First time post....Fire wall question

[kentucky steve]

Hello forum,

    I am building a 83 from several different trucks and I have reached a head scratching moment.  My question is in the area of the fiberglass heater blower assembly.  Does any one know if there are different firewall cutouts for the AC inlet through the firewall.  I had a cab given to me and I had drilled out the Vin number and tossed it prior to stripping and painting it.  So I have no ideal what model it is and know way of knowing what accessories it had.   Bottom line is is there a difference in the firewalls for a heat only cab verses a cab with air conditioning.  I have to admit I have had at least one of these 73-86 model pickups all my life and that's several trucks through the years and I have always just assumed that the sheet metal part of the cabs were the same and now with a fresh and expensive paint job already laid down I am really nervous about this.


Thanks ahead for any info any one can give.


Kentucky Steve

[zieg85]

Yes there is a difference.  Use the search function and several will pop up.  Welcome to the site, from NW Indiana

[kentucky steve]

Thanks Zieg85, 

     But I am not having any luck on the search.  What are the differences in the sheet metal openings in the fire wall........anyone........   I hope I don't have to cut through my fresh paint....I did a frame off and just got everything powder coated and I just finished the Paint a couple of weeks ago.....


Kentucky Steve

[zieg85]

I searched high and low to try and find you the answer... There is someone that has done it, I remember reading his project.  Bottom line is if your cab is a non-ac you will either have to modify the firewall for the factory air unless you opt to go with something like vintage air.  If you have an AC cab and don't want AC there is an aftermarket AC delete box that covers up the AC holes.  If you post pics of your firewall someone can tell you by looking.

[beastie_3]

Do you have a manual? It should have a picture in the AC or heater section. If I remember correctly, that part of the firewall is layed out in one of two ways AC or heat only. It doesn't matter what year it is.

[beastie_3]

There is a picture of a firewall on a truck with heat only here.....   http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9180.30;topicseen

[kentucky steve]

No manual beasti but I have all the factory air parts and just wanted to make sure that before I cut a hole through the firewall that I didn't just have the blower box from a newer year.  I like the look of the factory air box and have already scuffed it for paint.  Quite a lot of work to get the undercoating and grease off of it and ready it for paint though. 

Thanks for all the help here guys

Kentucky Steve

Here's a link to my biggest project to date ......    http://ourbusconversion.blogspot.com/

[beastie_3]

If I understand, your making a AC firewall out of a Non AC firewall?

Saw the bus pics, have fun with that!

"Disclaimer, I don't have a clue what I am doing! This blog is for your entertainment only so please don't try to hold me liable for you trying something as stupid as me. Thanks"  <---thats funny!

[Blazin]

That bus looks like a whole heck of allot of work!

[DnStClr]

Ky Steve, Welcome to the site! Awesome job on the motorhome!
I think most of the a/c install posts might be in the body section of the website.
Do a search for "air conditioning installation". A few of guys I can recall working on their a/c systems are CaptKaos, (the site owner), SgtDell, and Gotohaul. . I prolly didn't spell any of their site names correctly. I'm sure there are plenty of others. You may want to reconsider and take a look at that Vintage Air system mentioned. Here's a thread too-
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4839.0
Looking forward to seeing your 83.


 

[VileZambonie]

If you want the firewall to look nice then I agree go with vintage air.