2nd Gen T/A lsx A/c

[gadocbar]

I have a 77 trans am lsx 5.3 and i'm stuck on what i'm i going to do for a/c what r my option do i need to do a vintage air or piece something together

[MuscleRodz]

Are you trying to use your factory a/c or go aftermarket?

[Toadman]

Can't beat Vintage Air & a Kwik Performance mounting bracket. It's what I just installed in my '77 Camaro LS1 swap. Talk to Frank at Prodigy Customs & tell him what you're doing. He'll set you up.

[reedld]

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! 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



moving ls1 PCM to make room for bulkhead



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



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



with glove box



bulkhead on engine side



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



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



water pump connection



complete with PCM back in place



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.





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.



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...