Vintage Air/Firewall Questions

[John510]

So my car left today for paint and I am having the firewall shaved smooth. I wont be buying my Vintage AC for a while and was wondering if the bracket needed to get welded to the firewall or how does it stick? I dont want to screw through the shaved firewall.

Also should I mount the bulkhead now and does it need to be in any special area?

[meenaggie]

If you do a search on the topic you will find most with smooth firewall are running lines through inner fender on passenger side. Some drill holes and some use the blower hole depending on how car was originally optioned. You may be filling the blower hole when you have the firewall smoothed. Some are using bulkheads (makes for a tight connection under dash) and others are running one-piece hoses with grommets on firewall. Frank at Prodigy used some aluminum grommets for Empty Nest and will hook you up if you buy the vintage air system from him. Everyone highly recommends Gen IV system over Gen II. Either way you go you will need to have to hoses custom made after you get everything laid out in the car. Hope this helps.

[John510]

what about the bracket that holds the ac unit under the dash? how does that stay in?

I just dont want to weld on the other side of a freshly painted firewall

[avgasman]

John,

I just finished the pre-install on my VA GenIV, which also happens to have had a DSE firewall fill plate installed. If memory serves me correct, the upper and center bolt hole for the stock non a/c heater case is where you'll need to weld a bolt. That's where the evap case bracket will mount to. We welded a thick flat washer to the bolt for some support, and then welded the washer to the original firewall. I can find a photo if you need it.

[ProdigyCustoms]

There is no firewall mounting required on a Gen IV. EmptyNest has about as smooth a firewall as you can get. Here is a picture of the hose routing meenaggie mentioned (thanks BTW).

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Do you have pics of the Gen IV mounted inside the car and the brackets required?

[ProdigyCustoms]

The kit comes with brackets. I will look for pictures

[130fe]

Here are some install pictures, let ma know if you need anymore specific ones.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560202775dZkBLK

[TnBlkC230WZ]

that is a nice looking install. It sticks down from the dash quite a bit or is the pic deceiving. How much glove box is left?

[130fe]

The glove box that comes with the kit is about the same size as the original one. It is made of plastic instead of the the cardboard stuff. I have my PCM and efi fuse block in the glovebox area so I don't have anymore room to stick anything else.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Thanks for the information. The VA systems look pretty good and it appears to be what most of the custom installers are using.

[DarkoNova]

that is a nice looking install. It sticks down from the dash quite a bit or is the pic deceiving. How much glove box is left?

Yeah, that seriously looks like it hangs down a LOT.

I don't really mind losing leg room since I'm the driver, not the passenger, lol. Still, I don't really want a big box hanging below the dash.

Matt

[1BADRS]

I happened to run across a pic of the first gen vintage air units I had in my other 68...
Just for ref only. It does not come down quite as far, but it is real close. Maybe a variance in the different generations of units?
Notice the fan is different too.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Is there still plenty of room for feet? My wife would probably use it for a foot rest.

[Taylor1969]

I spoke with Frank today about exactly the same topic. He said to drill 4 1" holes into the firewall as pictured above and you are set!

[paul67]

On the early vw rabbits theres a small open glove box that perfectly covers the unit and the pass does not loose hardly any leg room. And alway fit the unit with the pass seat removed.

[kaptainkw]

John,

I just finished the pre-install on my VA GenIV, which also happens to have had a DSE firewall fill plate installed. If memory serves me correct, the upper and center bolt hole for the stock non a/c heater case is where you'll need to weld a bolt. That's where the evap case bracket will mount to. We welded a thick flat washer to the bolt for some support, and then welded the washer to the original firewall. I can find a photo if you need it.

I used elevator bolts and just tacked them in place. Works like a charm. Also Frank's solution using the blower hole for all the A/C and heater lines is a very clean installation.

[SamHatco]

Here is a good picture on how I mounted mine. I used weld studs that I picked up from Fastenal. They are designed to be welded to the surface.





Here is picture with the dash mocked up. I don't think it hangs too low.


Hope this helps.

Sam

[DaveO]

I made brackets out of 1/8" steel straps and welded them to the bottom of the cowl - one side of the front bracket bolts to an existing brace under the dash. The unit doesn't budge at all. Mine is a CAA unit, but I'm sure the VA could be mounted similarly.