Firewall Forward Questions

[PMD24]

I'm at the point in the manual where it says to install the firewall. I'm doing the Breeze Firewall forward and I'm wondering if I should hold off on installing now.
> I'm thinking it would be way easier to cut the opening for the heater with it off the car, and I'm not at heater stage yet.
> Is it better to install it after the DS inside top footbox panel, or will that panel install easily under the FF rubber seal?
> I'm inclined to clamp it in place for now and rivet later. Any issues with this logic?

Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

Pat

[BRRT]

Clamp now, rivet later.
It's far easier to cut the heater opening on the bench.
Wiring harness holes can be cut after riveting using the appropriate hole saw.

The DS inside top footbox panel looks like it will require just a minor trim to get it installed after the firewall is riveted in and the bulb seal is on.

[phileas_fogg]

It's been a while since I built my car, and the firewall forward design has changed. But I will tell you it's much easier to cut the hole for the heater with the firewall off the car. Also, be sure to read the instructions on where to make the hole(s) for the heater; it's different for the firewall forward than the stock firewall. Third, make sure your template matches your heater. My template was off about 1/2" for the heater feed & return. Finally, if you're putting anything else on the firewall (wipers, fuel pressure regulator, whatever) be sure you leave yourself enough real estate not only for the components, but also anything that attaches to them. I had to move my FPR a couple of times because I failed to account for the fuel lines & fittings.


John

[mrglaeser]

I did he firewall forward from Texas Metal. I did all the firewall modifications off the car and painted the firewall prior to install. However I did this work in the stage of the manual where the firewall gets installed. So I did some of the heater install early. I clamped the firewall in figured out where I wanted the heater, took it down and cut heater holes out, cut out the wiring holes, then I painted and installed it. I also added some supports between the square tube dash hoop and the top of the firewall as I was planning a mechanical throttle linkage and to hang the brake revivor and wanted to avoid as much flex as I could. I never wished I had waited to install the firewall. That said until you need to mount something on it you can probably wait.

[PMD24]

Thanks to all who replied so far. Great feedback. Very helpful.

[jengum]

My LL notes tell me that the heater template references from the bottom of the standard FFR firewall. The standard FFR firewall is 2" lower than the FF metal firewall which sits on top of the steel tube so account for this in the template layout.