hi all,

I did some research for the great pumpkin car, which is a 71, and was told that they are all interchangeable, at least through 78 or 79, or something.  I decided not to cut my firewall, so I never had the opportunity to test fit.  I did look at several units, and they sure looked the same to me.

hey,
 thanks for getting back to me.
why would you have to cut the fire wall?
is the heater box assy W/O air different from the box with air ?
or is the opening the same?
not sure?
if it is what are the opening sizes for the holes?
mine came with no interior or anything mounted to the firewall so i have no idea if it was with or without air.
my wife wants me to put in air ! (hp robber  )
any input from anybody is helpful!
thanks
joe

The A/C cars have a larger hole in the firewall for the evaporator assy to go thru. The non-A/C cars just have a couple of small round holes for the hoses to connect to the heater core.
If your firewall only has the two small holes over on that side, it was not built with A/C. If it did have A/C, and someone just removed the plenum assy, you'd sure as heck know it!! The hole is quite large...you could almost stick your head thru it!

Might have a pic of a firewall with A/C missing...I'll have to look thu a few discs to find them tho...


btw...the assy from the '74 should fit with very few, if any, modifications. However, if you are planning to install A/C in a non-A/C car, you'll have to re-do all of the duct-work under the dash, as well as change the Heater control panel on the shift console, and do some wiring....unless you get the entire A/C system, that is...
A better choice, if Mama just HAS to have A/C, would be to go with one of the aftermarket systems...it'll be a lot easier on you that way. just an idea to consider.Adams' Apple2008-02-12 20:05:23

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

joel,thanks for that info !would it look something like this?
i think i have air !joe




(modified large image to link)Adams' Apple2008-02-12 21:10:28

 Yeah, what Joel said. Whatever you do, STAY AWAY FROM 'CLASSIC AUTO AIR'!!! Hot Rod Air' and 'Vintage Air' both have pretty good reputations from what I've heard, and you'll have a lot more room under the hood than with the stock A/C.  My 2 cents

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   I know the voices aren't real, but they have some pretty cool ideas...

Makes lot's o' room without the ole doghouse though, don't it!! I yanked my air out and mounted an aluminum plate there for my ignition and fuel regulator... LukesVette2008-02-12 20:30:02

just bought a unit off e-bay 2 minutes ago




hope it looks good to everyone!
now i will need all the inside ducting for it.
joe

Joe,

hey paul,
nice set up !!
i wasn't going to have any heater or air !! i already had made up a plate like yours to cover the hole! then my wife talked me into both !!! she knows we'll be cruising a lot and wants it for when we take it on trips. i figure i could always take it out later if it bogs me down in HP!
joe

just doin a quick check with DR REBUILD, it looks as only a few seals are interchangable. most parts go from 68 to 77 .
if any one knows otherwise let us know!
thanks for the offer though !
joe

I have to say it's nice to see a car worse then mine

i ressemble that remark !! 
ya, when i got this beast it had
no engine,
no transmission
no interior, actually wrong dash board '84'-ripped that out!
everything else was gone
no wiring, wrong wiring '84'-ripped that out too!
body in primer, so needs full paint job
replacing all suspension parts
other than those things, its in pretty good condition !!
joe

[QUOTE=68vet427]...other than those things, its in pretty good condition !!joe
[/QUOTE]


A little wax, and she's good to go!

Joe, yep...yer car is an A/C car. That's good. It'll be a lot less hassle that way. Looks like the stuff you got will work fine, and it appears to be a fair condition. Good luck, and have fun installing it! I would suggest you get the factory AIM(Assembly Instruction Manual) for your car, if you do not have one. It will be invaluable to you in rebuilding your car.

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

way ahead of you !
i bought one from corvette america when i bought the car !
i figured i would need all the help i could get !!
i've never done a project like this !
i appreciate all the help i get from every body here !!!
i hope thru all i'm doing on the vette i'll be able to contribute back with all that i'm learning !
joe

Hey at least you new what you were getting. My dumb ass wanted a fixer upper had no idea what that meant till now.  the only difference between yours and mine you have fiberglass front end mine does not and worse main was running when I first bought it.

Joe;
They molded the bodies with the heater hole, and they cut out the extra on the assembly line.  I am sure I saw a diagram somewhere in the Assembly Manual, but it seems to me it was somewhere I didn't expect to find it.

To add insult to injury, The hole in your firewall is hacked out more than it should be.  I have a photo of a factory A/C firewall, if someone can help me post it.

Other considerations:  A/C cars only had a vent on the right, and it was vacuum controlled.  Heater cars had two vents, cable controlled.  A/C cars had another hole on the upper right of the cowl, under the fender.  I was stupid enough to not take a picture of that.

If it were me, I would patch the firewall and use an aftermarket system.  It is cheaper and easier, and works better.  I have used the Vintage Air system on other cars and been very happy.

thanks for that update.
if you find what size hole it should be, it would be appreciated. i will try researching it myself.

joe

DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INSIDE DUCTING (UNDER DASH)  FOR A/C BETWEEN A 71 COUPE AND A 79 ???
THANKS,
JOE