Ok folks need some advice here
Just purchased a XR7 with no ac it has the full console. How do I install the ac Ducts under dash an hook to the heater box?
Not enough information. Installing a stock system off another car? If you bought the aftermarket system follow the instructions.
Trying to get a used system off another car firewall in. Is there a ac system that will allow the use of center console?,
I think the reason you are not getting responses is that what you are asking for will only really come out of a parts car in most cases, and even then you will need a very astute seller to get you everything you need.
This is a pretty major job. You are going to need left center and right vents. You are going to need the XR7 center section with the cut out for the vent. You will need the plenum that contains the evaporator and heater core, plus the blower assembly. You will need the defroster duct and the hoses plus elbow fittings for the side vents. There is a large collection of vacuum hoses and one belden cable plus a little bit of the under dash wiring harness. The connections at the firewall are all different and you will need the firewall plate and seal. You will need to drill some holes in the fire wall for the mounts. I am sure I have a left a few things out.
I am actually a fan of doing this but it is a massive job that requires more than average skill to accomplish. It seems like you might be under the impression that this is a bolt in swap. I suggest that you would be well served to get the assembly manuals for your car and to study them before you get started buying stuff. Among other things you will also need to shorten the console where it extends back under the dash. It isn’t hard but the plastic is now very brittle and it can easily go very badly if you are not careful.
Thought I would add my 2 cents here. I’ve attached a few images showing the AC system for a 1967 Cougar. These are from the MPC.
If you are indeed wanting to add AC to this car without going the aftermarket route, there a quite a few parts that make up the AC system.
Like Bill said, not a task for the inexperienced.
Good Luck on however you choose to proceed.
67 cougar vacuum controls.pdf (781 KB)
67 cougar passenger diagram.pdf (904 KB)
67 cougar 289 engine compartment.pdf (592 KB)
I’ve installed a Vintage Air system. Several people locally have installed the Old Air system.
The factory system is light years better in every imaginable way, but it is also more complex by a factor of 10.
Well I am better than the average wrench. That being said I think the after market ac system is how I will approach this task!! Been talking to vintage air, they are calling back in the am. I needed to send pics of my pulley an belt set up. Will order what ever they suggest an get this done. Thanks for the reply. Be Safe
Old air is a better choice.
I’ve got the Vintage Air in my '70 non-AC car and while I’m woefully unqualified to contradict Royce on anything, one of the things that attracted me to an aftermarket solution was a lifetime of cleaning up after Ford heater cores that wet the bed.
I love my Vintage Air system. I find it far superior to the stock system simply because the electronic servo motors replacing all the vacuum operation.
Yes, it was involved to install, but it was a universal kit that I made to work as opposed to being a simple bolt in.
It was the first time I ever worked with any kind of AC before, and I installed this in 2002. I just used it over the weekend due to the ultra-high temps and humidity here in the mid-west and it still blows 39* air out of the vents and I have yet to have to service any part of the system since 2002.
The Vintage Air system and the Old Air system share the same faults. They are:
- No heat on the driver side at the feet.
- No fresh air at all. Both systems have you block off the fresh air inlet.
- The defroster doesn’t have very much output compared to the stock defroster.
- The air conditioner is not as effective as the stock system.
The stock system when it is all up to snuff is outstanding. It does suffer from being complex and depending on vacuum selector valves and vacuum operated water valve and vacuum operated air doors.
One of our local guys is removing an Old Air system and installing the stock system after suffering last winter and this summer. It simply doesn’t cool the car enough in 100 degree plus weather.
Respectfully, you’re entitled to your opinion. However, I disagree on several of your points.
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Mine gives out plenty of heat on the driver’s side for my feet. I can also make the heat come out of the dash vents and the floor at the same time. Try that with your stock system. Since my unit was universal I was able to mount it closer to the middle of the car instead of all on the passenger side. So I get plenty of heat on my feet for as often as I drive the car in late October and November.
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Yes, I needed to block off the passenger side cowl inlet. But I still have the factory fresh air vent on the driver’s side for those days when it’s not hot enough for AC. I will admit though that on days when it’s pretty cold out and raining, this (blocking off the original inlet) can cause the windows to fog up. But if I crack open a door window or one of the vent windows slightly, the problem is cured.
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The defroster works plenty well since I don’t need to try defrosting icy and frozen glass in the dead of winter.
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The AC is certainly effective when compared to the stock system. It is specifically designed to run on 134a as opposed to retrofitting an R12 system. The condenser is the most efficient that can be had and it too is specifically designed for 134a. Besides, how many preople can actually work with R12 anymore.
I’m thinking whoever you’re getting your information from, might not have sized their evaporator correctly. When I was pulling part numbers to put my system together, I specifically purchased the largest unit I could still fit under the dash. This was also suggested by the Vintage Air rep due to the amount of glass surface area that Cougars have. But the larger unit is what made it a trickier installation.
I agree, a perfectly operating original stock system is great. But how many people actually have one that is in that condition. Then add in the complications of getting it to that point.
Another point that a lot of guys miss the boat on is how well is their car insulated. The old and cracked original floor insulation and sound deadener… what shape is that stuff in anymore? How good are the door and window seals. With the aftermarket insulation and firewall blanket and sound deadener I have in the car, closing the doors sound like a bank vault closing.
The stock system puts out a greater volume of air at 2 degrees C - about 30 degrees F because R12 is way more efficient. Of course not everyone has a supply of R12 so it will never be fair comparing what I can do to any other shop.
The guy who is removing the Old Air system has made a custom splitter so he would not freeze last winter but the A/C performance is so poor that he is removing it.
In my '70 with the Vintage Air system designed for the '70 Mustang, AC performance in Texas isn’t an issue at all. However, this only became true once my charging system was upgraded. The stock alternator at idle couldn’t keep up and the system would self regulate blower speed accordingly.
Now I never need the fan speed above medium and this is in a convertible with the usual less than ideal window seals.
I didn’t install mine but I have heat on the drivers side floor and my fresh air vents still work.
I would agree that a well restored OEM system would be great but for the average joe, these aftermarket systems can be really good.
Or if its a non AC car to begin with. To source all the OE stuff to put together a factory system is going to much more of a challenge and more expensive then going with an aftermarket system. I could see maybe sourcing the factory EVAP box and running the Old system air parts to modernize it with a saden compressor and R134 rather then R12 but at this point I still think an aftermarket option is better for a non AC car. A non functioned AC car would be a different story
I will most likely go with a vintage air kit for mine since I have a non ac car. It is nice now they have kits available and utilize the factory AC vent locations rather then the old under dash units. It may have some negatives but it sure as hell better then no AC at all. Your biggest challenge would be finding the center dash parts
Glad you like it. You have a different kit than the one for 67 - 68 so it’s not relevant to the question.
Had to modify the water pump to fit the Vintage Air compressor bracket. A little scary but part of the problem so it had to be done. Again very poor engineering has expected results.
I think you can see the compressor bracket in the last picture. It’s a complicated looking engine compartment with the MSD system installation in progress too. This is anything but stock, it has a 60 amp Motorcraft alternator and all sorts of other modifications.
