Air Conditioning

Air conditioning was available as a factory option on some 1966–1977 early Broncos, but it was not common and was only offered in certain years and configurations. Most early Broncos were not optioned with AC, which is why aftermarket air conditioning kits, particularly Vintage Air systems, are one of the most popular comfort upgrades for the model.

Vintage Air is the industry standard for early Bronco air conditioning upgrades. Their Gen V and SureFit systems are designed to integrate into the early Bronco's dash and engine bay with minimal cutting or fabrication. Tom's Offroad carries Vintage Air systems and the supporting brackets and hardware needed for a clean installation in the 1966–1977 Bronco.

Installing a Vintage Air system in an early Bronco is a moderate-to-advanced DIY project. The evaporator box mounts under the dash, the compressor bolts to the engine, and the condenser mounts in front of the radiator. The biggest challenges are routing the refrigerant lines cleanly and integrating the controls into the dash. Professional installation is available if fabrication is not your strength.

A modern rotary compressor like those used in Vintage Air systems draws significantly less power than old-style piston compressors, so the performance impact is minimal on a healthy engine. However, upgrading the cooling system, larger radiator, high-flow water pump, is recommended before adding AC to ensure the engine doesn't run hot with the added heat load.

Vintage Air systems for the early Bronco typically use a Sanden rotary compressor, which is compact, efficient, and widely serviceable. The compressor mounts to the engine using a bracket kit specific to the engine type, 302, 351, or inline-6. Tom's Offroad carries the appropriate compressor mount kits and can help match the correct bracket to your engine and accessory drive setup.