A/C conversion question.

[mopar346]

Good evening all,

I picked up my parts truck today and to my surprise it has A/C. I am not sure I want to convert mine to A/C but it is nice to have a complete set up with duct work, vacuum harnesses, wiring, evap box, condensor, etc.

I have 2 basic questions, first and most important is the hole in the firewall the same for the evap box as it is for the basic heater box?

And second will the 89ish pancake compressor (I have the accessory plate with compressor off my son's Sierra) work with everything else 82?

I assume so since it is just the pump, but not real up on A/C since they weren't on many muscle cars.

Thanks in advance, Kevin

[gchemist]

Yes, hole is the same. Only the box in engine is bigger for the evaporator.
Yes, the pancake compressor will fit. Check if it uses a serpentine or v belt.

[J Knight]

The firewall on a factory non-a/c truck is NOT the same as the factory a/c truck.
The fan hole is in the same spot on both but the heater core holes and the air intake hole are in different locations.

[mrhino]

Originally Posted by J Knight

The firewall on a factory non-a/c truck is NOT the same as the factory a/c truck.
The fan hole is in the same spot on both but the heater core holes and the air intake hole are in different locations.

I can confirm this! I did a retro on my crew cab and I had to cut a new hole and patch the old one. check out post 131 in my crew cab build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=493324&page=6

[mopar346]

mrhino,Interesting, good pictures, do you have anymore of the heater firewall bare and the A/C firewall bare for comparison. I take it the one in your build thread is the heater firewall and the pen mark is where you had to cut for the A/C.

gchemist, it is the complete accessory bracket with alt, PS and compressor, I also have the crank and WP pulleys as well, so it would be a complete serpentine set up.

Thanks guys just the info I wanted, I knew they were different on some models just wasn't sure about the squares.

[100%Chevy]

I did the change on my 68,C-10 and on my 78,C-10.
On both trucks,some firewall re-work is needed to make it all work.
And,I have an A-6 compressor on my 82 with 454.I don't like the R-4's,DA-6,etc.
Mike.

[mrhino]

Originally Posted by mopar346

mrhino,Interesting, good pictures, do you have anymore of the heater firewall bare and the A/C firewall bare for comparison. I take it the one in your build thread is the heater firewall and the pen mark is where you had to cut for the A/C.

Thanks guys just the info I wanted, I knew they were different on some models just wasn't sure about the squares.

you are correct. And those pics in the build thread are all that i have.

[mopar346]

Thank you.

Anybody else got a picture of an A/C firewall inside and/or outside?

[motornut]

88 with 79 without

[mopar346]

Thank you, I was referring more to a picture without the boxes in place, I should have been more clear. You can clearly see the external differences in those pictures.