Vintage Air Installation - Part 3

After suspending the Vintage Air box from it's upper mount points, 

I carfeully marked the spot where the AC tubes are to exit the cabin through the firewall - 

It took nearly 5 attempts to ensure the marks where dead on. 

With the box removed, the marks are evident. the upper mark is a mounting bracket hole.

Once I was sure everything was in the right place, I first used the drill to mark the corners,

Then the air saw to cut the hole - 

The air box was then removed and the holes cleaned up. It took a couple tries to slowly open up the opening enough to get the pipes to fit without hitting the edges.

With everythin in place, the cover plate makes it look nice and neat.

Moving to the engine compartment, I drained the coolant into a clean bucket so that I could remove the water pump and intake manifold coolant nipples.

The rad hose is blocking acccess to the intake water jacket entry. I need this one for one of the heater hoses..

The water temp gauge sensor is located on the sde that would be best for the heater hose attachement. I think I'll re-route this to the drivers side, which will make things as well-laid as possible.

And while I generally try and think things through so as to lay everything out as logically as possible, not everyone thinks  - or can make it work - like that. Case-in-point is the airbox having all three vent outlets exiting from the same spot....

meaning that the hose for the passenger vent has to be bent right around to get to that side.....

Til next time...

Camaro vintage air installation

With the dash stripped to its frame, I began the entire complicated operation by setting up the 

Vintage Air unit and mocked it up against the firewall.

The Camaro had its firewall 'shaved' (stripped of everything) at some point, but without air - and wipers - it wasn't much fun to drive. Getting these items re-installed will make this Camaro a ride the owner can actually enjoy.

Snowmobiles and AirConditioning....seriously?

Mrs E-tek had someone drop of a 'new' toy for her to use at the farm. Being as generous as she is beautiful, she made sure there was something in it for me too....

Little 2 cylinder engine is reasonably easy to work on....

Except for anything to do with the fuel system! Giant air box covers all the real estate shown empty below. After cleaning the carbs and lines, I put it all back together and couldn't get fuel....

Turned out the suction line in the tank was broken off and laying in the bottom! 

Hard to get any fuel to carbs like that....time for a pars run.

And with that project on temporary hold, it was back to the Camaro's AC >>

Once I get the AC sorted (10,15 hrs?), I might be able to 

make a dent on the pile 'o parts gathering up on the work-table!

          Don't forget to stop in and see some of my other projects as they went together, at www.E-tekRestorations.com and to support me by clicking on the ads to the right!

CAMARO UPDATE!

Today's work included mocking up the wiper motor and arms, 

as well as the beginnings of the Vintage Air AC system. 

Both required removal of the cowl panel.

The wiper motor takes up a fair amount of real estate on the firewall, but luckily its just to the side of the engine, luckily not interfering with the valve covers or coil.

Odd things people do to get the job done.  Here an engine kill switch was glued in....

Masking tape holding the speed wiring harness together -

And then, upon removing the steering wheel...



                                                                 I found washers taped to the steering wheel button...

Hopefully it'll all go back together - and work - by spring!

Everything gets upgraded - including the 46 year old center dash speaker!

Under the dash, I used the included template to drill holes for the AC unit

 

                                                Next up - quarter and door windows!

Camaro Update!

Worked hard on the Camaro today...first getting more parts organized and pre-assembled

Then pre-assembling the various parts, in this case the wiper system. 

Original Equipment was all removed when someone "shaved" the firewall...

At least now the owner will be able to see if caught in the rain!

Spent quite a bit of time on the rear end re-assembly as well - 

Belwo I'm cleaning and re-installing all the parts that came off for paint:

Here I'm using #00 steel wool  to shine up the chrome

The lenses all got progressively sanded with 600, 1500 and 2000 grit, using Fine Cut polish

 This one was damaged at one time, but most of it came out using the above process. About half way done here -

If I say so myself, this is how a quarter panel edge should look after being welded to the end panel! Too often this seam disappears under weld, or worse - filler - during the repair

 Same with the quarter to filler panel - 

Tell me that's not FIRST-PLACE SHOW-QUALITY work!!

On another note, I downloaded this Pa from Trmec, which calculated the final angle of the drive shaft - ensuring its in the safe zone taking into account the engine/trans and the rear pinion angles.

You lay it across machined surfaced of the transmission and rear end, as well as along the drive shaft - 

And it tells you if something needs to be moved, so the U-joints aren't over-stressed, often showing as a vibration while driving.