Adding Vintage Air or similar under-dash kit

[BA.]

How do you guys know where to put those 4 holes in the firewall?

I don't have a kit yet, but, the car's going to the body shop very very soon.
I was assuming everyone makes those holes BEFORE bodywork or paint started!

Heck, I don't even know the size. Is there a template? I expect to get the full A/C, Heat, Defrost full whammy unit.

[rocketrod]

How do you guys know where to put those 4 holes in the firewall?

I don't have a kit yet, but, the car's going to the body shop very very soon.
I was assuming everyone makes those holes BEFORE bodywork or paint started!

Heck, I don't even know the size. Is there a template? I expect to get the full A/C, Heat, Defrost full whammy unit.

I am wondering the same thing. If you go with VA would the DSE bracket elimnate the need for some of the holes?

[Chad-1stGen]

If you go to the vintage air website you can find a downloadable version of the instructions. I have a Factory A/C car so the kit required me to cut a 3.5" hole in the firewall to run the 4 houses through. There is a supplied ABS cover that seals this hole and the hoses. Based roughly on the location they want you to place the hole (template in instructions) I'm guessing you don't have to cut the firewall for a heater only car from the factory.

Check the pics in my sig. Rather than cut my firewall I decided to route all the hoses through the kick panel and out the blower hole and over the fender.

[ProdigyCustoms]

First off, You will be wanting to use a Gen IV set up if you wait a couple months to order. The best place to bring the lines in is below the hood hinge against the kick panel, or dam close to it. Go ahead and buy your bulkhead now.

Look for a install story and announcment soon as they release the Gen IVs

[BA.]

Thank you guys.

Frank, I'll take your suggestion to get the bulkhead now and watch for the Gen IV. With any luck it'll be at the Super Store!!

[BA.]

I called Vintage Air today and all I can say is WOW.....my head is spinning! I am more confused now than before I called.

So, the Gen IV "Sure-Fit" for a 69 Camaro isn't available for 2-3 months.
The Gen IV "Universal" is available now.
The Gen IV Universal may or may not fit a 69 Camaro.

The sweet bracket that DSE sells is only for the GEN 2 "Sure-Fit".
The sweet bracket that DSE sells will not work with a Gen IV anything.

Gen IV Sure-Fit will use the STOCK controls.
Gen IV will not use the sweet controls available for the Gen 2.

Gen IV does allow for 'blending' of defrost, upper and lower air vents. (cool!)

Apparently Gen 2 does not allow for "blending" of the air-stream.
I can't put in a bulkhead fitting now (according to them) because I don't know where any of the GEN IV units will fit up under the dash area.



.

[FrankenChevy]

that you are in a month or two (selecting an aftermarket AC unit). Fortunately it looks like my lack of progress may work to my advantage for once. I may be way off here but I would think that with a little care the holes for the bulkhead fitting could be drilled or cut after the paint is applied. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. There may be someone that has done it before so hopefully they chime in. The b'head fittings that I looked at had a pretty substantial flange that may hide the irregular (read: chipped) paint in that area. Seems like I've seen this done before on TV (probably by Foose)... first apply tape over the area to be drilled and then drill it to size or cut with a fine tooth saw or cut-off wheel. Then deburr and touch-up the exposed edge. Work real slow and keep the heat down to protect the finish. This should allow you to go to paint and possibly buy you a little time.