How about modern climate control?

[MaineShark]

With the talk of electric headlight conversions, I got to thinking: has anyone grafted modern climate control systems onto a C3? Electric actuators would be so much nicer than vacuum: high-performance cars wouldn't have problems with low vacuum, and chasing leaks would be a thing of the past.

I'm having some trouble with my climate controls, which seem leak-related to me (hissing sound is a giveaway ), and I sure wouldn't mind converting over to electronics, if it's reasonable...

Joe

 

[Stallion]

In theory it sounds like a novel idea, but I think that would be quite the big job to do. But I like that way of thinking, it's definitely a good idea, in my opinion. I think it would just be pretty tough to implement, though. Our Vettes are really vacuum-oriented and a lot runs off of that. It would be tough to rid the whole Vette of vacuum. And so far I haven't had any vacuum problems, so my system is in pretty good condition. But I can see where you want for this change would come from.

Let's see what others have to say about this.

TR

 

[sscam69]

I have planned converting most of the car over the electric instead of vacuum.


I kind of have wondered of about converting to electrical on the HVAC systems. But I think that even modern cars still use Vacuum.

On my 96 Cougar whenever I turn off the heater I hear a hiss and a thump.

I dunno just a thought.

Do you have an idea what controls, or from which cars you could transfer?

Frank

 

[MaineShark]

I think some do, some don't. My mother owns a '94 Mercury Sable, and it definitely hisses. My beater is a '90 Ford Probe, and the motor sound is obvious, when the climate controls are changed (it also uses motors instead of solenoids for the power locks - go figure).

So, hopefully someone has converted over, and knows what makes a good donor car.

Joe

 

[69MyWay]

Joe, been there....done it.....doing it right now!

The Vintage Air Super Cooler II technology used in the 'compact' unit has electric damper doors and switching valve for the heater control.

It works great! No vacuum worries.

Now, installing it is a fairly large job because the dash has to be out, then you have to make a plate, or glass over the firewall because you will be doing away with that huge ugly mess on the firewall that runs the stock system.

Total cost is upwards of $1,500, and as low as $1,000 depending on if you make your own hoses and charge your own system.

There is a member here that has been working on blending some of the technology from the first gen S10 style box and orphis a/c system to some electric damper doors as found on the Fiero, and late model full size chevy trucks.


In a nutshell....yes it can be done, it is very cool (pun intended), and it will far out perform the stock system.

 

[groovyjay]

Joe, been there....done it.....doing it right now!

The Vintage Air Super Cooler II technology used in the 'compact' unit has electric damper doors and switching valve for the heater control.

It works great! No vacuum worries.

Now, installing it is a fairly large job because the dash has to be out, then you have to make a plate, or glass over the firewall because you will be doing away with that huge ugly mess on the firewall that runs the stock system.

Total cost is upwards of $1,500, and as low as $1,000 depending on if you make your own hoses and charge your own system.

Like Chris said, it takes some work to get it right, since it's a universal kit, but once done right it is the A/C to have! I can share template for the plate that covers the hole in the firewall.

 

[MaineShark]

Hmm... probably more expensive that I'm willing to put in this car, but the next one is going to be more performance-oriented, so as many of the vacuum accessories as possible will be getting replaced.

I guess when I get under the dash and see what I'm dealing with, I'll see if I can find electric actuators that I can adapt to fit the '79. Wiring the controls shouldn't be a problem.

Joe

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Hmm... probably more expensive that I'm willing to put in this car, but the next one is going to be more performance-oriented, so as many of the vacuum accessories as possible will be getting replaced.

I guess when I get under the dash and see what I'm dealing with, I'll see if I can find electric actuators that I can adapt to fit the '79. Wiring the controls shouldn't be a problem.

Joe

Joe: Do you have an air system (stock)in your vette right now?

 

[fc3]

I have recently spent a bundle(nearly 2K) on rebuilding the vac/duct systemon my vert. the problem is STILL not enought air flow, even on Max. Is there a blower replacement motor that will fit and blow stronger? Any thoughts? Fred.
PS- Chris, my 383 is as torquey as a big block. It is awesome, I can't wait to get it on a dyno and a qtr mi. track. The B&M shift kit really improved the th400. The 3.08 rear gear is extremely fast,especially with the 2800 torque converter. Fred.

 

[MaineShark]

Joe: Do you have an air system (stock)in your vette right now?

Yup. I need to check it out, though. I was pretty sure it was working, but it was winter, so it was hard to tell. Now it doesn't, but neither does the heat, so I think it may be a problem in the climate controls, not the A/C system itself.

Joe

 

[69MyWay]

I have recently spent a bundle(nearly 2K) on rebuilding the vac/duct systemon my vert. the problem is STILL not enought air flow, even on Max. Is there a blower replacement motor that will fit and blow stronger? Any thoughts? Fred.
PS- Chris, my 383 is as torquey as a big block. It is awesome, I can't wait to get it on a dyno and a qtr mi. track. The B&M shift kit really improved the th400. The 3.08 rear gear is extremely fast,especially with the 2800 torque converter. Fred.

That is great to hear that your motor is working so well.

As far as more airflow/etc, Bobchad has some great advice on the subject, and has built some info into his website. He has explored nearly every option to improve the basic stock system.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

It's on this page under the heading "Upgrading the Fan". Credit for this little tidbit goes to Lee74C3.

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Yup. I need to check it out, though. I was pretty sure it was working, but it was winter, so it was hard to tell. Now it doesn't, but neither does the heat, so I think it may be a problem in the climate controls, not the A/C system itself.

Joe

Joe: Thanx for replying: OK. If you got a stock A/C unit in your car & you want to upgrade to the VA unit. Try doing what I did. I'm upgrading to the newer VA unit, been wanting to do that for quite some time, but didn't have the additional funds right off hand. So, I found one of the "Stock-Purists" Corvette owners & sold him my Frigidare unit. He needed it for his '72 LT-1 that had air in it, but somebody removed the unit somewhere down the road. He wanted to put it back the way it was. In the end, I got enough to get the VA unit & accessories & he got a stock Frigidare A/C unit. Everybody was happy! Life is good!

Dave

 

[atiroc1]

Were you able to use the stock climate controls with the vintage unit? How did you plug the blower motor hole?

 

[MaineShark]

Dave: I'll have to talk to some 'Vette restorers, and see if my system is worth anything. I'm not sure what the market is, but you definitely bring up an interesting possibility, if it can even pay a good chunk of the price.

Joe

 

[69MyWay]

The VA unit comes with its own control head. They have two main styles. They have one that is more vertical and one more horizontal. The early sharks get the more vertical, while the newer ones get the other one to better fit the dash. You can see the different types at the VA website.

Here is what the unit looks like haning under the dash during the pre-fit phase.

Here is how much mods you can do to the firewall if you choose, or just block it off with a metal plate.

I realize, in my case this is a little extreme, but this is what the back of the firewall looks like after it has been plugged solid.

And finally, in this pic you can see how I used an old piece of fiberglass (from a diesel truck) to fill the blower hole and HVAC hole on the stock firewall....NOTE..... You do not have to cut your firewall off to do this mod!

BTW--You can see all of these as I rebuild my website under

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/Photo_Gallery.html

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Dave: I'll have to talk to some 'Vette restorers, and see if my system is worth anything. I'm not sure what the market is, but you definitely bring up an interesting possibility, if it can even pay a good chunk of the price.

Joe

Hi Joe: Another way of seeing it would bring anything, is to list it on e-bay with a "buy it now price" only (the amount that you'd like to get for it), so there would be no bidding, just the asking price. I see alot of that going on now at e-bay. Also, when I go to vette swap meets, I always see a unit or tow there up for sale, sometimes they'll have sold signs on 'em, os there must be a market out there for them.

Dave

 

[MaineShark]

That's also a good idea. I'm not sure whether it will be worth anything, given the year ('79), but it can't hurt to try.

Joe

 

[KANE]

I'd like to see modern climate control in a C3.

Maybe a wrecked Caddy would be a place to start looking for parts.

Maybe using the ocillating vents from a Mazda 626... that would be cool.... literally!!!

 

[MaineShark]

Maybe a wrecked Caddy would be a place to start looking for parts.

A similar thought: do the more modern 'Vettes have electric actuators or vacuum?

Joe