Simplicity. It's not always that easy to come by, is it? Sure, life has gotten to the point where it can throw a slow-pitch just as easily as it can a curveball, but more people are looking for that underhanded floater these days rather than a 90-mph sinker-especially when it comes to aftermarket parts for a classic truck project. Vintage Air knows that all too well, as evidenced by their vast lineup of Sure Fit A/C applications, units that live up to the name by fitting where they're supposed to-for sure!
Vintage Air manufactures Sure Fit kits for '47-86 Chevy/GMC trucks and '53-56 Ford trucks (they can put together a Universal kit for other Ford applications), each designed to work with factory space constraints, both under the dash and in the engine compartment, oftentimes better than the original equipment (and mostly better looking, too). Nobody wants to waste time trying to squeeze something where it doesn't belong, nor do they want to install something that isn't going to perform. With the Sure Fit, you're "sure" to avoid installation headaches, but more importantly, you're just as sure to keep your cool when the mercury starts a risin'.
While we can't show you the actual temp benefits of a Vintage Air unit, we can show you just how easy it is to install one in your pickup. Whether it's an early fat-fendered pickup or a slab-sided C-10 like this, there are no worries about fabbing up exotic brackets, cutting holes in your firewall or dash, or-the worst-being unable to cool your cabin down adequately. Even if your pickup doesn't fall under the designated models covered in the Sure Fit line, Vintage Air can set you up with one of the aforementioned Universal kits-no sweat.
Whether or not your truck had factory A/C, it's nice to have the main distribution duct as well as the defrost vents; if not, the Vintage Air kit has provisions to work without the stock components.
For this particular application, the '73-86 unit, there are a couple of things to know ahead of time. First, you'll need to have a "non-A/C" '73-77 heater control panel, which Vintage Air does not supply. LMC Truck Parts and Classic Parts of America (formerly Chevy Duty) have control panels available; however, you may be required to swap blower motor switches. Vintage Air can provide the proper switch, but you can also obtain them from a local dealership. Modification varies on the types of mounting brackets each has-from simple to simple with a little clever thinking. If your registers (vents) are a little on the worn side, there are plenty available from the aftermarket. Finally, if you don't have the factory air distribution ducts, the Sure Fit kit has provisions to work without, though it's much easier if you have them-we were able to locate good useable ones at a local wrecking yard.
