Blog posts of '2018' 'September'

As we near the end of 2018, it’s time to start thinking about next year’s vacation! Whether you want to enter into a show, participate in an auction, test your speed or just relax and spectate, check out these events happening next year across the globe!

Saturday Night Car Cruise - EVERY SATURDAY!

If you can’t make it to annually scheduled events, don’t worry. Old Town is home to one America’s longest-running weekly car show and cruise, with show-quality pre-87 model hot rods, street rods, and antiques. The event includes giveaways, cash prizes, live entertainment and best of all, it happens every weekend in Kissimmee, Florida!

The Scottsdale Auctions - January 12 – 20, 2019

Each year, Scottsdale hosts a thriving automotive marketplace. Check out the high-quality assortment of vehicles from entry-level models to full classic models up for auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bid on something new or consign your old at the Scottsdale Auctions!

Amelia Island Concours - March 7 – 11, 2019

Car collectors and enthusiasts alike will want to plan for this event. Experience auctions, test-drives and seminars from renowned automotive drivers and designers on the Atlantic coast in Amelia Island, Florida. The weekend culminates with the Concours d’Elegance, a distinguished judged car show with some of the world’s finest.

The Classic at Pismo Beach Car Show - May 31 – June 2, 2019

This FREE event attracts automobile enthusiasts from all over the country and is open to all makes and models of cars. In addition to the peer-judged competition, special hand-selected awards are given to the very best. Located on the beautiful Pacific coast, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Carlisle Nationals - June 21 – 22, 2019

GM enthusiasts, this is for you. Discover an array of vehicles, including vintage muscle to modern models. This family-friendly event in Carlisle, Pennsylvania offers a weekend full of displays, customs, industry leaders and much more.

Goodwood Revival - September 13 – 15, 2019

Plan an international trip and check out this three-day festival that includes head-to-head racing, a car show of pre-66 models and much more. The festival is held annually at Goodwood Circuit, near Chichester, West Sussex and close to the south coast of England. This is an event you don’t want to miss.

October is Fall Care Month

Get your vehicle ready for cooler temperatures this October.
 Preventative maintenance leads to fewer unexpected repairs.

Inspection Check List:

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning- Proper heating performance is just as important as proper cooling performance – keep in mind that we are the A/C and heating industry leader and have the largest inventory of used original parts in the business!

Exhaust system- Be aware of leaks and damage to assure harmful fumes do not enter the vehicle.

Hoses and Belts- Check for cracks, bubbles, and bulges in your hoses. Don’t risk being stranded on a highway with a broken-down car. Read more about replacing hoses here: https://www.originalair.com/when-should-i-replace-my-hoses

Brake System- Have brake system inspected now, especially if you will be driving in more intense weather this winter.

Fluids – Check your engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid.

Lighting – Check exterior lights frequently. Look for cracks, burnt-out bulbs, and dimmed lights.

Battery – Look for corrosion, leaking and swelling in your battery. The connection should be tight and free of corrosion.

Tires – Inspect the tread on all four tires as well as tire pressure. Ensure your wheels are aligned and check for any bulging, cracks or bald areas.

Wipers – Ensure your wipers are not worn down. This will be important should you drive through any inclement weather.

We know you have thought about it when planning to restore or modify your classic car or truck - "Should I keep this factory A/C system?"  We get emails and calls all the time as owners seek validation for keeping their classic system and the costs to maintain.  Well, if you ever wondered, here are a couple things to keep in mind:

• It’s cool.  Literally!  Since many classic cars and truck did not come with factory air-conditioning, and even those that did were often stripped of key parts at some point in its life, having a classic with factory air-conditioning helps it to stand out from the crowd.  Especially if it’s functioning and kicking cool air.
• Resale value.  Having the original functioning factory air-conditioning has proven to help increase resale value.  It can also help your car sell ahead of one without factory air conditioning.
• There are still options for getting it fixed, and in some cases, more efficient.  Original Air offers customer rebuilding & fabrication services for many parts for your classic.  We also manufacture model specific (and sometimes custom) parallel-flow condensers, sell model specific Stage-1, 2 & 3 A/C performance upgrade kits designed to improve the factory air-conditioning.
• No need to modify your car.  Many aftermarket air-conditioning systems require some sort of modification to the vehicle and may not fit as well as the factory engineered system

So, don't think about it!  If you have a factory A/C car or truck, keep it and enjoy the benefits of being cool.

This truck was my grandfathers. He gave it to me shortly before he passed away. My father actually sold it to him sometime around 1977 so it has been in our family for many years. Grandpa drove it daily to work for quite some time until he retired. From there it became a work truck. Used for pretty much anything you can use a truck for.

I have had the truck since 1995 and used it as my daily driver for more than 15 years. I was always amazed at how reliable it was. When my last child graduated from high school I began to seriously think about rebuilding it. At first I thought I would just fix the rusted parts and paint it. But I soon realized that wouldn't be good enough. As I took parts off the truck I saw that there was much more deterioration than expected. So I did the only thing a car guy can think of, complete restoration!

The project has taken close to 7 years from disassembly to completion. Well, are we ever really done with our classics? At any rate, I have endeavored to stay as original as possible. I have repaired over replace as much as possible. I had to replace the entire floor pan, pillars and cab corners. And instead of repairing the factory air conditioning I opted for cleaning up the firewall and installing an aftermarket A/C system. And instead of the bench seat I chose to install power bucket seats from a 1997 Suburban. But, I was able to make them look similar to the factory option. I also put in the center console from a 1972 Chevy C10. I liked that style because it has cup holders instead of the slots for the seat belts.

The motor is the original 4 bolt main small block 350. I installed a moderate cam, flat top pistons, headers, and an HEI distributor with an external coil so that it sill looks stock. It has the original quadrajet, that I still need to modify so that it can support the changes to the motor. I also rebuilt the TH350 transmission. I did farm out the rebuild of the 3.08 rear end. I had the frame powder coated and rebuilt or refurbished every piece of sheet metal on the truck. I even went so far as to straighten and clean all of the original trim. All of the bed walls, fenders, etc have been cut apart and cleaned of rust and treated with bed liner. All of this was done in a two car garage, including the painting.

It has been an absolute labor of love that at times I never thought would be done. For over 5 years every weekend and some weeknights were consumed with this project. There are still some things I want to do to improve the performance. But as of this weekend the tailgate will go on the truck marking "completion" of the project. Unfortunately my father and grandfather are not around to see the final result. But my step-father is and he has helped me immensely. While this project at times has been difficult, even grueling, I would do it again in a heart beat. Just not in an attached two car garage!!!

We are always hearing about cool restoration and modified car projects from our customers, and would love to see and share that factory equipped A/C cars. We have added a form to our website so that you can describe and upload pictures of your ride so that we may share with our customers worldwide. So get your car cleaned up, grab a camera, and send us your best shots!

Click Here! To Submit Your Ride