f all the additions that can be made to any early car for passenger comfort, a modern climate-control system has to be at the top of the list. Riding around on a hot day without A/C can feel like you’re in an oven. When the weather turns cold, it’s even uncomfortable for brass monkeys. Fortunately, we don’t have to suffer due to Mother Nature’s whims no matter what we drive, thanks to Vintage Air.
The heater portion of a climate-control system is relatively simple; hot water passes through the small radiator like a heater core with a blower motor to warm the passenger compartment. On the other hand, air conditioning is more complicated; it cools by removing heat and humidity from inside the vehicle. Basically an A/C system takes in air from the passenger compartment into the evaporator where it is passes across a coil assembly that absorbs heat and converts humidity to water droplets (that’s why the evaporator case has a drain hose to the outside of the car). Cooled air comes out of the outlets while the heat is carried to the condenser in front of the radiator. What makes this all possible is the refrigerant, commonly known as 134a; it’s a high-pressure liquid on the high side of the system, and a low-pressure gas on the low, or suction side. As Rick Love of Vintage Air explains, “refrigerant absorbs heat as it changes states from a liquid to a gas in the evaporator and then dissipates heat as it changes from a gas to a liquid in the condenser. Heat is absorbed through evaporation and dissipated through condensation (change of states).”
At one time, OEM and aftermarket climate-control systems used cables or vacuum motors to control the doors that directed airflow in the evaporator case—both systems had limitations due to the limited movement of those doors. Vintage Air’s Gen II and IV systems use fully electronic microprocessor-controlled servo motors to manage the operation of those doors, which allows them to travel further. The results are dramatic gains in airflow, superior defrost performance, and true bi-level operation in both heat and A/C modes.
Installing a Vintage Air system isn’t particularly complicated, but here are a few suggestions to get the best results for your efforts.
To ensure proper airflow through the condenser, install the most effective fan possible with a shroud and position the condenser ½ to ¾ inch in front of the radiator.