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To A/C or not to A/C, that is the question ...

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Old Feb 13, 2006 | 06:53 PM
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Default To A/C or not to A/C, that is the question ...

I'm debating whether or not to try and get the a/c working on my conversion ('78 T/A). From what I gather it's going to be a PITA and since I'm paying someone else to do it, that means $$. And the 2nd gen a/c units weigh a ton (one guy estimated about 84 pounds).

This is a "fair weather driver", not my daily driver. But it *is* primarily a street driver, not a track car.

On the one hand, I'd venture a guess that the vast majority of the time I'm driving it, the windows will be down and t-tops off. On the other hand, it makes me kinda nervous being in CA without A/C. When you're stuck in traffic, having the windows down and top off don't help that much ...

Thoughts?
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Old Feb 13, 2006 | 07:06 PM
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Do it. Use the LS1 AC compressor and have the work done; it is not all that difficult.
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Old Feb 13, 2006 | 09:25 PM
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In FL,GOTTA have it, 68 is getting it
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 01:24 AM
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Cool LS1 '78 Trans Am..............

check into a vintage air kit for ur '78, it sure would save room under the hood and under the dash, you probably could use the LS1 A/C compressor. Good Luck!
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 01:54 AM
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In my area you'd be dying without your ac. So, do it!!!!!!!
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 03:31 AM
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Im trying to figure out a way to use the A/C setup right out of my donor '01 T/A. The suitcase looks to be MUCH smaller than what would have originally came in the 70's...but I can't really figure out a way to keep my old dash and dash controls and use the LS1's airbox directional thing being it's vaccum controlled.
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 11:28 AM
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Vintage air is the only way to go. I got into one of those jobs this past summer ressurecting the a/c on a car that had no refrigerant in it for ten years. Started by replacing all of the refigeration components cause they were bad from either age or original failure. Then we had to piece together an airbox so all of the doors worked correctly. It was a major PITA and the job cost the customer a little over 1600 by the time were were through most of it was time and parts. You can run vintage air for a lot less $ and I believe you can retain the LS1 compressor.
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 01WS6/tamu
Vintage air is the only way to go.
OK, can you tell me a little more about what this means? I'm unfamiliar with "vintage air". Classic industries sells an OER a/c kit for my car - is that what you mean?
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by nautiboy
OK, can you tell me a little more about what this means? I'm unfamiliar with "vintage air". Classic industries sells an OER a/c kit for my car - is that what you mean?
Vintage air is a company that makes retrofit A/C kits and parts for cars. http://www.vintageair.com/ is their website.
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Old Feb 14, 2006 | 08:57 PM
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Do it

I intend to get my A/C working when I get my LSX transplant
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