, I had mine down to bare metal all the way across during the resto and found nothing. The VIN is stamped on the frame along with the build date, which happens to be my birthday... I took that as an omen that it belongs with me and probably won't ever leave. My car was built in Atlanta.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

I dont know for sure but Jim, you might. Do they reproduce the housings for the vents for the AC dash? I believe the ball is reproduced, but I dont know about the housing that holds them in place. If they dont reproduce those, I think they are even harder to find then the 68-69 housings, which are a similiar in appearance on the dash, those arent reproduced either.

Ive thought about putting air in my 66 back before I parked it as well but gave up on the idea and didnt want to go through the hassle of trying to find parts to adapt factory stuff to it. A lot of AC stuff back then wasnt reproduced and mucho hard to find, you almost had to depend on an untouched parts car to get everything but if there is anyone that would have it, it just might be Karl. I would recommend getting in touch with him too.

67ss · 1K+ Club

For what it is going to cost to rebuild all the original parts to working condition and then to convert it to 134a is going to cost you more then buying an aftermarket kit. Plus the aftermarket kit will work 10x better since it is meant to work with 134a.

There is a reason why Dashboard went aftermarket on his elcamino?

Just my .

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I did email Karl and he has some parts, probably two complete 66 systems and then some odds and ends. He would like to finish his 66 El Camino and Dereks El Caino and possibly the 4 dr hd top that is also an air car before he deceids to sell.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

67ss wrote:
For what it is going to cost to rebuild all the original parts to working condition and then to convert it to 134a is going to cost you more then buying an aftermarket kit. Plus the aftermarket kit will work 10x better since it is meant to work with 134a.
There is a reason why Dashboard went aftermarket on his elcamino?
Just my .

And then he went and bought a Buick. But for long or hot trips he'll be in the El Camino.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

jim larson wrote:
I did email Karl and he has some parts, probably two complete 66 systems and then some odds and ends. He would like to finish his 66 El Camino and Dereks El Caino and possibly the 4 dr hd top that is also an air car before he deceids to sell.

If you're waiting for Karl to "finish" a car, it might be a very long wait.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

67ss wrote:
There is a reason why Dashboard went aftermarket on his elcamino?
Just my .