Building my dash valence and console

[chevynut]

Today my new Vintage Air Gen IV A/C unit arrived and I got it fitted. I'm sure glad I ditched the cable unit because this one works out so much better in my application. The downside is I have to weld mounting studs onto my finished firewall, and make up all new interior hoses. But it clears the radio and the 4 vent outlet will make it a lot easier to duct air to the valence vents.



I also got the mounting holes for the valence drilled through the bottom of the dash (what a pain!) and now I need to install some kind of nuts above the dash lip so they're not loose and to make it easier to install. Don't know if I'll use PEMs or some other nuts I have.

[WagonCrazy]

Is it possible to hate a process so much, and have it turn out looking so good? You've done it here. Thumbs up!

[chevynut]

Thanks Paul! I think I can see light!

[WagonCrazy]

Not to be critical, but got to ask a question about how you plan to transition the ends of the valance to the door.
As it stands, looks a bit awkward to my eye.
20150728_010.jpg

[Rick_L]

I'm a little confused. Some of the photos show the vent bezels fitting very nicely in the valence, others look like the bezel fit still needs a lot of work. Are there some photographic or optical illusions, or are those still needing some more work? What really confuses is that some of the earlier photos look better than the later ones. ?????

[chevynut]

Rick, the "bezels" are nothing but paper prints of the actual size ovals that I drew the lines on with a Sharpie. Then I taped them in place.

Paul, I've not addressed the ends yet. Keep in mind that there's a windlace retainer and windlace in that area so the valence really won't overhang onto the door. I adjusted the valence position fore and aft on both sides such that the gap between the valence and the door jamb is the same. It leaves the small triangular opening that you see in some of the pics. Not sure how I'm going to deal with that, but there will be a kick panel behind it.

[DocHarley]

Awesome work Chevynut. Wish I had your talent.

[chevynut]

Thanks Doc! I'm always excited to start a new phase of a project, but at this point I'm ready to move on to something else. I've been working on this interior for several months. Maybe I'll start polishing suspension parts.

[chevynut]

Got my inside A/C lines routed and cut today. Still need to get them crimped.

The Gen IV water hoses need to have a -10 nut on them instead of the beaded copper line like the older unit. So I cut off some 5/8" ID A/C fittings and put the hose on them. I found that some A/C fittings have a pretty small ID and I didn't want to restrict the hot water so much.

I ended up having to flip my bulkhead upside-down to put the liquid line at the bottom to make routing work out easily.



Then I made a 1/8" aluminum plate for the inside and ran the lines....





The other hole is for my cruise control cable

Now I have to remove it all and have the fittings crimped. I will need to relocate the liquid line on the other side, but I think that's no issue. I think the routing turned out pretty good.

[chevynut]

In case this will help anyone, here's a pic of of the firewall side of my VA Gen IV A/C showing how I ran my A/C and heater lines.