Posted on the barn to, but figured there may be some different voices here. Thinking about vintage air for the 56 mainline. I have the inside gutted getting ready for lizard skin and dash out for painting so figured there wouldnt be an easier time to work on the evaporator mounting. Its a definite to have at some point and would be easier now than later. I was wondering for anyone who has done it, or just has an opinion, what would be the best thing to do with the heater core hole in the firewall? The vintage air gen IV magnum has everything on the inside. Make a heater delete plate out of sheet metal or stainless, or go through the extra work of making a template and welding it up smoothing off. My engine is in already and car is painted, so the thought of all the welding, grinding, smoothing and firewall paint touchup doesnt sound so appealing. I have seen many of the tri five group use a stainless delete plate the companies make aftermarket and they seem real pleased with it, so I am thinking of something similar. I would probably use this area for the hose connections Do please excuse me for posting chebby pics, but wanted to show what I am thinking about Something similar to this
Before you paint the dash you may want to check out how it was done here on a Ford: http://public.fotki.com/hotrodprimer/hotrodprimer-1/
It's hard to tell in the album what Jeff is pointing out, but I believe it to be that HotRodPrimmer painted the underside of his dash white. I did that to mine and it is a huge help when wiring/chasing wires later on. edit - I take that back - On page 6 he shows how he hung the AC/unit. I'd still paint the underside of the dash white though
I will definitely paint the back of dash white, someone else suggested that before. I am also working on an extension for it that will house my vents and a/c control panel. I believe hotrodprimer used a different a/c vendor than vintage air, but I did find some pics in his album of his bulkheads coming through the firewall. Looks like he patched up the opening on his vs. using a plate. He probably planned ahead unlike me
My vote is for making the delete plate. I could be wrong but it looks like HRP used the plate as well, only painted with the bulk heads mounted to it. A polished SS version would look killer!
Oh yea, I looked closer and I think your right chopd, I can see its a plate now. Just so happens I have some stainless about the perfect thickness for this to, but man I dont know if I have the right tools for cutting that stuff!
How about this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Billet-Spec...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ebbf6ffdc&vxp=mtr Plug & Play?
If you are already painted I would just make a plate. When I talked to the Vintage Air guy the one they had done for an employee they ran the hoses in the fender where the air intake is to clean up the look. He said they also used the universal evaporator mount that came with it. This is what I planned on doing so I was happy he confirmed it would work well that way.
Using a delete plate on mine, Mine did not come with a heater but the original plate would not work dew to the ribbing.
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