Installing a Vintage Air A/C System - Cool Off!

Here is the wiring diagram for the system to give you an idea of how it works.

The Firebird will use these optional Venturi all-aluminum machined louvers (2.875-inch outer diameter) to provide warm or cool air to the interior.

The louvers used in Doug's GTO are top-of-the-line Slyder Series all-aluminum machined units (2.75-inch outside diameter) that not only open and close but also swivel to better direct airflow where you want it.

The center dash louvers and housings in the GTO look like works of art. They began with two sets of Slyder Series double louvers that come with the oval trim plates. Then Scott made a template and had a machinist create the rectangular faceplates from aluminum. Holes were cut in them to accept the oval housings and louvers and the unit was placed in the factory hole for the original heater control panel in the dash.

To avoid cutting the dash, Doug decided to have Scott install the new electronically-actuated control panel within easy reach on the console. This would have been impossible with a cable/vacuum operated A/C system.

The GTO employs a March serpentine pulley system, as does the LS1 Bird, so March brackets were used for the Sanden compressor in both cases.

Vintage Air does have Pontiac 400 brackets for its system and they will work on a 455 as well. Some reengineering and modification is needed to work on a 389 or 421.

This vacuum pump removes all the air and any impurities from the A/C system prior to charging. It is also a quick way to expose leaks in the system. Vintage Air recommends that all underhood components are warmed up to at least 90 degrees before the system is evacuated, for a minimum of 45 minutes. The recommended outside temperature for servicing is 75 degrees or above.

Here the system is being charged on the GTO. The low-pressure line is attached to the charging port on the compressor as shown. On the high-pressure side (anything coming out of the compressor) the high-pressure line is attached. Since R134-A compatible Sanden compressors do not have provisions for servicing the system, Vintage Air provides service port fittings in the hose kits. Scott used stainless line so the port had to be brazed into the line on the compressor. "Vintage Air recommends the use of a charging station when doing any type of service to your A/C system. These machines are more efficient and provide the highest level of accuracy when charging by volume. R134-A should be charged by volume, not by pressure or sight glass readings. Using the manifold gauge method worked fine for R12, but R134-A is extremely charge sensitive."