Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

BLyke wrote:

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" You would be a candidate for the under dash, or a Vintage Air, Southern Air, etc type vehicle specific install."

So I'm guessing this ~$600 one is sort of a "Window A.C", not quite as nice looking or fully integrated as the ones that start as ~$100 more?
Still for travelling on days like we recently went through may be very nice to have.

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Bruce, I'm happy to help you spend your money! 

I placed the order, and after talking to the supplier, they recommended a 13K BTU unit that is slightly larger and has a stronger fan, and it was $65 less than what I had selected.  It is gray though, so I'll be doing some creative color adjusting.

With that, here's the breakdown of my $600 estimate:

AC system        $475 (Free Shipping)

Evac/Charge      $85 at my local mechanic

Misc Charge       $50? for crimping the lines if I go that route.  The kit comes with both crimp and clamp style, but I'll probably go with crimp for less chance of leaks.

SBC Comp Bkt     $110 Ordered an Allen Grove bracket thru Amazon

Total                $720 (I didn't figure in the compressor bracket in my $600 estimate...)

Here's a link to the system I ordered:  AC KIT LINK

Bruce, I'm not sure where to find an integrated system for $700?  The Vintage Air and Classic Auto Air systems start around $1500 that are made to work with Chevelle's.  Maybe you have a line on another option?

Last night I figured out all the vacuum hose routings and individually tested the vacuum actuators, and they all work.  I'll probably get the dash into a semi-assembled state and try to run the vent system under engine vacuum and see what happens.

I pulled the blower resistor that's mounted on the evaporator box, and found a bunch of mouse crap/urine/insulation on one of the coils, but not sure if that was shorting out.  I'll clean it up and put it back in for a try.

Having said all this, my 'new' goal now is to get all the system vacuum controls working and will put the dash back together before SMN's.  Installing the AC will happen in the next few weeks.  Probably just in time for Fall and Winter so that I don't get to use the AC.  Lol

Received a nicely packed 48 pound box yesterday with the kit.  It contains everything as advertised.

The under dash unit seems smaller than I thought, which is a good thing and fits perfectly in the spot where I thought it would go, and isn't that deep either with plenty of room behind it.

Now I have to 'recolor' it black and start removing the old compressor and condensor/filter set up and installing the new.  Bob W. I have you in mind for 'recycling' those parts in your collection.  

I have all the vents working on ship's vacuum power now, so will wait until after SMN's to jump back in the CAC on the AC project.

The HC started droning badly at 60 mph when driving home last weekend from the SMN's, so I finally got around to raising the lift to see what was going on.  The passenger side muffler had blown a hole in it.  So, now I'm in CAC again as there's no way I'm driving it with it sounding so bad.

I had already replaced the driver's side muffler this Spring when it started rattling real bad from the baffle detaching inside so that I could get through the season, then replace the whole system with the Pypes system I had bought for the 69 Chevelle but didn't use before I traded it in.  You'll see the opening in the muffler and some machine screws in it too.  The screws are a hillbilly Stanitization attempt to stop the baffle from rattling on the passenger side, but that didn't help.

So, about an hour later this morning I had the old system out.  LOTS of restriction in it being a 2" system with the bends being less than that, and I found the flapper on the thermal gate on the passenger manifold provided about a 25-30% restriction.  The 2.5" Pypes system looks huge compared to what I took off.

I started soaking the manifold bolts and hope they don't break or strip out!  I'll also pull the original AC compressor and hoses to give more access to be replaced by the new system soon.

I also decided to use the hottest/humid day of the summer and harvest a 1998 JGC steering box yesterday, so power washed it and painted it up today.  I'll get it in when I get the parts later next week.

I have those same mufflers on my Camaro. Nice sound at cruise, but mat the pedal and anyone in the vicinity is going to know you are there...

ghaasl wrote:

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Sounds great, Stan! Maybe on the list for me since I have dronemasters on mine. How’d the AC install go?

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Just now getting back to the AC project since the exhaust took priority. I'll probably get the AC finished right before it's time to put the cars away for winter. Lol

Derek69SS wrote:

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I like my Pypes RacePro mufflers as well, with Pypes X-pipe.

The only thing from Pypes I didn't have good luck with is the electric cutouts. The switch went bad very quickly, so I replaced that, then the cutouts started falling apart because they didn't loctite anything when they assembled them. I tore them apart and loctited everything and now the bushings are so worn out they rattle and sound terrible... but it's sooooo cool when they're open. :)

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 Derek, where did you install your cut-outs in relationship to the o2 sensor? Have you had any issues with erratic o2 sensor feedback?

Back in CAC for the AC project...

Removing all the factory stuff for the underdash setup.