Jeep AC Kit: Vintage Air’s New Complete Gen 5 SureFit Systems

Caecey Killian October 27, 2026 5 min read 0

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Anybody who has driven a CJ-7 through the summer heat knows the factory climate plan: pull the doors and keep moving. Vintage Air just handed old Jeep owners a better one. Its Gen 5 SureFit Jeep AC kit lineup now covers the 1981-86 CJ5, CJ7 and CJ8, the 1987-95 YJ Wrangler, and the 1967-91 Wagoneer and 1974-83 SJ Cherokee with bolt-in heat, cool and defrost.

We already broke down what changed inside the module in our Vintage Air Gen 5 vs Gen 4 comparison. This one is about the Jeeps. Here is which kit fits which rig, what comes in the box, and what the install asks of a home builder.

What Comes In A Vintage Air Jeep AC Kit

Every Jeep AC kit in the lineup is built around the Gen 5 Max evaporator module. It runs separate high-capacity A/C and heater coils, plus an electronically controlled blend air door that changes vent temperature fast. The case and doors are injection molded, and the doors carry integral rubber seals so air goes where the control panel tells it to.

The rest is aimed at the owner who has to live with it later. You get an OEM block-type expansion valve and removable access covers for coil service, while powder-coated steel brackets bolt to the original firewall mounting points. Rubber well-nut isolators keep blower buzz out of a cab that already rattles plenty.

Complete kits add the under-hood half: compressor and brackets, a bolt-in parallel flow condenser, pre-crimped reduced-barrier hoses, a drier, wiring, and instructions. The system runs R134a and is microprocessor-controlled, so there are no cables or vacuum lines to chase.

Jeep AC Kit Fitment And Part Numbers

Each Jeep AC kit is built for a specific body and year range, and the control panel changes to match the original dash.

How The Kits Change By Platform

For anyone chasing real Jeep CJ7 air conditioning, the CJ kit ships with new replacement rotary controls that sit where the factory heater knobs lived, so the dash still reads like a CJ. A louver bar tucks under the dash rail across the cab.

Each Jeep YJ AC kit gets an OEM-style replacement control panel with LED backlighting that drops into the stock opening. On 1987-90 rigs, check whether your engine runs V-belts or a serpentine belt before you order, because the compressor drive is different. The 1991-95 YJ runs a single kit.

The Jeep Wagoneer AC kits and the SJ Cherokee kit split at 1985. Earlier trucks get a 3-knob under-dash louver and control panel that mimics the factory look. The 1986-91 trucks get a bolt-in electronic panel in the dash plus an under-dash louver bar. According to Vintage Air, both versions work whether or not the truck came with factory air.

Planning Your Jeep AC Kit Install

Not every rig needs the full package. If your compressor and condenser are already sorted, Vintage Air also sells the CJ evaporator kit (755696) on its own. Swapped an LS in? Optional low mount (150001) and side mount (150011) compressor brackets are on the menu. Budget real time. Vintage Air president Rick Love told the Jeep Talk Show most DIYers spend 25 to 30 hours. If you are building custom lines, Vintage Air’s Hydra-Crimp Pro hose crimper is worth a look. Once everything is connected, the system needs a deep vacuum and a correct charge. Anyone handling refrigerant should know the EPA Section 609 rules for motor vehicle A/C service.

The first hot day you crank the blower and feel cold air coming off that louver bar, the Jeep stops being a fair-weather toy. Check your belt drive, order the right Jeep AC kit for your year, and clear two weekends in the shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Vintage Air
vintageair.com
(800) 862-6658

AboutCaecey Killian

Caecey Killian covers builds, installs, and product features for Car Junkie Magazine. He has spent years on the floor of the garage chasing horsepower across SBC, LS, and modern muscle platforms, and that shop time runs through every article he writes. His current CJM project is Project Street Reaper, a 1976 Camaro built around a fresh SBC 350. He is also known for Project Mighty Mouse, a 1977 Chevy Nova running a 1962 small-journal 327 SBC, with build coverage published across multiple online automotive magazines. His media background spans long-form build documentation, install coverage, and product features across the magazine and the Car Junkie Magazine YouTube channel. He writes the way he wrenches: specific, honest about the mistakes, and grounded in real garage work.

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