1978 f250 SuperCab 4x4 Cummins 12v ZF5. I searched and read the FAQ and can’t find a post on this. I apologize in advance if it’s been covered.
I would like to use my existing vents (it had factory A/C) with a modern evaporator. Maybe Vintage Air brand ? Just wondering if someone has had success with this and what parts or brand they used. I tried to call VA but they were closed for Good Friday.
Thank you

 

I used nostalgic air, have not actually finished project to actually try it, but I had factory air also, had to remove original due to coyote swap. they let me get only what I needed and it uses factory controls which is nice. easy to do.

 

Thank you for your reply. I will check then out on Monday I saw that VA also had some sort of “cable converters” but I’m not sure if they work with our trucks and let us use the original controls. Using the original controls would be optimum

 

I too have a Coyote swap and the original AC equipment had to go to fit the engine, so this is just some insight and not an endorsement.....
If you haven't already because of the Cummins swap, you will need to of course remove your entire existing equipment and plug that enormous hole in your firewall with a plate. Classic auto air has a kit designed for our trucks that includes the firewall plate. The kit less the compressor and brackets is $1360 including shipping and tax. It comes with the firewall plate, controller, condenser, drier and lines. It has a 3 speed spal fan and is the best price out there period and most complete. Restomod air also has a kit for our trucks but not near as complete for the price as the Classic kit. At $1320 less shipping, tax, compressor, brackets, condenser, firewall plate (plate is not listed, so I assume they don't offer it) and drier. So quite a bit more when you factor the lack of completeness. For $450 more at Restomod air you can buy their condenser kit that comes with the lines and drier So $1770 without ship and tax. Now onto Vintage air. They don't build a kit specifically for our trucks but one can "Build your Own" When comparing the Classic kit which is the most complete to include ducting that will mount to your existing vents in your dash, the Vintage kit is significantly more at around $1570 less the brackets, compressor, no firewall plate. What is nice about the Vintage set up aside from their vast experience is the blower fan motor is truly a variable speed fan instead of low, medium, high which is how Classic auto air, Restomod air and Nostalgic air is. Restomod has a significant endorsement from Fat Fender Garage in Gilbert Arizona so that has some clout. Cactus sweat in Az. As mentioned above Nostalgic is another alternative but I haven't spent any significant time researching those guys only to say that another user on the forum has it installed and say's it really pushes some air. I believe his quote is with the fan on high is pushes air like a leaf blower but he also mentioned it was loud. Myself, I will most likely go the Restomod air route only because the evaporator has the AC lines routed to the side of the evaporator instead of directly into the firewall plate like Classic air where you have to cut the holes where their template directs you to. I would rather route my AC hoses further to the lower corner of the cover plate for aesthetics. More pricey but I will source the condenser and drier elsewhere and not pay the $450 they want.

 

Thank you, very informative. And yes I already removed the factory stuff and made a firewall plate when I swapped the motor.
Here’s what and why I went the way I did. A fellow fabricator happens to have a mock-up vintage air gen II evaporator. I was able fit that up under the glove box area pretty easy. The reputation and sourcing thru summit of the gen II kinda made me forget about how awesome it would be to use my factory A/C controls so I went ahead and pieced together and purchased everything except hoses and fittings thru my summit pro shop discount. Evap, condenser, dryer w binary switch, compressor and 4 **** pod was just over $900 tax and shipping. I didn’t need a compressor bracket because the cummins doesn’t need one. One more note: besides not using the factory controls, the VA kit will require me to fab up some sort of reducers onto the back side of my factory A/C vents so the the new hoses will fit.
Did I choose the easiest route to A/C? No, but I’m willing to do the extra work because I’ve worked with this brand prior and had good customer support. I am Not trying to make a sales pitch here actually the opposite. Go with what works for you and your time, money, and wether or not using the factory controls is a must. They all sound like good reputable companies.


Ac delete plate


Installing it low so there’s plenty of room for the 5 hoses and my glove box above it.

 

I looked into the VA Gen II like you mentioned and I like what I see and the price on Summit is unbeatable. I have changed my mind from Restomod air and will most likely go VA. Their evaporator also has the fittings exiting to the side like Restomod, rather than directly into the firewall. I'm thinking if I purchase the duct kit separately from Classic auto air it will adapt directly to our existing vents. I priced the Gen II on Summit and I'm less the 1k with tax and no shipping costs of course from Summit. Restomod is $1320 plus $85 for shipping and another $100 for tax so $1500 without a condenser or lines, compressor. bracket, or trinary switch. Please keep the photo's coming, especially the routing you take with the hoses.

 

Soliday, I sent you a PM but your inbox is full. Check out this link and scroll down till you get to the pics posted by "Despel" The link is from 11/18 but he may still be an option I PM'd him but have little doubt he is still around. I started a thread to see if anyone can 3D print these
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...vent-hose.html

 

I trashed some messages box should be good now. Those adapters by Despel are great. I will try to reach him as well. There is a guy called “tonkaman” on “e rape” selling an adapter but it’s just one for the center and it comes with the vent and a adapter for the evaporator side of things that we don’t need. I tried to email him to see if he makes them but no response.

 

Photos of modding the brackets to mount the condenser between the radiator and ic.