First gen Camaro HVAC (NOT OE or Vintage Air)

[censo69]

Ok I am looking for modern HVAC out of a newer car that I can incorporate into my first gen Camaro. The original systems for these cars were ok for the time but garbage compared to modern cars. I don't particularly have anything against the Vintage Air stuff other then I would prefer a system with Fresh air mode and the price. I currently have various compressors, receiver dryers, condensers, and accumulators to set up either a FOT system or TXV.

Where I need help. Finding an HVAC that will fit behind the dash of a first gen. If you have any ideas please share.

Thanks
Vince

[MIKE67]

I have been thinking about this also. It seems like there should be lots of units that could be adapted. I would love to see a build on the whole system.

[tlillard23]

I am also interested in this. Trying to use the LS2 GTO compressor, I don't really care what it looks like, to an extent. and I don't want to spend $1200 in parts to make it a show car. Can anyone point to some posts about AC that don't end up in the "whose best vintage air style" debate?

[Twentyover]

If you have OEM air, there are potentially inexpensive changes you can make to improve performance significantly.

When I was a young man I worked for a Japanese place that made 'factory' A/C kits for port and dealer installation (the way most Japanese cars got air until the late 80's). The place hired a couple ex-GM engineers and contracted with a consultant based in Scottsdale for hot weather testing. We were testing the cheapest model the manufacturer was selling using our kit, and the performance sucked. The GM guys and the consultant had us change the blower motor (ours was 160 watt) to one from a Cavalier (about 250 W), and bought us a selection of GM outlets from various platforms.We cut up an IP and cobbled the outlets in place of the 'rubber vents' the car came with. With these two changes, the car moved from a subjective last in class to second in class (the panel consisted of 7 cars.) Lesson learned: You want lots of air, and you want to control where it hits you.

My current employer has specific minimum airflow volumes,and velocities that need to hit target locations.There is a constant battle with Product Design Office (styling) to balance form and function.

If you have an OEM system,try replacing the blower motor with something out of an 80's G body, truck or SUV, and run a high blower relay to take load off your switch.You may also want to run the resistor from motor application.

The other change is getting the conditioned air to you're torso and face.The factory air outlet (outboard) in my 70 Camaro points the air to my kneecaps,rendering it pretty much a joke. I modified the gauge cluster moving an outlet to the area previously used by the wiper and headlight switch, and relocated these switches to the ash tray housing. Make sure your outlets can actually hit your upper torso and face.

If you are set on modern components, or a system that fits underdash, look at something from a modern intermediate.You will probably need to cut it apart and glue it back together some to get it to fit, and plan on using the control head for the unit selected. Oddly enough, today's designers don't have "must be easily retrofitted to a Gen 1 Camaro" near the top of their design criteria.

[Dantigan]

I am installing a GTO HVAC system in my 69 Firebird. I almost have it completely in. I am using the GTO dash though, not sure if it would work behind a stock dash. I need to finish up some bracing on the backside of the box. The hardest part was splicing the fresh air intake into the cowl. I should have an update to my build thread in a week or so that will show the mods I had to make.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Interesting thought, I'll have to think about this. I'm doing a complete drivetrain swap out of a 97 T/A into my 67 Camaro. I was going to do a Vintage Air swap, but now I'm curious if the OEM A/C would work....