I watched the recent "Wheeler Dealers" show featuring a 544 and was most interested in the A/C add-on and the high tech brake shoes.
I've long considered adding air to my car but was put off by the requirement of radical firewall gutting, heater removal and adding of electric fans to accommodate a conventional heat/air unit.
The Vintage Air setup they used got my attention as the main panel appeared to fit nicely under the passenger-side dash and the system hookup appeared uncomplicated and did not need auxiliary fans. I would like to hear from anyone with experience in adding A/C this way, or how realistic and effective they consider this approach to be.
Pete.

Its a much easier to do if you have a newer style nose/hood. The older style's hood hinge comes down right where you would want to place the compressor. Bob Foltz sells (or at least used to sell) AC brackets that fit on a b20. Between these brackets and a Vintage Air kit I think it would be a straight forward job. I always thought that this style of Vintage Air kits looked right at home on older cars.

This will be my next project to take on, probably be done about the same time that the weather turns nice here in Alabama. FYI I have the older style hood/nose.

Please post pictures if you install one. - Stu

I havent had the hood on the car in over three years so didnt realize that inteference....thanks for the heads up. Another reason to hate the first generation hood/nose setup.

dean

I was disappointed that they did not show which condenser they used and how they installed it.

I have all the parts but haven't installed yet. Having already done this once on a p1800, i would be very surprised if the original radiator would keep up in urban traffic on hot days without an auxiliary electric fan. I had to use two small pusher fans as there is very limited room between radiator and engine. Not a ton of room in front of the radiator either so condenser size is limited, which negatively impacts the efficiency of the AC system...all the more reason to have auxiliary fans. I connected the fan to a thermal on/off switch in the radiator outlet....which is a little faster acting than the radiator inlet (engine out).

I sourced an aftermarket combined heater/evaporator to install under the dash. this will allow me to get rid of that monster heater under the hood which looks to me like it would make compressor installation tight.

dean