[rfrankb4]

I am installing a vintage air surefit kit on a 66 chevelle and attempting to prep the engine bay. On the far passenger side I need to remove the fresh air vent piece and I am running into a problem with the inner fender. I have read on here several times that the outer fender and other items do not have to be removed to get the inner fender out but I must be missing something.

I have all the bolts out and it is lose but it hits the outer fender to the outside and is hitting the core support and body mount to the inside. What am i missing to take this off? Do I need to go ahead and remove the outer fender and or the core support to get this out. The piece is metal not plastic.


Thank you for the help.

 

[elcamino66]

Do you have the passenger side jacked up letting the tire drop? That will allow the rear of the inner fender to drop and slide to the rear away from the core support. There is a bolt in the battery tray to the inner fender. There are 2 bolts in the top of the inner fender that attach to the fender. It should roll over the tire to the outside.

 

[phocksphyre]

66 is correct - put the car on jack stands and remove the tire - there is plenty of room to get the inner fender out.
John

 

[rfrankb4]

Thanks for the replys. I did get it out.

My only guess is that this inner fender is a replacement piece that is larger than stock. I got it off but to twist and slide it out required unbolting the bottom of the fender make some more room and that was enough. At least the outer fender didn't have to come off.

 

[Bryan59EC]

They just don't fall out----but seem to go in a bit easier. Dunno why??
I have had mine out a couple of times, and pulling the front of the fender out,
will let it fall on the ground--nose first.

 

[rfrankb4]

Re: Vintage air install help 66

2nd question of the process. Probably something I can just ignore but want to be sure.


On the firewall panels these AC and heat tubs are running through this kit was shipped to me with a ludicrously undersized grommet and hole for the #10 AC hose. What if anything do i need to do in order to protect this tube from damaging itself on this grommeted holes? I sure hope it will be alright because I just left the grommet out and sure don't want to pull all this back apart. The options I have in mind are 1) let it ride as is; 2) Use some caulking to minimize the movement at the point this hose goes through these holes and thus minimize wear. 3) The extreme option is to pull this all back apart and drill these holes to a larger size and locate larger size grommets. I suspect this would be overkill or the vintage air kit would already include them.

 

[Bryan59EC]

That grommet will work just fine on both the small hose and the large hose.
The larger hose is just a bit more snug is all.

You really need to get that grommet in there.
You can cut the grommet from the center out, and force it into place in the panel.

 

[rfrankb4]

Question number 3. The instructions say that this needs to be wired directly to the battery for the ground wires. Have people found this to actually be the case or is it just an attempt to minimize the number of people that will need tech support from not properly grounding the unit?

I would like to avoid wiring this directly to the battery to avoid a rats next of wires at the terminals.

 

[Bryan59EC]

I had the same question and actually went to Vintage Air to ask.
Apparently, the computer like thingy in the unit needs a constant
12 volt supply and a clean ground direct to the battery for
some reason.
I made a harness that goes back to the battery to provide the ground
and constant direct 12volts, but still have the heater wire in the car to
turn on the relays.

The AAW classic update wiring kit provides a lead that you could possibly use
for the constant 12 volts-----but still need to run the ground direct to the battery.

If the unit does not have a constant 12v supply, the unit will reset itself every time the car is started-----apparently not good for the unit.

 

[Bryan59EC]

Oh----you might want to put a buss in somewhere hidden in the inner fender.
I am going to use a couple from a 88+ Chev truck (about 6 lugs) and tuck them back behind the battery

 

[baloo28]

I also had a heck of a time with that #10 hose....to make it worse, I pulled it thru too far and when the evap went up into place, I had to force it backwards....what a pain!

 

[baloo28]

Another complaint about this system....the ridiculously short duct hose....6 feet of each is nowhere near enough. Guess I'll go buy my own.

 

[rfrankb4]

Yes i had that same problem got someat Napa but it does not have the same maliability as the more flexable vintage duct. Seems like it will work just will not connect as well to the vents. I have been considering cal vintage to send some more.

 

[baloo28]

I called Vintage, and since I had recently ordered their kit, they are sending me 6 more ft of the 2.5" stuff for the cost of shipping. I'm happy.....