Hey guys, I'm looking to ditch the A/C box in my '68 bird for a non-a/c one. I have a great non a/c core and controls but I'm noticing a lot of differences in the firewall. Like, none of the holes will line up for mounting or heater core. No big deal, I can take care of that, But I'd like to know if the hole in the cowl where the heater box takes in "fresh" air is in the same location so I can at least position the non a/c box correctly to mark all of my new holes for mounting and heater core lines. I just want to take the extra weight out of the car, don't need a/c and I don't think my motor will pull enough vacuum to operate the a/c box correctly. Thanks in advance!

Anyone have pictures of their bare non-a/c firewall from the inside from a 68-69 b body? Also, if anyone does, could you please measure where the hole is for the heater core is and it's size/shape. Thanks!

I think you are making a mistake in the long run ditching the AC.

Do you have a non a/c box? IIRC, two of the holes near the hose outlets are the same. The others are different. Also, you need to fill in the large opening that the blower motor passes through. The DS vent is the same between A/C and non A/C. I think the A/C box has like 5 or 6 studs, the non A/C has three. There is a brace from the cowl to the non A/C box. I don't recall the A/C box having that brace.

From how I've positioned it so far, the non-a/c heater core tubes will not fit through any of the existing holes in the firewall. I just want to make sure that the big hole in the cowl for the fresh air hole is in the same location so I can position the box correctly for drilling the holes for mounting and heater core tubes, and so it doesn't interfere with any of the dashboard or anything else. I do already have a nice non-a/c box and controls that I would like to put in. By the way, the A/C box does have a support rod also.

Yes, the boxe should line up with the air intakes in the cowl. The heater core tubes will not fit through anyof the A/C holes, but the two mounting studs near the heater core should.

with roadrunner

The lower cowl panel plenum that the heater box mates up to for fresh air is the same on a/c equipped and on-a/c equipped cars, but very few of the holes in the firewall will match up. Here are couple of pics of some firewalls off cars I cut apart.

This red colored firewall is off of an A/C equipped car.



This gold colored firewall is a non-a/c car.



The bottom side



Hope these help you out

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Thank you so much. I just want to do away with the heavy and bulky a/c box that I'll never use the a/c in again. Those pictures almost make me sick. To see such clean not all rotted out bodies being taken apart like that! Being from up here people would kill to have a chassis like that. haha Thanks again!

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If it makes you feel any better, they were all very naughty little cars and they deserved it. I was wondering how many times do you need air conditioning in Maine? I don't blame you one bit for taking it out, especially if you never use it and plan on keeping the car. Please post some pics when you get it finished, 68's are my favorite year.

Good or bad its still a sin! haha. Yeah, a/c isn't really needed if you ask me, especially for a toy car. I used it maybe 3 times this year on my daily driver just because I had it not because I NEEDED it. I'm trying to get some serious work done on it this winter. I'm in the process of finding a good body shop to strip and prime it up for me so I can finish the body work. Here's the best latest picture I have of it. The only difference really is that I now have both 1/4's cut off it but the underside is all done, suspension and steering also. The car is from california and basically rust free except the trunk floor, which I've already done and just the bottom lip of the rear window channel. The 1/4's were just smashed up beyond trying to fix so I just cut them off and am putting new ones on.

When you get the A/C box out please let us know what the weight difference is between the two.

I can weight them but I'll tell you right now, the heat only, I can pick up with one hand. The a/c I need both hands and have to squat to pick it up. It's kinda ridiculous how much more it weighs.