[64speed]

Originally Posted by grivera

I haven’t but read somewhere it is 20-25 hours labor. If no interior maybe less hours. Have you considered doing yourself? I’m doing mine - so far pretty straight forward.

I am studying on doing it myself but if I can get someone to do it for around 1000 I’m gonna let it ride.

[ZeGermanHam]

Seems somewhat unlikely that you'll find someone to do it for ~$1k, but maybe you will. Perhaps I'm just used to what shop time costs in my neck of the woods. This question was asked not long ago by someone else I believe because their shop quoted something north of $2k to install, IIRC. Either way, given how straightforward the job is, why not just do it yourself and use the money saved for something else?

EDIT: Here is that thread asking about cost to install a Vintage Air system: https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...46#post6247846

[HALFWAY]

Seems like you are fairly handy considering the other things you have accomplished.

Take a couple weekends, you and friend can do it.

I have a 64 Lemans so should be the same. You stated you have the heater core delete plate install? Time saver removing all that stuff.

The hardest things, if you can reach up behind the dash to install the defrost vents without removing the dash, big time saver. I am assuming the control cables for the original heat and defrost are also disconnected so that part should be fairly simple to remove, may have to remove the radio to reach.

The next hardest will be routing the hoses where the original fan motor was housed. The hoses go through a plate with four holes for them. I had the front fender off for other reasons so that was not difficult, I am sure it can be done since I have read about replacing the fan motor without removing the fender.

Yes you will be contorted on the floor so I recommend not having the front seats in if possible.

All the hoses that came with the kit were pre-assembled.

Here are some pics.

[HALFWAY]

A few more.

[64speed]

Mine is Classic Auto Air, the hoses are routed right thru where the box was. And I don’t have a seat in.

[HALFWAY]

Sounds like an easier install then.

[grivera]

I have a general distrust of others working on my car cause I assume they will not be as careful as I am in the process. So I only farm out what is beyond my bandwidth.

[HWYSTR455]

I've mentioned it before, you're not limited to installing the exact way the instructions say, or with only the parts included in the kit. Most of the time, you don't WANT to install it with those restrictions.

Want examples? Go to DSE and look at their' project builds, and see how they do it:

https://www.detroitspeed.com/projects/

Pick a car that is the same body style, and look how they do it. A bodies are all very similar, as are F bodies, can see how others do it, and spin off from those examples.

When it comes to hoses and fittings, you can use the EZ Clip stuff, and that way you can route the lines wherever you want. You can use hard lines too, Vintage Air sells premade lines with ends on them, and can bend them like you would fuel lines.

https://www.vintageair.com/hose-kits...at2=E-Z%20Clip

https://www.vintageair.com/hose-kits...d%20Em%20Lines

Personally, I hate the fact that the kits route the lines through the kick panel area and out the cowl, that all is a PITA. Use a manifold and fittings, and go right through the firewall, either through the block off plate or even further over.

https://www.vintageair.com/hose-kits...khead%20Plates

If you're doing a ground up build, and you know you're going to aftermarket AC, smooth the firewall during the body work. Then use a bulkhead fitting/manifold when install time comes.


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[HWYSTR455]

An example of a 1st gen F using a bulkhead manifold. Also using the DSE firewall blockoff plate.

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[HWYSTR455]

Heater hose arrangement on my one build.

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[grivera]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

An example of a 1st gen F using a bulkhead manifold. Also using the DSE firewall blockoff plate.

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I'm not sure what kit is used in that pic of a 1st gen car but with VA, that bulkhead would be where the evaporator is.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by grivera

I'm not sure what kit is used in that pic of a 1st gen car but with VA, that bulkhead would be where the evaporator is.

You can go look at the build thread, some evap pics are close to the bottom of page 1:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/detroi...57693190888725

There are a couple other pics on other pages too, like 2 and 3.

But just to say, if you look at the evap from the top down, there's a wide section in the center, and to the pass side, it gets narrow, away from the mounting point/firewall. Also, the fan is not as tall as the center of the evap, so, there is room.

In other builds, they used the 4 in a row manifold, that fits too. Same evap unit.

EDIT: Hoses go behind the fan.

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[64speed]

Tuesday I have an appointment to have the exhaust put on at 9 in the morning. One block up is a semi Hot Rod shop and I talked to the owner that says he has done 3 vintage air setups. I emailed him the directions for this kit and told him I had done a lot of the work already like blocking off the blower motor (so the fender doesnt have to come off) and mounted the compressor and a few other things. We talked a while and he told me he usually gets 1200 to do a Vintage Air. I feel like this is easier so it should at least be the same. I am bringing the car by there on the way home from the exhaust shop. If he will stick to no more than 1200 then I guess I will be leaving it there.

[64speed]

Car is going at 8:00 in the morning to get exhaust then going to AC shop to get my AC kit installed and seat will be here in a week to 10 days. Unless something happens in about 2 1/2 or 3 weeks we should be rolling

[64speed]

https://youtube.com/shorts/wqvuh0j7hn0?feature=share

This is the worst video ever but I will get a better one when it comes back from the AC shop. This is my exhaust guy just pulling it off the rack. Black Widow Mufflers, 3 inch exhaust.

[ZeGermanHam]

Sounds & looks great! Looking forward to more videos.

[64speed]

Oh yeah the price to do the AC was 950 flat rate. I printed out the instructions and he crawled all over the car and we reached an agreement

[NeighborsComplaint]

Car sounds wicked.

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by 64speed

Oh yeah the price to do the AC was 950 flat rate. I printed out the instructions and he crawled all over the car and we reached an agreement

Forgive me if I missed it. What system are you installing? Are you using their vents? I'm considering it for my car. I've used Vintage Air in the past. I don't care for their vent arrange though. I've been looking at factory style vents.

[64speed]

I am running Classic Auto Air. Using their vents, I feel they are far superior.