Updating Your Vintage Car Or Truck With Air Conditioning

Vintage cars and trucks did not usually have air conditioning, but kits are available to upgrade the heating system and add air conditioning to the vehicle. Vintage car AC installation is not too complicated if you get the suitable kit for your specific vehicle — and most kits are made to match the interior style of classic cars and trucks.

Selecting Your Kit

The first part of any vintage car AC installation is finding the best kit for your vehicle. Several manufacturers offer kits that will bolt into the car and look great while adding the air conditioning blower, ducts, and other parts required to make the system work. 

When considering kits, ask about the AC compressor and underhood components. Some AC kits use stock compressors and other parts from newer vehicles, and you may have to source those separately. However, other kits may include everything you need, so do your research to ensure you get what you need before you make your purchase. 

Vintage car AC installation kits strive to keep the car as original as possible while providing air conditioning to keep the interior comfortable. When you start with the right AC kit, it is easier to keep everything as it came from the factory and limit the modifications to a few new holes for mounting the box and running wires and hoses. 

Under Dash Air Conditioning

Vintage car AC installation kits are typically under dash kits that are bolted in place below the existing dashboard. In cars with limited space, this can limit legroom, and taking some measurements to determine if you have space is vital. 

Kits may bolt into the car in different locations under the dash, so if you have the space in the center, you may want to go that way to save passenger legroom or other things on that side of the car. Some situations require a specific position to allow access to items under the dash, and the wiring and hoses that feed the system are often made to run to the spot the manufacturer intends the vintage AC system to go. 

A classic car repair or restoration shop can handle the vintage car AC installation for you and may be able to help install the system in a custom location under the dash to ensure it works efficiently but allows the most clearance possible for anyone riding in the vehicle. The mechanic installing the system can extend the wiring harness if necessary, and they may be able to make custom AC hoses or buy ones that will fit better for your needs.

Once the system is complete, you should have ice-cold air conditioning that will make your classic car more pleasant to drive all year.