kenroberts

Hello fellow Oldsmobile enthusiasts . Just thought I'd share my experience installing Vintage Air in my 68 442.First off I ordered the unit from Gearheads in Iowa. The unit was drop shipped .Did an inventory and all parts had arrived. Now our car orig had a/c .However years ago we (my wife and I) had removed the non functioning unit and smoothed out the firewall.I ordered the unit with passenger side a/c and for a car with a/c to utilize the existing In dash vents.Everything went together just as described in the instructions!! Wasn't really no surprises . However I did have to fab. my own a/c alt. bracket due to the fabricated aluminum valve covers. I cut up the supplied bracket,added a few supports and used a Chevy alt. arm . So now the alternator and compressor are on one bracket on the passenger side .The comp. is low on the passenger side alternator is higher just like on a 66 67 with air. My configuration made for one belt and all adjustment is done with alt. Looks clean no belt squeal engine temp is185 @ idle on 90 deg day ,205 deg. with air on! That's idling for a good 15-20 min. .I failed to mention this isn't the orig. block. It's a 72 455 low comp. (8.5?) I will post pics as soon as I can. I did a lot of research on the net and didn't find much on 68-69 installs.

dfire25

My unit will be delivered tomorrow. It will be a little bit until I completely install it though because I am having a 455 rebuilt for the car and the engine builder is jerking me around.

I also have a semi smooth firewall. How did you mount the inside box? Did you make a bracket or did you just bolt through the firewall?

kenroberts

From inside the car after peeling back the carpet all factory holes were still visible with the body filler coming threw . I didn't weld any holes just filled them in. The kit comes with a mounting plate that mounts inside to the firewall then the box mounts to it

dfire25

Did you have to drill holes through the firewall for the new mounting plate bolts and do you have bolts on the outside of the firewall now?

kenroberts

2 bolts are all u see and a drain hose at bottom of f/w for condensation very clean

dfire25

Oh OK, that sounds cool. Post some pics when you get time, we would like to see it.

Thanks,
Dave

hookem horns

Here is my firewall with a Vintage Air system installed

Lalo442

Looks good I am going to get there kit probably after summer amd instal in the winter