Can you tell me what parts I need on my original 440 AC car? I want a system that looks like it is meant to be there. It was changed to a six pack set up, has the big factory radiator and all inside cabin parts, and needs engine bay parts from the evaporator forward. I just have the two pipes coming into the engine compartment from the evaporator. I want the Sanden compressor set up with bracket to get it mounted under the air cleaner lid with out cutting into the lid. I have the engine pulleys and heater water valve.

Assuming the existing AC unit in your dash is in good working order, our engine compartment upgrade kit should give you everything you need. It uses a modern compressor and parallel flow condenser to convert the system to properly run R134a as well as reduce the drag on the engine while the AC is engaged. Since you are running a six-pack, we need a little more information:

• If the water pump housing is cast or aluminum
• If cast, we need the seven-digit casting # to determine which mounts to use to install the compressor
• If you have the factory air pulleys

This kit completes the engine bay and is designed specifically for your vehicle. It is priced at $799.99 plus shipping and includes:

• Sanden-style compressor assembly with 2-groove pulley
• Compressor mount brackets
• Classic Auto Air’s Perfect Fit Parallel flow condenser
• Suction hose
• Discharge hose
• Liquid hose(s) and lines
• Filter-drier
• O-rings and oil tube
• Refrigerant “cork” insulation tape
• Hardware

All hoses will be sent with one end pre-crimped. Once installation of condenser and compressor is completed, you’ll need to cut the hoses to the proper length and have the supplied fittings crimped on.

You can read more about our engine compartment upgrade kit for Mopars here. Please feel free to call us with any with any questions you might have prior to placing an order for a specific upgrade kit.

The first Mustangs are technically referred to as 1964 1/2 because they were released in the spring, when there was less competition from the usual fall vehicle introductions.

After seeing how popular the compact Falcon was, Ford was inspired to design a lower-priced, small, performance car. The  sporty, long hood and 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 three-quarters 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.

Classic Auto Air is proud to offer complete air conditioning solutions for classic Mustangs. Check out a few of our offerings:

Mustang Perfect Fit Elite™ Model Specific Air Conditioning Systems

Hi- Po Compressor Upgrade Kit

Hi-Po Engine Compartment Upgrade Kit

Mustang Factory Parts and Restoration Services

I put a serpentine drive system on my 70 Monte Carlo and need to connect the A/C lines from the Sanden compressor to the factory POA valve and factory condenser. Do you have fittings/hoses available for me to complete this project? I might also change the condenser so the fittings will both be on the passenger side of the engine bay.

We can supply you with the hoses and fittings to go from your Sanden compressor to the factory air unit on the firewall as well as the condenser in front of the radiator. You’ll need a 13-406 Sanden suction hose and a 13-408 Sanden discharge hose. The suction hose is open on one end and is supplied with the correct j-hook fitting for the POA valve. The discharge hose is also open on one end, and comes with a selection of #8 FOR fittings to connect to the top fitting of the condenser.

Both hoses will need to be cut to fit and the loose fitting crimped onto the hose. The fittings of the compressor will be 90’s with R134a charge ports, unless you want something different.

To move the condenser fitting from the driver’s side to the passenger side, we can use our Chevelle/Monte Carlo condenser kit from our P-fit series aftermarket system. The new condenser is a modern parallel flow core, which helps with cooling if you are running R134Aa. The condenser kit includes hoses, condenser brackets, and filter drier.

You can read more about our P-fit kit here along with some details about the condenser install. (The large tube we use to move the top fitting on the condenser to go from the passenger side to the driver’s side would not be used in your application.) You might have to make a penetration on the passenger side of the condenser to accommodate the connection.

If you have similar applications for your car, let us know! We’ll be happy to help you make the install as painless as possible.

The Perfect Fit ELITE system is engineered specifically to use the original heater or air conditioning controls using our patent pending components. Our EZ Cable integrators allow simple attachment to your control head. Also available are our newly released Direct Electronic Replacement (D.E.R.) controls for a simple bolt in control option. The EZ Wire color coding system makes wiring connections as simple as color matching.

The fully electric Perfect Fit ELITE system uses our ECU to allow infinite adjustability over all modes, providing you with powerful air conditioning, heat on the floor, and dehumidified defrost. The air conditioning connects to new supplied vents and the defrost connects to the original defrost defusser with supplied adapters.

The 1970-72 Chevelle/El Camino Perfect Fit ELITE air conditioning system is designed specifically to bolt into your vehicle with minimum modification to your vehicle. Each kit comes with detailed, easy-to-follow installation instructions and mounting template.EZ Cable Integrators (above) and optional Direct Electronic Replacement (D.E.R.) controlsOur retrofit designs give OE quality combined with better-than-original performance and reliability. Every component was chosen for its superior design and quality rather than cost. The system is engineered specifically to fit specific models, not an entire product line like our competitors. It comes equipped with large, separate AC and heat coils just like factory systems, rather than the combined AC-heat coils often found on aftermarket systems. Separate coils improves the cooling and heating capacity of the total system. This makes you cooler much faster!

Our standard Perfect Fit AC system serves the needs of most of our customers, but for vintage car owners needing a little more flexibility — for anything from hose placements to smooth firewalls — the Perfect Fit ELITE system is ideal. Give us a call and let us help you customize your AC system!

I have converted my 68 Charger to R134a using a rotary compressor. Sometimes my system stops cooling and I lose air flow from the vents. What is causing this and how can I fix it?

It sounds like your evaporator is freezing up, which is likely due to removal of the EPR (evaporator pressure regulator) during the installation of the rotary compressor. This valve was installed in the stock RV2 compressor of most Mopar factory vehicles from this era. It was designed to regulate system pressures in order to prevent the evaporator from freezing up. When installing a different compressor, or when converting a stock system to R134a, the EPR valve is removed. Once removed, however, there’s nothing left to prevent the evaporator from freezing up.

Our rotary compressor conversion kits solve this problem with an electrical thermostat. The thermostat cycles the compressor clutch off when temperatures get too low, and back on once they get warm enough. For more information, download our Mopar thermostat installation instructions.

Both control kits retail for $149. Contact CAA today for more information.

RestoMod Drive Kits are available with a self-contained power steering pump with clip-on plastic reservoir, a remote pump that requires a remote reservoir. You also have the option of a billet aluminum clip-on reservoir. Lines for remote reservoir and rack and pinion systems must be purchased separately.

All RestoMod Drive Kits are available in brushed aluminum ($2350), anodized black ($2550), or polished ($2450) finishes. Discounts are available when purchased along with a full air-conditioning system: call us for more information.

To ensure that your restoration work is started and completed as quickly as possible, give us a call before you pack up those parts. We’ll discuss what you have in mind and the options available to you. After that, fill out and submit the online restoration form and print up enough copies to include one in each box you ship, and be sure to make another copy for your records. You can find a link to the form on the left-hand column of every CAA website page (except the Tech Talk blog).

By submitting the form, you let us know the parts are on their way and give us a clear idea of your budget and requirements, such as how close to the original factory appearance you want the parts to look. This allows us to better evaluate and estimate your restoration project once your shipment arrives at our shop.

Remember, winter and spring are the best times to check your classic car’s air conditioning system for proper functioning and to send your parts to Classic Auto Air for repair or restoration.  When most of the country is dealing with winter snow and cold, folks aren’t thinking much about air conditioning, and our turn-around times are significantly quicker. Call us today!

I’m restoring my 1972 Plymouth Cuda heater box and want to retain its original look. If I sent it to you for restoration, would you be able to fix the broken fiberglass? Keep the original stamped numbers intact when you fix the fiberglass? Blast and paint the outside of the motor housing? Blast all the metal parts?

We can definitely repair damage to the fiberglass housing. If you still have the pieces that have broken off, be sure to tape them to the unit when you’re packing to help with a cleaner repair.

We can save the original markings in most cases, but this depends on the condition of the unit and the markings and how close they are to any required fiberglass repairs.

Here’s what a Classic Auto Air restoration includes:

• Dismantling the unit
• Restoring the housing as close to the original finish as possible given its condition
• Bead-blasting and painting all metal parts, brackets, vacuum actuators, etc.
• Cleaning and testing all switches and actuators
• Replacing all seals and insulation
• Replacing the heater coil
• Reconditioning the evaporator
• Reassembling and testing

When we send the unit back to you, it will be ready for you to install in the car, connect the AC and heater hoses, and charge the refrigerant. If you’d like to get a quote on our restoration services, use this handy form and we’ll send you the information you need.