HELP: C3 A/C heating delete

[LEEJANDZ]

;help ;help ;help

When I bought my L-82 half of the A/C system was torn out.
The compressor, condensor, half the lines & even the heater control assembly was gone.

Since I didnt want to go through the trouble of putting it all back together... I decided to rip it all out.

So now I have a big hole in my firewall.
I have seen and done this many times before on other cars...

what I was wondering is...

Is there a company that makes a sheet of metal to cover this area?
On the cars that werent equipped with A/C... do they still have the heater core, or was there some sort of plate?

If I have to, I will go to a metal fabricator and have a piece of sheetmetal screwed or welded into place.

Any thoughts or suggestions???

;help ;help ;help

JASON *** BRAND NEW NITROUS KITS FOR SALE!!! *** 1979 L-82

 

[JohnZ]

Cars without A/C had a regular heater/defroster system; the last year you could get the C48 heater delete option was 1967. You'll have to fabricate a cover plate for the hole, and seal it carefully - you don't want hot air and noxious fumes coming through the firewall.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

JohnZ -- You'll have to fabricate a cover plate for the hole, and seal it carefully - you don't want hot air and noxious fumes coming through the firewall

Do you think it is better to have the plate put on from the engine side, or the passenger side?

Want a project?

 

[JohnZ]

The plate should go on the engine side, and be large enough to use sealer all the way around the hole you're covering up; you also want to insulate it on the inside (dash mat material), or the radiated heat will drive you right out of the car.

Nope, don't need any more projects

 

[LEEJANDZ]

What type of plate material would you suggest I use?

 

[paintdaddy]

I think the best material to use in covering the hole would be aluminum.Paint it with a semi gloss black so it dont look so obvious.I was going to suggest patching it with glass but that will **** someone off if they ever want to put the ac back on it.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

I dont plan on getting rid of this car anytime soon.
So I would like to do it once and do it right!

Please Tell me more about this glass option.

 

[paintdaddy]

When I said glass I meant fiberglass. But that would permanently close off the hole.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

This is a new idea to me.

Would there be an aluminum plate covered over by fiberglass.
I want to permanently delete this part of my car.
I will never use it... so why drag around the extra weight.

Who can do this?

 

[69MyWay]

This is an easy mod, and up to you how detailed you want to get.

First of all, you can go to any place that repairs semi trucks, or boats and see if they have a junk flat portion of a larger fiberglass panel from a damaged vehicle. You can also get these from truck bed toppers, etc from a body shop.

This will give you a thick smooth on one side, rough glass on the other piece of patch panel to close it off.

Now, degreas the heck out of the firewall. Clean, grind and prep the edges to where you have made a "V" between the firewall and new patch panel edges. Of course, the patch panel must be cut to shape to fit the hole.

Tape in place on the outside, go inside, clean, prep, sand, grind (rough up the back) and glass the patch panel to the firewall.

Go back on the outstide, fill the "V" groove between the two with body filler (lots of hand work), primer, perfect it, then shoot it in semi gloss black. Take advantage of this opportunity and patch, fill, smooth any other unwanted holes on the firewall so that it will be clean, fresh, and different.

You really do need a heater though so that you have some degree of defrost. This can be accomplished by yanking one out of a GEO metro, Ford Fiesta, etc. from the junk yard that does not have A/C. The small compact Japanese units will fit under your dash, and you can get creative with the plumbing of the ducts to provide defrost and heat.

Have fun......

 

[LEEJANDZ]

I live in Southern California.
"NEEDING" a heater is like trying to sell A/C to someone in ALASKA.

Aw... the beauty of home.

Anyways...
I have no experience with fiberglass body work.
As much as I would love to tackle a project like you just mentioned... I dont think I could do it as well as I would want it done.

So just in case you are going to come out here and help with the job...
Oh!!! And Mikey Vigil isnt too far away from me.
You could spend some time with his new baby too.

 

[69MyWay]

I have never been to CA.....maybe?????

Trouble is, working for a living there is always only just so much vacation time available........

 

[LEEJANDZ]

69MyWay

What do you do?

 

[69MyWay]

69MyWay

What do you do?

Insurance Professional....I give away money for a living.heheheh

No actually, I handle complex litigaton and property damage issues stemming from auto accidents. Mostly law suits, whip lash, total loss vehicles, title compliance, death claims....You know...fun stuff... Oh, and once in a while I get to catch somebody initiating a fraudulent claim. Nothing like showing the video of the plaintiff chopping wood, mowing his lawn, doing roofing work at the mediation conference while the plaintiff just finished complaining about how the injury is sooooo bad that he can't work, and is disabled for life........

 

[LEEJANDZ]

69MyWay

Interesting... with what company?

 

[69MyWay]

I don't want to advertise the company. They prefer we don't. I can tell you it is the "largest" in the country...and, no pun in tended, but my last name "McDonald" fits in very well. ei, ei, oooooooo.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

69MyWay

If I were either psychic or knew the largest company then I wouldnt be confused...
but I am neither