Firewall Modification for A/C
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
Firewall Modification for A/C
My 79 was one of the few made that had no a/c from the factory, and I want to put a/c in. I looked at several of the aftermarket vendors such as vintage air, and their direct fit kits stop at 1976. These kits have electrical controls instead of vacuum, meaning I cannot adapt a stock 79 climate control panel.
Since I have the car off the frame, I figure this is the best time to make the addition. I've looked through the AIM and cannot find any dimensions for the hole in the firewall, but I only looked through the section covering the a/c installation. I suppose it could be somewhere else. I have a pattern for 70 - 76 'vettes. Can anyone tell me whether or not this is the same? If not where can I find the dimensions? Thanks.
MajD
Since I have the car off the frame, I figure this is the best time to make the addition. I've looked through the AIM and cannot find any dimensions for the hole in the firewall, but I only looked through the section covering the a/c installation. I suppose it could be somewhere else. I have a pattern for 70 - 76 'vettes. Can anyone tell me whether or not this is the same? If not where can I find the dimensions? Thanks.
MajD
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
My 79 was one of the few made that had no a/c from the factory, and I want to put a/c in. I looked at several of the aftermarket vendors such as vintage air, and their direct fit kits stop at 1976. These kits have electrical controls instead of vacuum, meaning I cannot adapt a stock 79 climate control panel.
Since I have the car off the frame, I figure this is the best time to make the addition. I've looked through the AIM and cannot find any dimensions for the hole in the firewall, but I only looked through the section covering the a/c installation. I suppose it could be somewhere else. I have a pattern for 70 - 76 'vettes. Can anyone tell me whether or not this is the same? If not where can I find the dimensions? Thanks.
MajD
Since I have the car off the frame, I figure this is the best time to make the addition. I've looked through the AIM and cannot find any dimensions for the hole in the firewall, but I only looked through the section covering the a/c installation. I suppose it could be somewhere else. I have a pattern for 70 - 76 'vettes. Can anyone tell me whether or not this is the same? If not where can I find the dimensions? Thanks.
MajD
On different forum, there was a recent thread (July 18, 2015) by a shop in Pompano Beach FL that has installed a number of Vintage Air systems into 78-82 C3's.
If you want more info, PM me.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 101
Likes: 9
From: Paris, FRANCE
I installed a vintage air gen IV in my 82.
I started with a universal evaporator kit.
it's really tight under dash but it fits.
I still need to install compressor/condensor/lines.
I modified the provided bracket so I could bolt the evaporator from engine side (2 bolts)
and made 2 custom brackets which clear glovebox liner (which have to be slightly modified to fit)
ac/heater lines go through cool air door
and I intalled a bulkhead where the stock fan hole was
for the defroster, I used and modified the provided vents
for the console vents, I modified the stock duct to use provided hoses
same for side vents (had to modify passenger side duct so it clears between dash and VA evap
glovebox liner fits if you modify (heat) it to clear stepper motor
evap is low under the dash.
everything is tight and I had to slightly move the courtesy light
I modified my shifter console to fit their billet control panel.
I started with a universal evaporator kit.
it's really tight under dash but it fits.
I still need to install compressor/condensor/lines.
I modified the provided bracket so I could bolt the evaporator from engine side (2 bolts)
and made 2 custom brackets which clear glovebox liner (which have to be slightly modified to fit)
ac/heater lines go through cool air door
and I intalled a bulkhead where the stock fan hole was
for the defroster, I used and modified the provided vents
for the console vents, I modified the stock duct to use provided hoses
same for side vents (had to modify passenger side duct so it clears between dash and VA evap
glovebox liner fits if you modify (heat) it to clear stepper motor
evap is low under the dash.
everything is tight and I had to slightly move the courtesy light
I modified my shifter console to fit their billet control panel.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
I looked through the beginning of the AIM and could not find any dimensions for the hole. I suspect that it was never cut out. Only about 6,700 of them had no a/c, so cutting out 47,000 firewalls to install a/c would not be efficient.
I think I'll make a template from the dimensions I have and see how well it matches up to the interior and exterior boxes. Thanks.
I think I'll make a template from the dimensions I have and see how well it matches up to the interior and exterior boxes. Thanks.
