Hi Pete, I have factory A/C now and it's a mess. First thing I need to do is cleanup the wiring. I have not found a decent wiring diagram for the heater controls from interior to the engine area. Do you have any?

If it would help, I have this '68 Firebird AC diagram with the vacuum lines and wiring. Let me know if you want a better resolution one. This does not come out well crushed down.

I only have the same diagrams as Jim posted. I know the A/C wiring changed over the years so I don't think my 67 wiring would be a match for your 68.

Pete

Look in the 1967 Supplemental manual for the Firebird. Its on Vikki's site.

The wiring was fried at the suitcase. Bypassed the unit and went direct to the fan. Just needed fan to prove I could run defrost for the inspection.

Is the 67' A/C system pretty close to the 68' configuration?

Anyone rebuilt their compressor before?

Never heard of anyone rebuilding their own compressor bu I am sure someone has done this. WRT the wiring diagrams, both the 67 and 68 are available on Vicki's site. They are similar but not exact. The 68 is in the wiring diagrams, the 67 is in the Supplemental manual.

I mean has someone done it themselves or had it done for them.
For starters I want to confirm the parts so I will check out Vicki's site.

how is this post not in the hall of fame. a/c cars are few, but out there. this is the largest gathering of info I have seen, and with pics . I found it looking for a/c core shield pics on the third page of google, so please to the powers that be, save it, and make it easier to find. thanks

The search feature Geoff put together works really well (I assume you did it Geoff). If you open up the dates and play with both the title and body you will find a huge amount of info out there over the past 10+ years. Also play around with the quotation marks. Unlike Google where you get 100,000 hits of garbage most of which have nothing to do with FGFs.

Hello all, I also have a 67 Firebird with A/C, and I have a question as well, what I am in need of is where the vacuum source is for the Vacuum Canister on the Firewall, behind the Left Fender? I have figured out all the other Vacuum Lines, have everything ready, but do not know where the original vacuum source hook up is on the engine for the Canister, my car is a Convertible 400cid, 400THM, NON Power Brake car, I have a Carb bolt that has a vacuum port on it that I assume is for manifold vacuum, I have the port on the front right side of the Carb for the Vacuum Modulator on the Trans, and I have one last port on the front bottom left side of the Carb that I assume is for my Distributor Advance, the port at the base of the Carb that would be for the Power Brakes? has a plug in it. The A/C Vacuum line to the Canister was removed before I owned the Car, and I have just finished redoing all my A/C stuff and looking for the final piece to the puzzle on it, I am not sure if the Carb Bolt Vacuum Port is for the Canister, or if I have to put some sort of screw in port in the base of the Carb for the Canister. If anyone has any Idea of where it should go, that would be great. Thanks for your time.

I posted a general discussion on this but got no replies. I really could use some opinions from firebird owners. I am reconditioning my 69 firebird that has factory AC. I took the compressor and brackets out 20 years ago (kept all parts but hoses leaked) and parked the car a few years later. I finally got around to working on it and am having the 350 engine rebuilt, better cam, lifters, rockers, valves, pistons, ignition and adding 4 bbl. Trying to keep it as original as possible. Now...I have many friends telling me to put in vintage air or some other after market type. Newer, more dependable etc. But I hate to spend $1500 when I have all the original parts. Aren't the original good enough and upgradeable enough to serve my purpose? I'm not looking to sell the car, leave it to my son and grandson, so value isn't my motive. Really could use advice from you Firebird folks mot just on the AC but everything in general when ? restoring, reconditioning?. Appreciate any opinions. Thanks, Tork

I have never owned a classic car with A/C, but if it were me, I'd ALWAYS vote for stock over aftermarket.

Thank you for your response! Over the next summer I'll probably be relying a lot from input from members about my car. The information I've seen posted by Pete67400 (another Minnesotan) about the AC system is unbelievable, what a wealth of knowledge he has! As I get into this hopefully I'll find out what components of the system will need to be replaced, both for upgrading to the R134A or due to the years of exposure to the air with the hoses off. So anyone reading this, please help if you can. I read that there is a good possibility of mouse nests in the suitcase, especially since mine sat covered outside for years, so I'll need to figure out how to disassemble that and check it. But anyway, thank you again and I'll be appreciative of any help I get!

Mine has stock A/C and I'm rebuilding it. Thing I dislike about the aftermarket A/C is they do not bring in fresh air. 100% recycled ... yuck! Stock does...

Thanks Gus68, full disclosure...snowbirding too. Gathering info for my wrenching return to northern MN from AZ in April (if ice is off). Didn't know that about no fresh air, very good reason to keep original too!

Where in MN are you?

Detroit Lakes area.

Ah, you won't need A/C way up there... Just mosquito netting...

I have factory AC in mine as well (though it's not completely finished yet.)
I plan to replace the compressor (and hoses) with a newer unit, but the rest of the system is stock.

Thank you! I get confused, at a car show yesterday, a firebird guy said that he thought when you upgrade to R134a, you need to replace your evaporator and the valve. Another said you can get better efficiency if you replace the compressor also with a more modern one. I'm sure someone out there has actually done theirs. Like to hear from you.

I have done quite a few of these systems from using all factory parts A6 compressor...etc to vintage air. If you don't care about originality vintage air is the way to go if you want ultimate cooling. The factory ducting is not quite that efficient with cooling. But mind you this is where it gets to 116 out here in AZ. It may be fine in other parts of the country where the outside Temps don't get as high.
It also helps to have a bigger condenser when switching to R134 and all the baffles up in front of the car.
Last bird I did was a 67 with an aftermarket under the dash unit with the sanden compressor and R134. It cools good enough when it's above 90 degrees here.

What an awesome and informative thread. I'm installing an original A/C system in my 67 that came with factory a/c. I had some original parts, but had to piece together almost everything. That would have been enormously difficult without this thread, so many thanks to everyone who contributed.

I have a question, does anyone know if the compressor label on page 2 is reproduced? My original label is identical to that one and I can't find one anywhere.

Once again, thanks for this priceless library of information!

We were able to find a replacement compressor. I am not sure about the decal and I do not have the car to check.
I believe that we got it from Global Parts? I will check that name for you.
Cal

Edit - Global Parts Distributers
http://www.globalpartsdist.com/catalog/

Thanks for the response Cal. I actually had the original compressor and decided to re-seal it myself. The internals were almost new as it was removed sometime in the late seventies (I know the history of this car since 1969).
So it's all done & painted and ready to go, but I was looking for the correct decal.
If I did it right, there should be a picture of the original decal currently on the compressor, which I painted around.
By the way, if you search on YouTube, you can find the tips needed to do a rebuild on your own, if you have the few tools required.
Thanks again,
Sam

Original A/C Compressor Decal

Has anyone ever replaced the evaporator box seal that seal the 2 suitcase halves? I need all the seals and gaskets that go inside the box and can only locate the 2 that fit around the tubes. Any help would be appreciated.

I looked for these as well and was unsuccessful. I reused the evaporator to case seal as it's heavy and was in good condition. For all other seals, there's a vendor that sells a sheet of 3mm thick dense foam material on e bay, that's 17" wide and sold by the foot. I cut my own gaskets and attached them to one side of all mating surfaces and then screwed the halves together. You wuold have to make all the cutouts for screw holes, etc., but it worked out well for me.
Good luck.

Try an auto body supply store.
I use this a non hardening caulking putty that comes in a 1/4" diameter ribbon.

Thanks all, I found some HVAC foam tape I'm going to try.

This has to be one of the most helpful forums on this website, but one quick question. I am having a difficult time finding the silver case that fits between the heater core and the black heater box, would you have any idea where i could find one? This post is the first time I’ve seen one yet.

Are you talking about the A/C evaporator?

If you are talking about the evaporator I have one, and most of the other parts.

I believe the part you're talking about fits inside of the heater core box. You can try the guy below, I've used him before

http://thepartguy.com/index.html

Good luck

Hello Pete67400, All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!! probably the best description of a a/c rebuild out there. I would like to know where to get my evap box that goes under the passenger side dash reconditioned like the one in your pics? Thank you Joe Cuyler. Cuyler777j@aol.com is my email. 67 Original regimental red, automatic,p/s,p/b,a/c. Original smog motor and two speed trans. Only thing not original on this car is where someone cut holes to fit rear package tray speakers Built in lords town oh. sent to san louie obispo, Ca.

Hi Joe! I don't know where you could go to get the heater box reconditioned. I took mine apart to clean and repair it. I bought new foam door gaskets from one of the usual Firebird/Camaro parts places. I painted the housing, but probably should have left it with the bare fiberglass gelcoat for correctness.

Pete

Hello Pete, Are you still around? Long time no speak!!!! I see your ac had a three prong resistor on top of the suitcase. Shouldn't that be a 4 plug connector? I read somewhere that tree was for non ac cars. However, my donor car had ac and had the three prong resistor. Would it be that I have a smog pump from california? I wouldnt think so. I also need a wiring diagram for the ac. I have a 12 gauge wire coming from relay that has a 20 amp fuse. Does that go to alternator? I have some extra parts from the donor if needed. Thanks again Minnesota nice.