Another Firewall Smoothing Question -- Order of Operations

[gbledsoe3]

I searched and searched, but didn't find a specific answer to what order to get to smoothed firewall. This project is a long, drawn out operation with my youngest son and myself -- 6 years and counting. We're making progress, albeit, slow. Takes time and money and both are often hard to come by. Enough said, the question is: Do I need to purchase the Vintage Air unit and mock that up before adding panels on the firewall? This is on a GM A-Body car, a 1971 Olds Cutlass Supreme. I've read the Vintage Air install manual and it seems there bolts that go through the firewall. I've attached my firewall and an excerpt from Vintage Air installation manual.



--GaryB

[Schwartz Performance]

Looks like you're right. We usually weld bolts to the inside of the firewall so you can't see them from the engine bay.

-Dale

[cwylie]

Is that the sure fit system or the magnum?

[ChevelleNV]

I smothed my firewall first then used these http://www.mcmaster.com/#weld-bolts/=ral3se (Perforated Base Studs) to attach my VA Unit

[renegade6]

I purchased a mock-up Vintage air unit to make sure I put it in the right spot. Depending on how you are going to smooth your firewall, you may end up mounting it a bit differently than it would if you didn't change it. The mock-up units aren't very expensive.

[analyte]

I purchased a mock-up Vintage air unit to make sure I put it in the right spot. Depending on how you are going to smooth your firewall, you may end up mounting it a bit differently than it would if you didn't change it. The mock-up units aren't very expensive.

^^^This, the mock kit was only $58 shipped for me. Once I'm ready to buy my system, if I'll send the mock kit back they will credit my account the cost minus shipping.

[sjaroslo]

2 FYIs--If you are converting to a hydraulic clutch you might want to consider welding in the clutch master cylinder bracket, and if you are re-wiring the car, you might want to double check that the fuse panel of the replacement wiring system is the same size as the original. On my 67 Camaro the AAW fuse panel is slightly larger and it would have been good had the builder caught that before the bodywork was buttoned up.

[gbledsoe3]

The plan is to use separate master cylinders (front, rear and clutch) similar to what Tim is using on his project "The WidowMaker".

As for the electrical, current plan to use a 3-cell ISIS system. That's good to know about the 'mock-up' unit available from Vintage Air. I'll check on that. I did see another post where some vertical braces were welded from the toe-board up against the firewall on the inside to create a mounting bracket to the Vintage Air.. That way, nothing had to go through the firewall.