ezzzzzzz Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Here's the start of a Vintage Air Gen II compact installation. I was not satisfied with just recirculated air. A little bit of ingenuity and I'll now have the option of cabin or fresh air. You can see that I changed the fan housing to move it 2" to the passenger side. The fresh air intake had to be opened to align with the cowl opening and the outlet was changed too. A honda fan motor is also being used to add air volume. The evaporator case will be wrapped in damplifier before final install to reduce associated noise levels. The tunnel and cowl were both slightly modified with a hammer to fit the unit. The other pictures show the control panel fitted into a panel I had made. It replaces the stock illuminated control panel. The area to left of the controls will hold a push/pull lever to open/close the air vent in the fan housing. I'm also modding the VA control panel to add more lighting as theirs is less than favorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I thought about bringing in outside air with mine but VA advises against it. You might want to call them to get their input. They have a very friendly help desk. Here's the start of a Vintage Air Gen II compact installation. I was not satisfied with just recirculated air. A little bit of ingenuity and I'll now have the option of cabin or fresh air. You can see that I changed the fan housing to move it 2" to the passenger side. The fresh air intake had to be opened to align with the cowl opening and the outlet was changed too. A honda fan motor is also being used to add air volume. The evaporator case will be wrapped in damplifier before final install to reduce associated noise levels. The tunnel and cowl were both slightly modified with a hammer to fit the unit. The other pictures show the control panel fitted into a panel I had made. It replaces the stock illuminated control panel. The area to left of the controls will hold a push/pull lever to open/close the air vent in the fan housing. I'm also modding the VA control panel to add more lighting as theirs is less than favorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzzzzzz Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I appreciate their knowledge. If put up against 200+ car manufacturers that do incorporate fresh air then I think VA is taking the easy way out. Certainly, it's easier to control humidity within an enclosed space. If it was the best way then why would all of the manufacturers go through the engineering and costs to include it? It wasn't as if it was terribly hard to make the changes in my 240Z. Should I find it to be unacceptable I'll just leave the vent closed to outside air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Stop farting so much and you won't need fresh air intake! I have a/c tape over my fresh air intake and there are times when I wouldn't mind bringing in a little air. I like that slide vent your using. I'm not super happy with the rotary knob unit I'm using. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Stop farting so much and you won't need fresh air intake! I have a/c tape over my fresh air intake and there are times when I wouldn't mind bringing in a little air. I like that slide vent your using. I'm not super happy with the rotary knob unit I'm using. Derek Dont have your car computer controling it yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Dont have your car computer controling it yet? No but I have it controlling my farting! Right now with everything going on with the manifold that will be last on the list! It's still on the list though. The round knob panel looks good but the knobs are a little small and slippery and the symbols are really small to read. The lighting leaves something to be desired as well. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rigez Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Derek, What material are the hardlines? Where did you get the fittings, where did you get the hoses? I would assume that you went somewhere to get the fittings crimped? I am at a loss here, I have everything but need the lines to attach everything. Did you use R12 or R134? Any website that can help me ou with those parts? thanks Dayz First thanks for the right up . Second I'm also curious about the fittings and hard lines. If its not too much trouble could you take a couple more pics of the engine bay a little further out around the compressor? Thanks, Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzzzzzz Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 You can buy aluminum or s/s hardlines from Vintage Air. Both come in different lengths. The s/s lines can be silver soldered for truly custom fit. They also sell Aeroquip a/c hose and fittings you can fab in your driveway. The cost of parts is a bit higher but the end results is excellent. You don't have to buy a beadlock crimper ($$$) or locate an a/c shop ($$$) to crimp for you either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasNissanDude Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Wow, I am so glad I found this thread! Thanks for the info.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasNissanDude Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I am saving this one for future reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 You can usually find local shops to make your hard lines with whatever fittings you want. I used to use a local one all the time to make hard lines for big truck AC systems, was cheap and faster than ordering from the dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkumaNoZeta Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Does anyone know what it would take to have the Mini system work with my stock later model controls? It did have AC from the factory but that's been long since removed, before I even got the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xnke Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I have my control panel mounted the same way, and the center vent won't clear it...I have to mod the mounting points about a sixteenth of an inch. Just a little heads-up on a potential issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZT-R Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 What about the ducting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzarano Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Derek does your unit do heating as well? did the unit connect to all the stock vents? could you by chance post all the part numbers you used? Does this render the stock vent controls useless? does the original fan have to be removed? Thank you for your help! summer is around the corner and im a bit over my head trying to prep the z.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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