Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Aftermarket Questions => Topic started by: BlackTransAm on January 25, 2013, 12:45:01 PM
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Has anyone ever installed on of these, they say they work great, but of course if you make it your going to say that.
I would like to hear consumer opinions. I have a 403 Olds and want to go back to stock if I can find all the brackets
and parts. But I am curious as to whether these works as good as reported.
If you have, did you use their new condenser or your original?
Thanks for any info.
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Reed, as mentioned offlist, while they sell an Oldsmobile kit, I have yet to see one fitted to a sample vehicle for photos. Like the one in this sample is still a Pontiac engine so hard to compare what you are getting or how it may look if after something that appears stock.
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I agree , thats why I asked if anyone ever tried these or how good they work/LAST
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Well it is a newer compressor which will definately be much more effcient for the system, definately wont look stock, I dont know of anybody that has installed this kit. I am running a full vintage air kit on mine. and it pumps out lots of cold air...
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I have not found anyone either, their testomonials dont even have an opinion or another vehicle with it installed
It uses a threaded tube with bolt through it to tighten it, seems a little weak
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Factory's hooked up that way, takidd455 might have that system, I know he is running something different, but not 100% sure what
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On Olds it's not, no threaded tensioner, have to use bar of sorts to stretch compressor belt and then lock up bolts. Not familiar with other engines.
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Oh nvm I was thinking something else..... That's a good tensioner if used properly
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You would use your original condenser, unless you want to buy their new improved condenser. But, it should work with your condenser, and the rest of your original a/c parts. You'd need a new accumulator, which I think comes with the kit, along with hoses, compressor and compressor brackets. An Olds setup shouldn't look much different from the Pontiac setup. From what I see, I like the kit, and will get one when I work on my a/c again. I haven't had much luck keeping the rebuilt original compressors going for long, so I don't want to even put an original A-6 back on again. The more modern Sanden compressor is used on aftermarket a/c units, and I've put many of them in older cars, and have not had a failure. The Sanden is smaller and lighter, and can withstand high rpms.
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When doing a search the other day, prob when chatting to Reed offlist, found a newer, lightweight modern long compressor but with larger front and rear so that it was a direct replacement for any A6 application and use the stock brackets. That's the direction I'd head if I had all the brackets already, that's half the battle, but with improved compressor.
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Here it is, the Pro6TEN replacement for GM A6:
http://www.hotrodhotline.com/pr/2009/09oldairjan/assets/images/Picture1.jpg
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That is an interesting option. Thanks for mentioning it. I noticed it's an Old Air product, so I found the page on their website here: http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/compressors/gm-replacement-compressor-c-1_50000000_57000000_120132081.html
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Here is the mount for 403 , what do you think of it? http://www.classicautoair.com/downloads/compressormounts/06-800.pdf
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Here is the mount for 403 , what do you think of it? http://www.classicautoair.com/downloads/compressormounts/06-800.pdf
I've been talking to Curtis at Classic Auto Air; he seems very helpful. I also have the 403, and I think I'm going to go with the kit for around $800 once I get my motor back in my car. It includes the hard lines, the compressor, accumulator and the condenser. He said that the condenser had several more passes and was much more efficient than the old unit.
I also asked him since the compressor mount is on the front of the head and doesn't seem to encroach the valve covers, if I could use a raised valve cover. I can't recall if he gave me a straight answer on that...
Next time I talk to Curtis I'm going to bust on him for the misspelling of compressor in that pdf Reed posted :P
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Ask them for some pics of it installed on a 403, and some 3rd party testimonials, real people
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any updates on this ??
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I put the Classic Auto Air kit on my 79 403 recently. I got the kit with new evap core and condenser, so everything is new under the hood. It was about $1000 from Classic Auto Air on eBay for everything. I like the fit and quality. But, I haven't charged it yet, since I still have a few other things to do to the car, so I can't say how well it works yet. I expect that it will work great. It may be a month or two before I charge it, but I'll try to remember to report back. Here's a pic:
(https://i.imgur.com/SdXbf0k.jpg?1)
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I'd rather have an original system.