azmusclecar

I may be purchasing a C2 and I want to have Vintage Air installed in it. I've read others have installed themselves, and even found the link to the one that was installed in a 67.

No one mentioned in their posts what the A/C unit itself costs. And considering I'm a bit old to be crawling under dashes etc, how much would it cost to have it installed professionally........FAIRLY?

Kensmith

$2000 TO $2200 installed should be fair.

azmusclecar

OUCH.....I was hoping for $1500 max................guess I had better shop around...

thank you for your reply.

azmusclecar

MEGA OUCH....local Vintage Air Dealer wants $1100 for unit and between $1500-$1800 to install

54greg

I really shopped it and the best price I found was just under $1000 from summit racing. Great delivery time and vintage air is a class act with their excellent customer service. Here in so cal install prices ranged from $2500-$4500. After just installing myself its not a awful job but it is not easy either.

azmusclecar

Thanks Greg.I just checked Summit and it was listed for @1200......not sure when you bought yours. I'm mechanically inclined, it's my age and physical limitations that restrict me from doing what I used to do......... I'll stop whining now that I see what you are paying for install rate.......

Beach Dude

I am also waiting on a deal on a Vintage air system, best I have found so far is from a dealer at a swap meet at 1095.00, hoping to luck into a group buy or special sale, 995.00 would be MY buy it time. If you run across anything, post it, you never know who else is looking, I am sure with summer coming, several would jump on a group sale.

63 corvette

Beach Dude, you gonna put AC in the Yellow Car with the supercharger? Bob

MiguelsC2

Be sure not to overlook some pre install issues and costs. Is your cooling system up to par? Do you have the proper exhaust manifold to mount the compressor. Is the electrical up to it?

azmusclecar

I thought about that............and was one of my concerns. I need to contact the seller and see what he says regarding all the factors you posted............

Thanks for the heads up

Beach Dude

No, it's going in the 64 restomod. Planned surgery for the drivetrain transplant is November.

new vette 62

I bought two systems last year. One for the 69 Camaro and one for the 62 Corvette. I had the one for the Camaro installed and it was $3,200,00. This included the dash with the holes already cut out for the vents. They also replaced the plug wires. It was a Vintage Air. It was $1,100.00 for the unit and the rest for the install. I did the Corvette myself (Hot Rod Air) paid $1,050.00. Took about twenty hours with me doing the install myself. Took it to an AC place to have it filled. Both work great. I had to seal around the radiator on the Corvette though to keep it from overheating in stop and go traffic or idling. Stays at 180 that was verified with infra red temperature gun.

63 corvette

I just thought with all that going on under the hood (and sticking out of the hood) it would be interesting to hear how AC could be installed in the car. Plus with a supercharger it would be an interesting combination. By the way the car looks great! Bob

Kensmith

For my 65 the VA sure fit system was about $1200.00, my mechanic installed it and took him 12 hrs at $70.00 per hr = $840.00. Total was $2,040.00. Then I had to purchase the wiring kit to move the alternator to the driver side along with the brackets. Think that was around $150. Also included with the 12 hours install time. So about $2200.00 total including he charged the system.

mrtexas

How about $$ for new pulleys/belts and $$ to move the battery to the driver's side? This would be several $$hundreds. I just got thru buying VA and the rest. Not installed yet though.

JohnZ

You don't need to move the battery to the driver's side; there's no bulky evaporator housing on the engine side of the firewall with the aftermarket A/C units - it's all under the dash.

azmusclecar

I could live with this price................12 hours versus the 30 hours I was quoted................$840 seems fair...............$1950 seems a bit out of line, especially for a dealer who has claimed to have installed plenty of VA units...............

maybe they don't need the work.....................

Kensmith

The compressor comes with it's own pulley but you will need a new belt. Battery does not move. I can tell you haven't installed it yet. It's pretty straight forward other than tight under the dash. I did my 32 coupe but my back has gotten so bad I had to have it installed in my 65 vette.

Kensmith

30 hours is crazy. My mechanic did it in 12 including EVERYTHING! Even VA says a guy with minimal mechanical experience can do it in 16-18 hours.

MiguelsC2

I am about to pull the triiger on a Vintage air system. Then I ran across this.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductDetails/ProductDetails.aspx?pid={49973782-37b4-4b9e-8811-efd9d012337b}&gid={d5021cf0-a288-4736-a472-029b7c75a65a}&GroupName=Air+Condition+Sy stems&pname=63-65+Air+Condition+System&Referer=&Alias=& ptct=SGR-SR&CTitle=&

Not sure why it didn't give the link??

I think it's a vintage air that zip has outfitted with a factory GM compressor and mounts.
I love the factory appearance under the hood. But the hp loss concerns me. I wonder how big a difference between the GM and the Sanden comp?

I am installing my own.