Heater Box Firewall Nightmare! PLEASE HELP!

[NateCharger]

I pulled the whole dash to restore the dash pad and cluster. I figured I might as well pull the heater box too. I always thought something looked funny under the hood in that area. There was a lot of HVAC putty and it didn't look like the blower motor fit quite right. When I pulled the box, I FOUND THIS! Somebody cut the firewall to make this box fit, BUT WHY!? Can anybody out there help me make sense of this?

 

[batt2rm]

Just a guess but looks like was originally a non AC car that was cut to fit the AC unit.

 

[kdtjb]

Thats what I was thinking too.

 

[NateCharger]

I am becoming VERY concerned! Build sheet that came with the car says A/C....

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I just went and pulled the build sheet, in a panic, and I was WRONG! NO A/C! Now what do I do???

 

[moparmarks]

Yep someone cut the wall for a/c. Can see part of the hole for the non-a/c fan.

 

[NateCharger]

Yep someone cut the wall for a/c. Can see part of the hole for the non-a/c fan.

Now what do I do? Does keeping it A/C negatively effect the value? And, btw, I still need a dash frame if you have one, just need to decide A/C or Non-A/C...

 

[moparstuart]

keep the A/C most people now a days want it

 

[moparmarks]

I have both dash frames. Just ran out of time today. Should be able to get pictures tomorrow.
Has far as the fire wall goes what car do you have? A GTX or RR I'd put it back with non-a/c. A Satellite then go with what you want. The best way to go would be to cut out the wall and weld in the proper patch for which ever box you use but that is a bit of work.

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Also non-a/c car would not have the drivers side vent box.

 

[NateCharger]

I have both dash frames. Just ran out of time today. Should be able to get pictures tomorrow.
Has far as the fire wall goes what car do you have? A GTX or RR I'd put it back with non-a/c. A Satellite then go with what you want. The best way to go would be to cut out the wall and weld in the proper patch for which ever box you use but that is a bit of work.

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Also non-a/c car would not have the drivers side vent box.

Right!!! The previous owner cut a hole in for the vent, doesn't look quite right. And, my car is a 71' Charger R/T. Should probably put it back to non-A/C then?

 

[moparmarks]

Is it a 4-spd car? If so then it wasn't available with a/c.

 

[NateCharger]

It is an automatic

 

[eldubb440]

congratulations, you are well on your way to a full blown resto

 

[ODZKing]

My 2 cents is keep the A/C. As far as the value, you are doing a restoration so it is no longer a "Survivor" just a matching numbers car other than the A/C (if it is).
My suggestion if you want it to look neater than it is, would be to find a A/C car in a yard of your year and cut away the firewall in that area. Find someone who is VERY good at welding neatly and replace it.
I mean if you are going that far ... just a little farther won't slow you down that much.

 

[eldubb440]

I mean if you are going that far ... just a little farther won't slow you down that much.

lmao....... the never ending dilema

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Here is an idea of what's involved;

 

[Dennis H]

Keep the ac.

 

[plymouthman72]

The biggest question is what would make you happiest? If having it factory correct would make you happiest and you know it would bother you to know its not what it was originally then you should change it. Are you restoring to sell it? I know I struggle a lot with what I would want and how others may view the car and I have to remind myself that the car is for my enjoyment and not theirs. 99% of the people who see it will not know that it didn't come with a/c and not know there is an incorrect hole and if there was a person who knew it wasn't an a/c car and felt the need to point it out, I would say bleep them. Either way you have kick *** car and people are going to honk at you and say how cool it is. If you do want to go back to factory, It will will require a new heater box, heater control for the dash, some wiring changes if I am not mistaken, and the correct dash frame (not sure which one you have now). Both ways are going to require some work I am sure you don't want to. If it were me, I would just leave it with a/c since I had the parts. I'm Sorry you had to find out that way, I hate those kind of surprises! I don't know a ton about restoring a car and not a lick of experienced compared to most if not all here but I hope this helps you.

 

[73runner]

keep the a/c