63 Grand Prix aftermarket A/C
 

I am looking at installing an aftermarket A/C kit in my 63 GP. It’s originally an A/C car however that was all stripped from the car before I bought it.I have researched Vintage and Old Air kits. I made a cardboard mock up box based on the Old Air Hurricane because they provide detailed dimensions on there website.I figured being a large car the biggest kit should fit with ease. It seems like that is not the case.The area under the dash is consumed almost to the floor requiring removal of glove box and loss of foot room.Does anyone have experience with an aftermarket kit in a Pontiac of this body type?

I think I shared a number of postings several years ago about my addition of Vintage Air on my 61. A 63 should be similar or identical. Except I did not have an original AC car and you may have a console. But that difference may not be a problem. Do some searches on this site and see if it helps. Or maybe it was in the heating cooling section. I will try to answer any further questions you have.

(Subscribing)

K

try post VinAir in 61

I have Classic Auto Air in my 1964 GP and the non AC glove box needed to be reduced in depth but not eliminated. An AC glove box may have fit but I never tried it. I was happy with the box I had. The evaporator housing doesn't take up any floor space. Also it is nice and cold. The kit I used was the "Street Rodder 2". !963 and 1964 should be the same under the dash.

I have a setup close to this. I have aftermarket air added to my '64 GP, so it should be pretty similar. I went with Vintage Air because they were willing to work with my shop on creating the custom mounting parts needed. I added an aftermarket fan shroud to make sure it stays cool if traffic is crawling.

Attachment 648459

However, my car didn't offer factory air. So we added some vents under the dash that fit around the tissue dispenser and some controls/vents on the driver's side. It's functional.

Like you mention, they basically had to delete the glove box and install the blower behind it. They also got rid of the heat exchanger because that wasn't necessary anymore. The A/C that they give you is just reversable a heat pump. So it can switch between heating and cooling the cabin.

If you look under the glove box, you can see the blower motor box sticking out a bit. I think we also closed off the passenger vent cowl. But it doesn't feel like there's any less leg room. This is a long car.

Attachment 648458

My end-goal was to make sure this was a car I wanted to drive when it was nice a sunny. The A/C helps with that decision during hot weather.

Thanks to @Goatracer1 that mentioned there were A/C specific glove boxes. I had no idea!

Anyway, I ordered a reproduction A/C glovebox liner for the '64 Grand Prix and it fits! I have a functional glovebox again. :D

Here are some pictures with the before and after.

Attachment 648793

Attachment 648794

Glad I could help. It's nice when people with shared interests can be of help.

Sorry for delayed update.I bought a Vintage Air A/C kit for a 63 Impala w/factory air.
The firewall is almost identical and the kick panel as well. Since I already welded in firewall openings with sheet metal I didn’t need the main cover plate, however the hip cover worked well with only slight trimming and re-drilling.I will post pics in the future once I get to installing it permanently.