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16CVs 
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4026
Location: Redwood City, California
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 Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 2:06 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Air latest digital Gen IV installed |
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Some pictures and a few more to follow of my recent VA install. My goal was to start with a clean slate as I had a dash shaved and blanked so that I could use all of the same dash grills and not have some unsightly plate with screws showing. I also added 8 fuses to the end of the dash for my accessories one bank is switched and one is constant hot.
I used a VA unit which while it looks the same as a small car unit there are quite a few differences which I found out the hard way.
1 - The S/C has 2 of the servos underneath and do not interfere with the Defrost vent on the left side.
2 - The drain nipple goes the opposite way and had to be cut off and re glued. From VA it flows forward and it need to go to the rear.
3 - The VA does not have attachments for hoses, just ducts which go straight down and would hit the crash bar. I had to add ducts and close off the factory vents.
I wired mine directly to the battery and have my circuit breaker near the battery and my unfused power lead as short as possible.
My ground is bolted through the bulk head and is dedicated to the unit only.
My switched wires are hooked to the factory heater blower wires and were removed from the factory connector and properly insulated, as was the illumination wire.
My Trinary wire is hooked to my dedicated Acc fuse block and my pump wire is hooked through a relay at the the pump. I ran the Trinary control to the fan relay up above the fuse block and it cycles the fan on and and off when it needs it. I will monitor come hot weather and see if it need to run full time.
I used the factory VA front plate and turned it upside down and Re broke it to allow it to bolt to the mounting plate. It is removable which makes installing it easier and gives you adjustment.
I fabbed and installed a support at the output side to keep the evaporator firm in the dash.
I am using a Mechless radio which just fits and is tight up against the hoses.
I used thin ABS bolted and bent in different locations to keep the wiper mechanism from hitting the hoses.
The glove box had to be cut because the unit is shifted to clear the servos.
The toughest part of this install was the Drivers side defrost vent and the over 20 times I had the dash in and out for trimming. There are 2 ribs above the glove box the need to be cut almost all the way out and clearancing in numerous locations.
I opted for the black anodized slide control which is back illuminated and has the same style of the dash vents which all match.
Running the hoses and mounting the condenser from GW and the Receiver dryer and hook up to my Subaru was painless as I had a local fab shop do that for me.
I am happy with the look of the finished install, it seems to blow cold but as other have mentioned the heat is marginal. I have and will add a Pump which is said to greatly increase the heat.
Over all this project took 3 weekends and some prep time and a few nights after work. I also cleaned up some old wiring and replaced a boatload of ground connectors which were dirty and corroded.
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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16CVs
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4026
Location: Redwood City, California
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| Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:16 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Air latest digital Gen IV installed |
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_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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aligzanduh
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2017
Posts: 1
Location: Montara, California
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| Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage Air latest digital Gen IV installed |
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How do you deal with installing the Gen IV without having to severely alter the dashboard?
I have a westfalia 84 that had a behr system but the evaporator core box was stolen.
If anyone has a Behr System please let me know. |
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Beetsport
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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rowan
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2007
Posts: 131
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Beetsport wrote: |
Here are a few pictures of our latest version of Vintage Air front AC system. You can see the Stereo is in stock location but set out about an inch.
Center console helps complete it all.
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Did you make the console? It looks like just what I'm looking for? Any hints?
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Rowan
89 Syncro - Juniper Mackenzie
09 Honda Fit - Finnie
17 Ram ProMaster - John Hordle |
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Of course Many Many hours of labor goes along with these parts.
I can't tell you how many times the dash went and came back out. |
True. While sound proofing and insulating the sheetmetal and firewall, I felt some rust under the windshield seat. I decided to treat the rust while is was small and it was all apart. I removed the windshield to treat the few rust areas. That really made it much easier to complete the dash air install. I would also recommend masking tape on the painted areas of the A pillars where the dash fits. It will keep you from scratching the paint.
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Beetsport
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Beetsport.......
Is it possible for you to post the Vintage Air part numbers?
Evaporator
Condenser
Rec/dryer
Plus, if you made your own hoses........
What hoses you used
Sizes and length
Fittings
Thanks!
Dave |
Here are part numbers for the unit that we installed.
Main components.
Gen IV Magnum Evap Kit // 671400-VUZ
3 Lever Panel Gen IV Polished // 491230
11 3/8 1/2 louver w/2 HA // 63016-VUL
Other items needed.
#8 AC Hose (18 feet) // 31855 VUD
#10 AC Hose (18 feet) // 31856-VUD
#6 AC Hose (4 feet) // 31854-VUD
Drier W/Trinary Switch // 07323-VUC
Parallel Flow Condenser 14X20 // 03261-VUC
2" Duct Hose (3 feet) // 06200-VUC
3.875 X 2" For 2.5" Hose // 49327-VUL (Black Vents x 2 )
Hose connectors:
#6 90 FM Oring Beadlock x3
#10 STR FM Beadlock Oring x1
#8 90 FM Oring Beadlock x1
#6 STR FM Beadlock Oring X1
All of the above parts were used to install this Vintage Air Generation Magnum IV into a Vanagon Westy with Rear AC. We used the original AC condenser for both units. Both front and rear AC blow cold. AC compressor is factory stock for our 1.8T engine conversion and seems to handle the extra front unit just fine.
Not sure how well the Boxer engine compressor works pushing 2 units or others out there... 
Some more hose fittings may have been used during the process.
Of course Many Many hours of labor goes along with these parts. 
I can't tell you how many times the dash went and came back out.
There are also fabrication parts needed to build a custom mounting assembly to secure the unit into the dash and to block off the fresh air intake.
Some assembly required..
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'90 Syncro Westy 1.8T with 180hp 174 torque, CA safe!
http://H2oVanagon.com
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217285 |
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shizzon
Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2006
Posts: 596
Location: Boulder, CO
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Beetsport wrote: |
| djkeev wrote: |
Beetsport.......
Is it possible for you to post the Vintage Air part numbers?
Evaporator
Condenser
Rec/dryer
Plus, if you made your own hoses........
What hoses you used
Sizes and length
Fittings
Thanks!
Dave |
x2 on getting this list. ...It would be great if someone could put up a How-to on this project. It's a big undertaking no doubt, but it wouldn't be nearly as daunting if someone would lay out the materials, tools, and procedure for doing it! 
I'll get some part number together and post soon.
Thanks !
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0cean
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Location: California
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edgood1
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Joined: September 30, 2004
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Location: Plymouth, MA
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Beetsport
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Beetsport.......
Is it possible for you to post the Vintage Air part numbers?
Evaporator
Condenser
Rec/dryer
Plus, if you made your own hoses........
What hoses you used
Sizes and length
Fittings
Thanks!
Dave |
I'll get some part number together and post soon.
Thanks !
_________________
'90 Syncro Westy 1.8T with 180hp 174 torque, CA safe!
http://H2oVanagon.com
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217285 |
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Beetsport
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Here are a few pictures of our latest version of Vintage Air front AC system. You can see the Stereo is in stock location but set out about an inch.
Syncro version. Center console modified to hold the Vintage Air controls and the rear AC system controls are placed directly above the Vintage Air controls.
My goal is to have everything still functioning like the Ash tray (coin holder) Stereo, Rear AC and Front AC. Center console helps complete it all.
Note: Holes already there above the satellite receiver...
_________________
'90 Syncro Westy 1.8T with 180hp 174 torque, CA safe!
http://H2oVanagon.com
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217285 |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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djkeev
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Beetsport
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| shizzon wrote: |
| yeah, how is this working out? i'm surprised you could fit that gen IV in ! |
The system is working great still. Cools the front passengers great. Rear passengers are not as cold of course. Who sits in the back anyway.. 
We needed to add a electric water pump for the heater. I suspect the heater core is much smaller (more restriction) than the original heater core. Plus this Vanagon has the 1.8T engine conversion so the water pump does not have enough flow at idle to keep the heater core happy.
After electric motor we not have heat during idling periods.
_________________
'90 Syncro Westy 1.8T with 180hp 174 torque, CA safe!
http://H2oVanagon.com
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217285 |
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shizzon
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Joined: July 25, 2006
Posts: 596
Location: Boulder, CO
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| Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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yeah, how is this working out? i'm surprised you could fit that gen IV in !
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1989 Bostig Syncro Westy |
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pjinaz
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Joined: December 01, 2008
Posts: 70
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Any updates on how this system is cooling the interior now that summer is here?
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85 Westy Weekender |
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:42 am Post subject: |
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I bought two sets of VA defroster vents trying to do what you did. Perhaps you could post the part number. That is how I ended up making my own. Thank you for sharing. Do you think you have room for a bigger brake booster? Ours is original and if it failed, I'd consider adapting a larger booster. That was another reason for passing on the Gen IV. AC rocks.
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Beetsport
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Joined: January 08, 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| JPrato wrote: |
Nice job! Is the fan control infinitely adjustable? How is the slowest speed. One of the complaints I have with my Gen II system is the 3 fan speeds with the slowest one too fast for my taste once things get cooled off. I may rewire it using the a stock VW resistor and the stock 4 speed AC fan switch.
The Gen II works OK but I wouldn't say it has huge cooling capacity. To Vintage Air credit, I don't think they would recommend the Gen II for a vehicle the size of a Vanagon, but I was able to keep the radio in the stock location with it. |
The fan switch is pretty much a variable resistor. Slides easy and blasts out air to very little. Of course I haven't had a long term relationship with it...
Were you able to keep the stock location for your stereo? I was under the impression it would also need to be relocated. (?)
Vintage Air states the Gen IV can "cool the largest wagons". I'll report back during summer with the Vanagon cooling capabilities.
| Quote: |
| I'd like to see a close up picture of how you attached the center defrost vents to your hoses. I spent a lot of time and ended up making adapters from fiberglass. Yours look very straight forward. |
Wow. That looks pretty intense.. It's pretty straight forward. I used some foam sealant and modified the defrost vents bought from VA to attach to the existing Vanagon defroster vents. The VA modified vents are attached to the Vanagon defroster vents with a couple small screws.
On the hose side I cut a round hole out of the 2" pipe and joined the two together.
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'90 Syncro Westy 1.8T with 180hp 174 torque, CA safe!
http://H2oVanagon.com
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217285 |
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:14 am Post subject: |
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I'd like to see a close up picture of how you attached the center defrost vents to your hoses. I spent a lot of time and ended up making adapters from fiberglass. Yours look very straight forward.
Before:
After:
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