Vintage Air Gen IV install in 78 LS1 TA

[reedld]

I posted this in a reply..and just added on to it. I thought I'd start a new tread to help..

Leon

Newbie here..I bought my car with the LS1 already swapped from BanditDave. I really like pro-touring forum! lots of great info from people with ALL kinds of cars!

I just finished installing the evaporator from VA GenIV (universal) system in my 1978 Trans Am. I chose VA because I liked the controls and vent selection. My brushed aluminum dash panel (from year one), came pre-cut for VA controls and vents, so I did not have to do anything to the dash panel. I should note that all of my heat and a/c components were gone when I purchased the car. The evaporator sits a little lower and takes up more space than the other systems.I mocked up my old dash just to see if it would fit and how much space it would take up. I fired up the system tonight to check for any leaks in the heater lines...none so I am good to go! :cool: I am not hooking up the air portion this year....I have all the lines hooked up to the firewall. Next year, I will buy the Sanden pump, Kwik bracket, condensor, dryer and lines. I'll live one more year without air. All in all, the install was fairly easy. VA supplied very good directions and I did not run into any serious issues. I did purchase 'crows feet' wrenches to tighten all the bulkhead connectors. I could not find anyone local to crimp my a/c lines (with confidence). I did not want to install of this and then have to re-address a leaky a/c line. I purchased and had VA crimp one end of both of my high pressure hoses. I mocked up the hoses after I had the bulkhead installed, cut the hose, mailed them back to VA and paid them to ship them back to me. Cost me an extra $27 dollars...but I am very confident I have them correct. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help. More pics to come as I get the new dash in and interior put back together.

Leon

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moving ls1 PCM to make room for bulkhead

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mocked up evaporator, marked firewall and connected temporarily....it is level too!

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here is my old dash mocked up to see how things looked.

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with glove box

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bulkhead on engine side

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bulkhead under dash. I added a piece of metal to re-enforce firewall. Previous owner removed heater core, fabbed metal/fiberglass over the firewall.

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I routed the heater lines up under fender well and under the battery tray to water pump.

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water pump connection

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complete with PCM back in place

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VA controls temp hooked up to test system


I did have to cut my glove box. When I mocked up the old dash and glove box, the dash was not completely set properly. I trimmed the glove box and I plan on fixing the hole with fiberglass later.

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I do not have any pictures of the duct lines. I did not have any duct work that came with the car (oem type). I purchased on ebay the passenger side vent duct work. I trimmed the bottom portion of the duct (it hit the VA evaporator), removed the metal diverter, and sealed it up with some leftover 'fat mat'. I ran the VA hose through that duct. The VA kit came with 2" and 3" hose. The 2" is for the defrost lines. It also comes with new defrost fittings...I did remove the factory ones (actually they are the only ones that were still with the car).This piece is the part I bought, and modded.

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I ran another VA hose to the lower portion of the glove box...fit nicely. The other two VA vents went to the Year One dash panel. I do need to purchase about 3 more feet of VA 3" hose. Here is the finished dash...

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[yellow1098Greg]

That is sucha cool setup.....I have a 77 TA with original block and all race parts mostly 70's stuff....I want gauges like yours to....I was wondering how do u like the LS setup and how much did it run you? i really love the feel and sound of my motor and it puts out good power 400+ horse but the little stuff or the old things are annoying sometimes. Like for instance im working on my AC right now myself and i have everything together and running correct charge and all and it sucks....not cold or blows hard at all....just looking at your pics and drooling thats all...Trying to figure out how to get my whole setup going like urs...Looks great

[reedld]

thanks for the compliment. I bought this car...mostly complete...from "bandit dave". I ran across him on the transam country forum..but he is here as well as a few other forums. Dave did an awesome job building this car. I think he paid ~$3000 for the LS1/4l60e combo. He did not go cheap on anything! It has headman long tubes, BRP mount kit, and PCM was modified by him and a mail order tune by speartech. The fuel tank is sumped and an external pump (noisy). I plan on changing that real soon. I wanted to change it before now...but I am having too much fun with the car every day! I plan on buying a new tank and putting in the vetteworks 4th gen f body pump in it. I have everything except the new 2nd gen tank (I want to start with a new fresh tank). Car was complete minus the interior.
here is a link to his build...
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?57028-Project-sinisTAr&highlight=

I am very fortunate to have the car. I love the LS1. Awesome power and even with hard launches...I still get ~20mpg. I am waiting for my rear seats to be recovered (at upholstery shop now) and I plan on doing the door panels over the winter. I had a 1980 TA that originally had the 301, then I put a SBC in it. Loved that car...drove it from 1989 -1996...got married...house...deployed 2x with the Army...car sat untouched for 14 years. I was itching to do a more powerful engine...but as I added up all the co$t$...I found going the LS direction was better. I really wanted a 4spd auto for the cruising mpg. I then came across Dave's car...the price (for what was done to it) was very reasonable and would have cost me more to do myself. Doing just the interior is a lot easier than all the work my 1980 needed! I'll be posting more pics of my car very soon. I have the 1999 4th gen f-body front seats covered and installed.


Leon

[BanditDave]

Leon,

You need to post up pics of the interior man!!! It looks so nice now...way better than I could have hoped for. You have a really nice attention to detail and are really doing this car justice!

Keep posting, I am eagerly waiting to see more!!! I am going to have to make the trek up there with the Olds to see the old girl...

Again man...badass work!

[hessdawg]

how much did the VA set up cost you ???

[reedld]

how much did the VA set up cost you ???

I have ~$1200 in it so far. I can get you specific part numbers if you want. I ordered all but the hoses from summit racing. I'm figuring another $1200 for the ls1 bracket, compressor, dryer, hoses and condenser.

Leon

[hessdawg]

damn i wish i had that kind of money
your car looks great by the way
where did you get the engine turned gauge insert???

[reedld]

damn i wish i had that kind of money
your car looks great by the way
where did you get the engine turned gauge insert???

thank you sir!....the engine turned dash is from year one

[yellow1098Greg]

hmm i plan on doing the same thing with my dash and also getting the vintage AC. Does the vintage application you have only go with the LS1? or is it body specific to our cars? will it work with my pontiac 400? and how much did u pay?

[reedld]

hmm i plan on doing the same thing with my dash and also getting the vintage AC. Does the vintage application you have only go with the LS1? or is it body specific to our cars? will it work with my pontiac 400? and how much did u pay?

VA does not sell a specific kit for 2nd gen firebirds/trans ams.....just the 2nd gen camaro. My kit is the genIV universal kit. I had to pick out all of the parts from the catalog. Like my previous post said....I have about $1200 in it so far. The VA universal kit is not specific to any engine...you add your own engine specific compressor and custom length hoses. I ordered all items from summit...they were cheaper on shipping than VA. I did use VA to make my high pressure hoses. Let me know if I can help...what year car do you have?

[yellow1098Greg]

hey I have the same car as you 77ta....what exactly did u buy from VA? the universal kit? what did it contain? and what additional stuff did u have to buy?

[reedld]

From summit racing

Evaporator kit Vta 671400 vuz $698.95
4 way bulkhead Vta 384600 MBA $64.95
Knob vta 491210 rua $198.95
Louver ( for year one dash) vta 49210 vuq $79.95 ( needed 2)

From vintage air.....
I purchased the high pressure hose ( as stated in my opening post) , misc fittings, and shipping etc...probably ~$75 to them.

Summit was cheaper and faster with shipping ( I'm in NY).

as far as additional items to buy...I do need a little extra 3" hose. I also need to get all of the A/C components (actual compressor, engine specific bracket, condensor, dryer,etc).

Good luck..post up some pics!

Leon

[yellow1098Greg]

"as far as additional items to buy...I do need a little extra 3" hose. I also need to get all of the A/C components (actual compressor, engine specific bracket, condensor, dryer,etc)."

so are you gonna get these parts from Vintage air as well??

BTW...how much did that guage set up run you?? :)

[reedld]

"as far as additional items to buy...I do need a little extra 3" hose. I also need to get all of the A/C components (actual compressor, engine specific bracket, condensor, dryer,etc)."

so are you gonna get these parts from Vintage air as well??

BTW...how much did that guage set up run you?? :)

The 3" hose can be bought from summit...engine bracket from kwik bracket..I have not priced out the other stuff yet, but I believe summit sells it. I'll get the high pressure hose from vintage air. It's my winter project!

The cobalt blue auto meter gauges came from " Bandit Dave" ...sold with the car ...They are nice! Dave has good taste with cars!
Thank you
Leon

[yellow1098Greg]

Thanks Leon keep me posted on that info if you can i have been researching the same exact project and would love to follow along......all though your much farther along than i am and def know alittle more.