460 swap with tall valve covers.. How to do A/C and Heater?

[broke33]

Ive got Squatty D's old 78 Bronco and Im starting to get it ready for the road. The truck came with a 460 and has the tall valve covers to clear the roller rockers. I have a complete A/C unit from a 1978 Bronco but there is no way its going to clear the valve covers. Is there any smaller A/C and heater units people are using for this?

[shadowcaster]

Delete the a/c & get the standard heating system from a non-a/c truck. Try to cut out the whole area of the firewall where the blower motor bolts to from the donor truck. Saves having to fabricate a panel. Do a search, I'm sure there are plenty of write-up's on it. I did it, was pretty easy if you get all the parts. Here's a pick of the firewall cut from the donor (white);

[highhorse78]

From the way I read it, I think he wants to install an A/C system. Depending on how tall the valve covers are, you might be able to clear them with a small body lift when you install your factory A/C. Otherwise, if you can locate a complete dealer installed A/C system, that would work too. Also check out http://www.vintageair.com/

[Bob G]

if i remove the whole A/C box how big a hole will there be? dont really need heat or air

[Salt-Man]

Its easy to cover over Bob, I pulled out my fan motor and ran my air intake inside the cab through the hole with a tube and a filter inside

[7LBRONCO]

Originally Posted by Bob G

if i remove the whole A/C box how big a hole will there be? dont really need heat or air

Almost big enough to crawl through.

[Mels]

Yeah, its a big ol hole. Brother cut a piece of diamond plate to cover it up.

[justin]

Yep, its a big ass hole. If you can find it, the dealer installed economy a/c box fits under the dash. There is also a deluxe dealer installed box that took up a larger space under the dash and you had to relocate the glovebox.

You could also go with one of the hot rod a/c companies like classic air or vintage air.....they have nice kits, pricey though.


Do you really need a/c in Michigan?

[jtrux]

I would try to fit as small a valve cover as possible. maybe try double stacking gaskets with stock valve covers. You probably sell the tall ones and get some stock ones cheap and pocket a few bucks in the process. Just my .02

[broke33]

Thanks for the info guys. I grabbed a complete under dash setup from a 1971 F100 I will try first. It would be nice to come across one of those dealer installed setups that Justin mentioned.

[seve]

If possible you might just be able to hacke the valve cover and have it welded up. Just make sure there's still enough clearance for the rockers. I have tall Motorsport valve covers and I'm pretty sure that the roller rockers and studs don't need all of the room that the covers provide. Just a thought...

[7LBRONCO]

Seems to me like when I had my a/c box out, there was a lot of dead space in there. Maaybe you can cut the bottom down flat, to clear the valve covers.

[Bob G]

Originally Posted by Salt-Man

Its easy to cover over Bob, I pulled out my fan motor and ran my air intake inside the cab through the hole with a tube and a filter inside

i bet thats noisy!

[Salt-Man]

its an off road rig ....who cares ??? no I don't know about that yet, I haven't finished it ?? I was setting it up for the mud bogs but now I'm putting that project even farther back on the to-do list and starting a new one ?? I have an aluminum tubbed jeep body on a shortened chevy frame coming tomorrow, I am putting a 460 in it with 8 lug axles and 44's under it, I figure it will be a ton lighter then I could ever make the bronco, and I'll go in another direction with the 78, its a never ending battle on which way to go with her ????


Hows your Big Blue Monster Doing, hey my new toy is almost the same color