1969-1971 Factory A/C into a non-A/C pickup

[RossJ]

Whats the easiest way to put air conditioner holes in the firewall of a non-air conditioned pickup? I forgot to take a piece of cardboard and make a template before I sold the air conditioned rig. probably wasn't the best choice. I just remembered this recently after I rebuild my factor air-conditioner box. Any ideas or help?

[exline]

I also have a non a/c 68 truck that I want to convert to a/c so I am curious about the best way also.

[Roxyflash]

I would get a fine sharpie mark it then use a small 3 inch cut off wheel.I have that on my 1970 truck if you need measurements

[RossJ]

I was going to do that, but I already got rid of the cab sadly. I think I might just find. A cab close by and see if I can take measurements or something of of it. I should have taken a piece if cardboard and Marked it right after I took the a/c unit out.

[soopernaut]

My truck had air added at one time. It wasn't original and some parts were missing when I got it. It has 2 small holes in the firewall with a bunch of silicone around where the hoses went through.

[swptln]

Are you installing factory AC or the Dealer installed AC?
I could take some measurements from my 69 it has factory AC and I do have a 71 SE with the Dealer set-up.
Mark D.

[RossJ]

This is the factory push button air conditioning.

[JPAdventurer]

This is the factory push button air conditioning.

PM me with your email and ill send you a pic (won't go thru here) of my Template I made off my 70 air truck. Its about as good as having a truck to make it off

[swptln]

Here's some pic's of my 69 Factory AC.

[nfury8]

Best bet really is to get a hold of a factory firewall and trace the holes to make a template. As I recall on my 70, none of the factory holes for the heat only firewall were used on the AC system. However, the Heater only water hose and mounting holes are present on an AC firewall, so they make good location points for the template.

The Factory AC box requires 11 new holes, so trying to measure them will be hard. However you could make a template off the box its self and then eyeball the location to the firewall. There are a couple existing holes that can be used to get real close.

Here is a image of my 70 before I added the AC. I have labeled the 3 existing holes that will be of the most use to locate to: A, B, C.
I have also labeled the new holes 1-11 and a general idea of where they go.

Here is the factory box labeled with the same numbers. 3-11. 1 & 2 are holes for vacuum lines and cables.
If you make a template off the box, you should be able to get really close to the factory location. If you are off a 1/4" or so, shouldn't be a big deal.

Here is a shot with it installed and labeled. Unfortunately I had already coated the firewall and it was a last minute decision to add the AC, but I had a firewall to copy.

So if you line #1 up just to the side and up from A, and 2 directly above B, and 7 above C, and 10 & 11 either side of D, you should be just about right!

Here is a shot from the inside.

Also, I just remembered there are 3 more holes for support braces in the cowl.
These I just installed the brackets and drilled the holes where they fell.

[nfury8]

Forgot to mention:
1 is cable for water valve
2 is vacuum lines
3 & 4 are AC lines
5 & 6 are water lines
7, 8 & 9 are mounting studs
10 & 11 are drain lines

[Hobcobble]

Great information! Looks like someone unloaded some buckshot on that firewall....
John

[nfury8]

Yeah, it was a little unnerving drilling all those holes in the firewall after I had coated it!