A/C Cutout on Firewal Forward Kit - Advice and Photos Please

[hrosenthal]

I am up to installing the firewall.

I decided to go with the firewall forward kit by ffmetal.com. Installation for this is straightforward.

I am also installing an A/C unit from Whitby.

The manual indicates that it will be easier to cut the firewall for the A/C unit prior to the installation of the firewall. Whereas cutting the mounted firewall will be difficult.

After reading the installation instructions for the A/C unit, it seems to me that there are several variables which will effect the position of the A/C unit on the firewall and although it may be easier to cut now, it may also increase the chances of incorrect placement by doing so.

Any thoughts, suggestions or photos would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Howard

[Dan Babb]

Install the firewall with cleckos to mock it up...then remove it for cutting. If you don't have cleckos, use a few small self-tapping screws. I think cutting the hole with the firewall installed would be a huge pain in the ---.

[GWL]

It would be nice and give you more room behind the dash but you cannot use the forward firewall and the Whiby A/C unit. See pictures below.

You should have gotten a paper template with the A/C unit that will allow you to position the 'Hole' in the correct position. You should do the work with the firewall off of the car and on the bench.

I am using EFI and the engine is not level in these two pictures. I am going to soon remount an 'empty' engine and transmission to get the correct angle of levelness of the engine and transmission. I have added a box around my unit to insulate it and may run into some interference and have to make some 'Cuts' to the box. Note also that my firewall is very thick, about 1/2" because I've got some insulation between two layers of metal which puts the firewall 1/2" into the engine compartment. With the forward firewall it would be moving it 1-1/2" toward the engine.

http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt180/GWL-FFR/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/Firewall082.jpg (http://s609.photobucket.com/user/GWL-FFR/media/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/Firewall082.jpg.html)

http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt180/GWL-FFR/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/Firewall081.jpg (http://s609.photobucket.com/user/GWL-FFR/media/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/Firewall081.jpg.html)

Here is my A/C unit with the insulated box
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt180/GWL-FFR/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/IMG_8877.jpg (http://s609.photobucket.com/user/GWL-FFR/media/Air%20Conditioning%20and%20%20Heater/IMG_8877.jpg.html)

George

[hrosenthal]

It would be nice and give you more room behind the dash but you cannot use the forward firewall and the Whiby A/C unit. See pictures below.
George

Wow. I'm glad I asked. I already drilled the holes, but didn't start riveting.

Judging from your picture, the A/C unit will be on the passenger side. Is that correct. The template isn't clear about which side it's referring to (although it appears that it will only fit on the passenger side).

Did you build the insulated box yourself or purchase it?

Thanks for the heads up. You saved me a ton of trouble.

H

[GWL]

The box, I made myself from .050" mirrored stainless steel with a protective film still in place. It has 10mm of Pyrogel around the A/C unit, then the box. So in all the A/C unit is pushed about 1" into the engine compartment. I can modify the box where it may come in contact with that EFI mounting bolt. Actually, I now have a Trick Flow intake that I may be mounting so the fit may change.

The A/C unit is on the passenger side and you will have to cut out the dash hoop support brace.

This article should give you a better understanding of what is involved:
http://www.kitcarmag.com/techarticles/142_0501_quality_roadsters_hvac_system_install/

George

[hrosenthal]

This article really spells it out.
Thanks again.