Installing AC in a 1969-70 GT500

[FL SAAC]

Again looking for any additional advice, life experiences that anyone can share with us is greatly appreciated before we pull the trigger.

As previously mentioned many moons ago we took a complete, I'm talking about the complete ac factory wiring harness, all the under hood stuff, nuts, bolts, vacuum gate valve, washers, clips  ducts, pulleys, brackets, blower motor + wheel, housings, flapper doors,  evaporator, evaporator box, condenser, heater, the plenum, all vacuum actuators still attached to the color coded vacuum lines,  under dash clips, chrome ac bevels, interior factory controls I mean EVERYTHING out of a 1970 Mach1 428 automatic auto car that was wrecked.

Everything was taken inventoried,  picture taken before disassembling and tagged / bagged.

We originally thought to buy the after market complete kit, but our recent conversation kind of derailed us.

Especially when we where advised to keep the factory stuff for the inside of the car and dont mess with the evaporator.

Just use this outside kit with improved more efficient condenser.

Keep the original Ford evaporator

Why because the new more efficient ones are trash compared to the o.e.m.  will not last  as long.

The o.e.m. will last forever.

So getting down to brass tacks our options are :

#1
Go with the full blown retro kit with all new components.

#2
Go with what we call the exterior half retro kit keeping some of the original Ford parts.

Putting in the other half of new parts mainly a Sanden compressor, hoses, miscellaneous other parts and bigger more efficient condenser.

#3
This is a lot of work fellas.
Is it even worth doing this project?

Decisions, decisions, decisions

[FL SAAC]

After much consideration we have decided to use mostly factory components and to upgrades the air conditioning compresor, all the hoses and use the new improved higher R134 capacity condensor.

To be continued....

[65cobra]

I think it will work and look great.  Obviously you will go through the box and controls inside so you shouldn't have the same problems I did.  That will be a nice evening project.. Not, It will take some time but will be worth it when that cold air blows on you

[FL SAAC]

I think it will work and look great.  Obviously you will go through the box and controls inside so you shouldn't have the same problems I did.  That will be a nice evening project.. Not, It will take some time but will be worth it when that cold air blows on you

Waiting patiently for the parts to arrive on Floridaland.

This is one of several projects that are occurring, all at the same time.

Thank you for your words of encouragement

[Royce Peterson]

The problem with either the Vintage Air or Classic Air kits is they do not use outside air at all. Both of them block off the air inlet and strictly recirculate the air in the cabin. The factory unit uses outside air.

The Classic Air system also does not have a very good heater, particularly if you have a console. The passengers feet get warm. The drivers feet stay cold.

Either one cools fine particularly with R134 coolant. The factory system works better with R12 as R12 is much more efficient. R134 needs a bigger condenser and a bigger evaporator, both of which are provided with either of the aftermarket options. The factory unit does not have either a bigger evaporator or a bigger condenser so performance with R134 is not as good.

[FL SAAC]

Wondering if anyone has used any of these replacement options for good old R12

MP39 (R-401A) - Hot Shot-2 (R-417C)
 R-500 - RS-24 or any other voodoo juice to make this AC system cool efficiently?

[FL SAAC]

So Royce, it would be best to use the factory components on this than the after market  ones

The problem with either the Vintage Air or Classic Air kits is they do not use outside air at all. Both of them block off the air inlet and strictly recirculate the air in the cabin. The factory unit uses outside air.

The Classic Air system also does not have a very good heater, particularly if you have a console. The passengers feet get warm. The drivers feet stay cold.

Either one cools fine particularly with R134 coolant. The factory system works better with R12 as R12 is much more efficient. R134 needs a bigger condenser and a bigger evaporator, both of which are provided with either of the aftermarket options. The factory unit does not have either a bigger evaporator or a bigger condenser so performance with R134 is not as good.

[Royce Peterson]

It's a tough call because I have R12 and you likely do not. If I had to use R134 I would install their complete system. For me the AC is more important than the heat. If I lived up north somewhere my answer might be different.