1965 Mustang AC: Converting From R12 to R134a Refrigerant

May 16th, 2012

Recently the owner of a ’65 Mustang asked us how to convert his car’s original compressor to use R134a refrigerant (also known as 134a). Production of R12 Freon was discontinued in 1995 due to concerns about R12′s damaging effects on the ozone layer. The more environmentally friendly R134a has been used in most models since then. Assuming the compressor is in good shape, the owner of this 1965 Mustang can convert from R12 to R134a. Here are the steps to take to make sure the converted AC system gets nice and cold. Read the rest of this entry »


Classic Auto Air Engine Compartment Upgrade Kits

April 26th, 2012

Engine Compartment Upgrade KitAt Classic Auto Air, we sometimes hear customers saying, “My factory air conditioning system isn’t working well.  What should I do?”  This Tech Talk post discusses when an engine compartment upgrade kit is a good solution.

An Engine Compartment Upgrade Kit is a good solution when:

  • The interior portion of your air-conditioning system is functioning adequately but the engine compartment components are not.
  • You are more interested in performance/price/ efficiency than stock appearance.
  • You do not want to replace your entire factory air conditioning system with an aftermarket one.
  • Converting to 134a? You get everything needed to convert to 134a except the refrigerant itself and POA valve calibration.

Click here for more information on converting to 134a. Read the rest of this entry »


1967 – 78 Camaro Now Upgraded to Elite!

April 14th, 2012
perfect fit elite AC for camaro

Perfect Fit Elite™ Kit Components for 1967 Camaro

1967 – 78 Camaro owners can now enjoy the benefits of Classic Auto Air’s fully electronic “Perfect Fit Elite” complete climate control system.

What’s great about the 1967 – 78 Camaro “Perfect Fit Elite™” System?

  • It’s fully electronic
  • Our EZ Cable Integrators™ allow simple attachment to your control head
  • Our EZ Wire™color coding system makes wiring connections as simple as color matching
  • You get infinite control over air displacement and temperature
  • We’ve upgraded the instructions and the packaging to make installation even easier
  • We’ve improved the efficiency of the Condenser Read the rest of this entry »

Happy Birthday Mustang!

April 12th, 2012

1964 1/2 MustangInspired by the success of the compact Falcon, Ford saw an opportunity for a lower-priced, small, performance car and on April 17, 1964 introduced the Mustang.  Please join us in wishing this American classic a happy 48th birthday.

The spring introduction meant there was less competition from the usual fall vehicle introductions and is why the first Mustangs are technically referred to as 1964 1/2.  The Mustang was an instant hit and with over a million sold in the 1st 24 months, this iconic classic still holds the record for most successful new car introduction.  The compact, sporty, long hood-short deck design of the original Mustangs is an American classic.  The Mustang is the only car Tiffany & Co ever honored with is Award for Excellence in American Design.  Although the inline 6 was standard, almost 3/4′s of the buyers opted for one of the V8 upgrades.

Factory Air conditioning was not available on the 1964-66 Mustangs, although a dealer installed under dash system similar to Classic Auto Air’s “Daily Driver”™ was available. Read the rest of this entry »


Meet the Classic Auto Air Team: Don Baker, Customer Service Manager – CAA Tampa

April 2nd, 2012

The dedicated team at CAA shares your passion for classic cars.  We repair and restore them on week-ends and some of us even drive our own vintage cars to work now and then.  A while back, we thought it might be fun to profile the folks taking your calls and answering questions about how to best cool your classic ride.  With this in mind, we offer our first monthly installment of “Meet The Classic Auto Team”. Read the rest of this entry »


69 Camaro Build: Insulating for the Death Valley Challenge 2012

March 22nd, 2012

insulating 1969 camaroWe’ve been doing periodic updates on our 69 Camaro’s build progress heading into the Death Valley Challenge.  The 2012 Death Valley Challenge will test our ability to keep drivers cool in the western hemisphere’s hottest spot.  The insulation project on the Camaro is done and it seems like a perfect time to share our thoughts on insulating your classic car. Read the rest of this entry »


Replacement Factory Air Vents by Classic Auto Air – 1969-1970 Mustang

March 16th, 2012

Replacement Vents for 1969 and 1970 MustangAre the original heating and air conditioning vents for your 1969 or 1970 Mustang missing or broken?  If this is case, no worries…..Classic Auto Air now offers 1969-70 Ford Mustang Factory Air Replacement AC Vents. Read the rest of this entry »


R-12 or 134a: Know the Refrigerant Contents of Your Classic Car’s AC System

March 12th, 2012

We sometimes receive questions from owners wondering what type of refrigerant is in their air conditioning system.  Cars manufactured prior to 1995 originally came with R-12 Freon, a refrigerant that was discontinued due potential ozone damage.  Cars manufactured after 95, and older systems requiring re-charging contain a more ozone friendly refrigerant known as 134a.  Questions about system refrigerants arise when it isn’t clear if the ac system has ever been recharged.  The following customer e-mail is case in point: Read the rest of this entry »


Drive a Back Road

March 9th, 2012

In Earl Swift’s, “The Big Roads:  The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways,” the author tells the story of a cross country road trip and afterwards remembering only the parts where he left the Interstate Highway system.  The Interstate part just being a series of blurs he passed through without really seeing it.  He made good time but didn’t enjoy the ride.

As John Steinbeck famously put it, our Interstate Highway system lets you drive from “New York to California without seeing a single thing.” Read the rest of this entry »


Custom AC Lines by Classic Auto Air: 1962 Corvette

February 22nd, 2012

At Classic Auto Air, we love to hear (and see!) from our satisfied customers.  We just finished making some custom ac lines for a 1962 Corvette and the thank you we received from the owner made our day. Read the rest of this entry »


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