Convert non a/c 1967 coupe into factory a/c ?
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jrs396,
I think you'd need to gut the firewall, use a donors firewall that came with AC to get it to function/look right.
Ever think of Vintage air? I think Wes went thru this. Look at the tech references or find his web page. Do a search on Vintage Air.
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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu
www.wright.edu/~s001dga/chevy.htm
TEAM Chevelle Member #0086
I think you'd need to gut the firewall, use a donors firewall that came with AC to get it to function/look right.
Ever think of Vintage air? I think Wes went thru this. Look at the tech references or find his web page. Do a search on Vintage Air.
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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu
www.wright.edu/~s001dga/chevy.htm
TEAM Chevelle Member #0086
G
Guest
·Like the man said, you need the firewall, it's that different. Try finding just the firewall for a 67 air car. You might find it out west in one of those bone yards that specialize in this sort of stuff. I have AC on my 67 mailbu, factory AC.
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Wally
Gold #67
67 malibu
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Wally
Gold #67
67 malibu
hey wally,
I guess I did not realize there was that much of a major difference in the production
of these cars from the factory,maybe I should
just get a body with factory air from one of
those bone yards or really investigate vintage air.
I just don't want the cheesy,hacked up look !
Thanks Guys.
I guess I did not realize there was that much of a major difference in the production
of these cars from the factory,maybe I should
just get a body with factory air from one of
those bone yards or really investigate vintage air.
I just don't want the cheesy,hacked up look !
Thanks Guys.
jrs396,
I have done this job several times on Chevelles and Camaros. You actually don't need to change out the firewall but there is a major modification needed. What I did was cut the relevant piece out of a similar car and use it for a template. You can't see the modifications once you put the suitcase (evaporator housing) on. I would caution you that this is a major undertaking, not for the faint of heart or inexperienced. You end up removing the hood, RF fender, inner fender, everything out from under the dash. At the worst part you''ll look at your car and think, "OhmiGod, what have I done?" Part of the problem is that there is not hardly a wrecking yard left that can successfully remove all the stuff from the donor car without missing stuff or ruining stuff.
If you have a BB, look look for the evap housing off a V-8 Tempest, it's the same as a BB Chevelle, has room built in for the valve cover and cylinder head. Small block evap housing won't fit right. Did I mention that it gets a little tight with a BB? <G>
I recommend you think this over carefully before taking the plunge. It's a biggie.
Tom
[This message has been edited by Tom Mobley (edited 07-06-99).]
I have done this job several times on Chevelles and Camaros. You actually don't need to change out the firewall but there is a major modification needed. What I did was cut the relevant piece out of a similar car and use it for a template. You can't see the modifications once you put the suitcase (evaporator housing) on. I would caution you that this is a major undertaking, not for the faint of heart or inexperienced. You end up removing the hood, RF fender, inner fender, everything out from under the dash. At the worst part you''ll look at your car and think, "OhmiGod, what have I done?" Part of the problem is that there is not hardly a wrecking yard left that can successfully remove all the stuff from the donor car without missing stuff or ruining stuff.
If you have a BB, look look for the evap housing off a V-8 Tempest, it's the same as a BB Chevelle, has room built in for the valve cover and cylinder head. Small block evap housing won't fit right. Did I mention that it gets a little tight with a BB? <G>
I recommend you think this over carefully before taking the plunge. It's a biggie.
Tom
[This message has been edited by Tom Mobley (edited 07-06-99).]
Tom,
Thanks for your input,the nose is already off
the car for awhile so that part is no big deal.I am definitely not faint of heart and have no problem in the experience area.I love
a good challenge!I think I will start to try and locate all the pieces I need first before
I start cutting any metal.Do you know if the
dash is different in a factory a/c car?
Thanks
Thanks for your input,the nose is already off
the car for awhile so that part is no big deal.I am definitely not faint of heart and have no problem in the experience area.I love
a good challenge!I think I will start to try and locate all the pieces I need first before
I start cutting any metal.Do you know if the
dash is different in a factory a/c car?
Thanks
Joined
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17 Posts
There was an article in the NCOA magazine a year or two ago which described the procedure for exactly what you are trying to do (it was a 66 or 67). It was quite detailed; you should be able to get a copy from someone around here. The work was done by James Hinshaw, who by the way is a valuable source of info. In a 67 the evaporator goes into the cowl space behind the passenger's kick panel... this is where most of the surgery is involved. --- Carl
Joined
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238 Posts
Yes, the dash is different. It has three air outlets. Two balls on either side and a rectangular one in the upper middle of the dash. I think you will be looking for a dash, too.
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Pat Kelley
66 & 67 El Caminos
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Pat Kelley
66 & 67 El Caminos
You should really find a complete donor car. The dash, vents, heater controls, cables, wiring, relays, high speed blower, brackets etc are all needed. Including the pulleys on the crank and water pump. You will want a clutch fan, bigger rad etc. I can't imagine trying to track down this stuff individually.
Depending on the local availability of R12, you may be looking at a freon conversion too.
This is one of the biggest jobs on a 67 I can think of, but if you're up to it - you can be cool
![]()
Depending on the local availability of R12, you may be looking at a freon conversion too.
This is one of the biggest jobs on a 67 I can think of, but if you're up to it - you can be cool
jrs396,
Sorry, I lost track of this thread, didn't see your reply.
1) when I did this, I chose to cut the dash for the center vent and the balls on the sides, looked like it was easier than ripping the dashboard out. Cutting the holes for the balls was a PITA, though, it was a show quality car and I was deathly afraid of boogering it up.
2) I recommend you acquire a donor car, as complete as possible. It's going to be pretty much ruined, so this is a possibly big expense.
3) Get a Polaroid camera and plan on buying lots of film. Take a lot of pictures of the donor car as you strip it.
4) When you get the donor car stripped, you'll cut out a big piece of the firewall and use it for a template, some of the bolt holes are common between the two and these will locate the template as you patch/cut your firewall.
5) plan on replacing most of the functional parts you take off the donor, unless it's got Freon in it when you get it you can count on the expansion valve being stuck, the hoses leaky, etc.
6) I've worked on cars all my life and this was the biggest and hardest job I ever did. I will say that it would be a lot easier if the car isn't already restored, most of the ones I did were already finished and working on them at this level was difficult due to the danger of even a little scratch getting on the car. On the first one I was grinding on the firewall when I realized the sparks were going straight up in the air and landing on the roof, pitting the new multi-thousand dollar black paint....
Tom
Sorry, I lost track of this thread, didn't see your reply.
1) when I did this, I chose to cut the dash for the center vent and the balls on the sides, looked like it was easier than ripping the dashboard out. Cutting the holes for the balls was a PITA, though, it was a show quality car and I was deathly afraid of boogering it up.
2) I recommend you acquire a donor car, as complete as possible. It's going to be pretty much ruined, so this is a possibly big expense.
3) Get a Polaroid camera and plan on buying lots of film. Take a lot of pictures of the donor car as you strip it.
4) When you get the donor car stripped, you'll cut out a big piece of the firewall and use it for a template, some of the bolt holes are common between the two and these will locate the template as you patch/cut your firewall.
5) plan on replacing most of the functional parts you take off the donor, unless it's got Freon in it when you get it you can count on the expansion valve being stuck, the hoses leaky, etc.
6) I've worked on cars all my life and this was the biggest and hardest job I ever did. I will say that it would be a lot easier if the car isn't already restored, most of the ones I did were already finished and working on them at this level was difficult due to the danger of even a little scratch getting on the car. On the first one I was grinding on the firewall when I realized the sparks were going straight up in the air and landing on the roof, pitting the new multi-thousand dollar black paint....
Tom
Al,
Thanks for your time,I am now trying to locate a donor car as well as look into vintage air.Although My experience is pretty
extensive in auto repair and until recently
had owned my own shop I have not done work on any cars this old in quite some time and really not this type of conversion.From all the input I received from you guys I think the only way I will attempt this is if I can
find a fairly complete donor car.Thanks again
Thanks for your time,I am now trying to locate a donor car as well as look into vintage air.Although My experience is pretty
extensive in auto repair and until recently
had owned my own shop I have not done work on any cars this old in quite some time and really not this type of conversion.From all the input I received from you guys I think the only way I will attempt this is if I can
find a fairly complete donor car.Thanks again
Tom,
I have decided that I will only attempt this
if I find a donor car.I am starting to restore this one and the nose is off it and
most of the interior is already removed so I
thought now would be the time to do it before
it is assembled and painted.If I do get a donor car and attempt this I have
a polaroid and a video camera which I would
capture the whole process.I thank all of you who took the time from your busy schedules to
reply to me and also to those who make this whole thing possible at Team Chevelle.
Thanks again for helping keep the dream alive.
I have decided that I will only attempt this
if I find a donor car.I am starting to restore this one and the nose is off it and
most of the interior is already removed so I
thought now would be the time to do it before
it is assembled and painted.If I do get a donor car and attempt this I have
a polaroid and a video camera which I would
capture the whole process.I thank all of you who took the time from your busy schedules to
reply to me and also to those who make this whole thing possible at Team Chevelle.
Thanks again for helping keep the dream alive.
I have a 67 a/c dash (bare) that you can have if you pay the shipping, and for your conversion stuff try Jim Dyer Stockton Ca 209-941-2112. good luck I just did this conversion on my 66 conv.and it turned out great!!!
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