Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Aftermarket Questions => Topic started by: T/A 6225 on October 10, 2012, 09:20:32 PM
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Looking to start the winter projects on my '79. My plan at this point is a "sleeper" street/strip car. Stock appearing exterior/interior with an extra kick under the hood. My previous cars I have always removed the heat and a/c as my cars are only driven during the summer and it is much cooler to cruise with the windows down. I am curious though if anyone knows of or has a heat and a/c system with a smaller box on the firewall. I prefer a cleaner look and appreciate the extra room to work around the motor but have not really found any good options.
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All that exists on my firewall for heat and Ac
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/11/upyzu7yq.jpg)
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Thanks for the reply. I like the look of that can you give me a little info about your setup?
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It's the vintage air kit, specified for camaros, but everything fits the t/a except for the controls, which I am working on some that will use the stock location and look. But as you can tell my car is modified with a shaved firewall ls motor and other things....
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I had looked at that but did not want to use an aftermarket control. Had not spent the time yet to figure out how to make it work but after seeing what it looks like it may be worth the time.
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It's not hard, some slide potentiometers and some soldering and done...
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how well does the vintage air setup fit under the firebird dash? And does it completely replace the factory heater box or work with it?
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how well does the vintage air setup fit under the firebird dash? And does it completely replace the factory heater box or work with it?
fits amazing. had to take the back section of the glove box off, but again not more than an inch... and it takes place of all the factory duct work, heater box, under hood components... the whole hvac system....
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Hrmmm sounds good. May have to look into that for my 79 next summer. Hard top, dark blue, black interior... yeah you get the picture...
I plan on fixing the AC in my 85 at some point and get all the gauges, vacuum pump, etc... Once I figure that out I'm sure a vintage air unit would be a piece of cake.
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vintage air is pretty much plug and play..... gotta modify a few things from camaro to firebird, but thats about it.....
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Hello eroc022,
Sorry to awaken a very old thread. You mentioned that you cut 1" off the back of your glove box for the vintage air kit. I see the vintage air kit they now sell comes with a replacement glove box. I suspect it achieves the same thing, removes about an inch. Did you plastic weld what you cut, or just leave it open to the back?
Thanks!
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Unless it is aimed at Firebird, the glovebox liner is probably still to suit a Camaro like the original kit. May have changed.
Different reason, but the RHD converted setup in my car saw the glovebox lining also shortened. Naturally, it had been done quickly and cheaply and most would be happy about it. All they did was lop off the end wall section, and fold a new rear wall out of aluminium, fold the sides around and riveted. It's neat, but can always be done better. Turns out it also had clearance to the AC setup and heater box so I picked up a couple of original spares, will alter a new one when the time comes.
I could grab a photo of the altered liner if you like, just for ideas if you have to go down that path.
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Hey Aus78Formula,
Awesome details! If you can snag a photo conveniently then cool but do not go out of your way. I am going back and forth with keeping the map pocket gauge cluster or moving the gauge into the glove box and putting a map pocket for the factory look. I am finding the buttons for the new vintage gauges I got will need to be closer and more conveniently located than in the glove box.
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Fairly crude but done quick 40 years ago with no attention to detail that an owner might do.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51308989550_a03bf50a65_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2maZZ1S)Firebird RHD modofied glovebox liner (3) (https://flic.kr/p/2maZZ1S) by Aus78Formula (https://www.flickr.com/photos/53057445@N08/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51308989560_df58ce60dc_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2maZZ23)Firebird RHD modofied glovebox liner (2) (https://flic.kr/p/2maZZ23) by Aus78Formula (https://www.flickr.com/photos/53057445@N08/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51307981806_97cc06d040_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2maUPrY)Firebird RHD modofied glovebox liner (1) (https://flic.kr/p/2maUPrY) by Aus78Formula (https://www.flickr.com/photos/53057445@N08/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51307240192_57f3971017_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2maR1Zw)Firebird RHD modofied glovebox liner (4) (https://flic.kr/p/2maR1Zw) by Aus78Formula (https://www.flickr.com/photos/53057445@N08/), on Flickr
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Thanks! From the inside it looks factory, which works for me. Now I just need to be patient for the Vintage Air kit to arrive.
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I feel your pain. I ordered my kit from Original Air. They said it could take up to two weeks to ship but it’s been that and still no shipping confirmation. 3-6 weeks for delivery. :(
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I am am in week 10 of my wait, but they were frank with me and said 2-3 months before they could ship this kit to me. :(
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Holy crap! That would be brutal.
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What's the issue? Waiting on stocks and parts to be made, or to come in from certain countries?
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Good question, I bought it from Speedway Motors, they called me within 10 minutes of when I placed the order to ask some questions so I got the right kit (they are including a tri-nary switch since I am switching to 4th gen electric fans). The website just said delivery as soon as July 17th when I ordered. The Speedway Motors rep on the phone call said that Vintage Air has a large backlog and is running 8-12 weeks behind. It could be not enough labor putting the kits together, or waiting on a specific part, or a combination plus sales are up. Its a pandemic and I am in good health, I can wait. Here in Ohio we haven't had that hot of weather this year, I think the hottest day I took the car out was 81 so far, most days have been in the high 70's, I would be driving with the t-tops off anyway. Any normal July/August in Central Ohio though temps are usually in the 90's with an occasional 100+ day.
Tomorrow is the Battle of the Brands show in Sunbury, it is slated to get up to 88 degrees, that's just knocking on the temps where I will want the AC when heading home, luckily I live 15 minutes away from that show. https://www.facebook.com/events/big-walnut-grill/6th-annual-battle-of-the-brands/260539605701802/
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It’s been a little warmer in NW Ohio but you’re right, cooler overall this year. Too bad I’m not closer to that show. I’ve got the trans out of the car and on my bench anyway. How far do you drive for a show? Every year there’s a large show at a park near the GM plant in Toledo. Not sure how many cars but they give dash plaques to the first 1500 through the gate.I think I’ve posted about it here before there are probably pictures and a satellite view of the grounds. It’s called park n shine but it’s probably the biggest show in northwest Ohio. I go every year weather permitting.
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So far I have only taken the car out around Columbus, about 45 mile radius. If you checkout the site carshowtalk.com, that's basically my playground as far as shows are concerned. I want to do a Woodword cruise one of these years, which is a good 3.5 hour drive to Detroit. We need more shows like that, as a spectator, you sit in one spot and see different cars all day.
As a spectator, I've driven as far as Carlisle PA (good 6 hours). I will be at the Trans Am Nationals as a spectator this year. I can't make it to the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk due to family stuff going on that weekend.
Also in September I will be at the Indian Uprising All Pontiac car show September 5th at the Polaris Quaker Steak and Lube. I have no excuse not to go to that show, its about a mile or so away.
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I’ve meant to go to Woodward too. Never been there but I’d like to go sometime. Never made it to the TA nationals either. I’ve meant to for several years but it never seems to work out. This year is still up in the air.
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The Vintage Air kit arrived! I may wait a few weeks before start installing it as I got a few shows I want to take the car to the next 4 weeks.
Aus78Formula, that mod to your glove box is pretty similar to the glove box provided in the Vintage Air kit. I will take pictures over the weekend but they pretty much molded their own glove box with a hallow opening in the back, then they made a cap that they put on the back that is then glued all the way around. From the inside it looks like the factory did it but from the back you can see the extra plastic reinforcements and glue holding it together. Quick comparison it looks like it is only 1 - 2" shallower than the factory glove box. I should say it's still functional, my idea of hiding gauges in there would not be very practical.
Thanks!!!
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Oooo good deal! I’m still waiting on my original air kit.
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I will be at the Trans Am Nationals next weekend, going Saturday as a spectator. I got a list of things I need, will be calling Ames later today to schedule pickup at the show. I will be taking the car apart to install the new AC system in mid October. I just got a manifold kit from Amazon for $33, I am now watching for a pump to come on sale between now and then. I think I read that AutoZone has a pump you can loan for free but if I can get a pump for $50 I will just do that and not feel rushed to return it.
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Enjoy the Nationals. I've never been but it is on my bucket list.
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Was a good show, but perhaps about 10 degrees too hot. Talked shop with a few guys who have done the hydroboost swap and hydraulic clutch. Now I want to change my master cylinder to a Willwood with the ports on either side and re-do the lines at the master to the prop valve to make it look cleaner.
I saw some really nice custom made upper fan shrouds too.
One car had a nice trick panel across the whole top of the core support, really made the car look clean. It was a 72 Firebird formula 455 built by Butler with a TK0600, serpentine belt with vintage air and the lines were tucked in nicely into the outer fender. They came up from Alabama too, they better have gotten an award, that was one of my favorites there.
Vintage air wise, I saw 8 cars that I was able to identify were running this system and 3 them did not run the AC or heater hoses under the outer fender. I did ask a guy who ran his heater hoses in an LS swap (did not have AC) under the fender if it caused any paint issues with the heat, he has had it that way for 4+ years and it didn't effect the paint at all. He did that knowing someday he would get the vintage air kit but he hasn't bit the bullet yet. Saw a few cars for sale 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gens. If you were wanting to dive into a Trans Am, that show would have been a good one to find a car with good bones.
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Good deal. I didn’t make it down as usual but there’s always next year hopefully. I did install my Original Air kit over the weekend and got it charged yesterday. It was a bit of a pain to be honest. I’m not sure I’d go that route again.
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b_hill_86, do you have pictures of the installation? Love to see how it turned out.
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I do have a couple on my phone but I’m ot sure if I can post them here. PM me your email address or something and I can send them.