colbystephens' '73 blazer build!

[colbystephens]

docjake - I'll get those measurements in a minute.

Quick paint-is-drying-update. So I got the fan box all built. Turned out pretty darn nice, if I do say so myself. Here it is, mocked up:

The fan blows pretty good in the cab, even with that box not being sealed off or fixed to the firewall as shown. It will be cool to see how it does once I get it all tidied up.

Here's a pic of the inside of it:

The fan is a little close to the top, I suppose, but it works fine and keeps it away from the tires.

QUESTION: I don't have any vacuum lines poking through my firewall into my engine bay. Thus, my vacuum lines aren't hooked up and I have no way to select which vents the air comes out of. Where should I look for that vacuum line? It's not so easy to crawl under the dash and look with my roll cage... a little ?

 

[colbystephens]

Center Console: 12"H, 15.5" wide between the seats, 18.5" long front to back.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

i might have to steal that fan box idea from you colby. i think when i remove my AC unit i may run into the same issue with wanting heat.

 

[colbystephens]

I'll post up dimensions for all the pieces of the box later on, that way you could build something similar. For what it's worth, alot of guys will just install a non-a/c fan box, but you have to modify the firewall accordingly.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I'll post up dimensions for all the pieces of the box later on, that way you could build something similar. For what it's worth, alot of guys will just install a non-a/c fan box, but you have to modify the firewall accordingly.

how much modifying does it take to get it switched over? id almost think your way might be easier...

worse case i'll just get a console heater and put it in the floor boards.

 

[colbystephens]

DocJake: I should mention that my center console is bolted down to my roll cage which is pretty high up off of the floor, which would affect your dimensions if you did something similar.

Smokinthehippies: I can't remember what all is involved. I think you have to plate over the existing heater core hole and cut a new hole. That might be it. Can't remember. If you search, there's lots of pics of it. If I have time later I'll see if i can't find a thread or two about it.

 

[docjake]

Center Console: 12"H, 15.5" wide between the seats, 18.5" long front to back.

Thank you much

 

[Chevy305]

Colby, just go with the cable actuated doors. I have the cables and have always worked no matter what the engine is doing

 

[colbystephens]

Colby, just go with the cable actuated doors. I have the cables and have always worked no matter what the engine is doing

How do I do that???

 

[kennyw]

How do I do that???

You would need to change out the heater box inside the cab.

 

[Chevy305]

How do I do that???

Its a factory non a/c setup, dont know what years it can be from. Take a look in LMC and see if they give you a diagram.

 

[BGKYK5]

You would need to change out the heater box inside the cab.

Did the diesels come with cable operated doors?

 

[colbystephens]

Did the diesels come with cable operated doors?

my '83 didn't. it was vacuum operated. i'll have to look into the cable driven style. in the mean time, what should i look at hooking my vacuum line up to?

 

[84400]

Great build you got going here. My 77 started off in that color way back when.... IT will return to that color once I get the rockers and cab corners done....

Digging the modifications you have made to this one. Keep up the good work

 

[colbystephens]

Thanks.

 

[Muddytazz]

Colby, to go to the cable accuated heater doors, just swap out your interior heater stuff(controls, box, etc) from the factory a/c setup to a factory NON-A/C setup

 

[colbystephens]

that sounds like alot more work than finding where to plug in a vacuum line.

 

[onetonbb74]

well I had a vacuum line on mine with canister, and it wasn't good enough, no bottom heat because the defrost flap naturally wants to fall down and block off the bottom vent and force the air up the defrost only, so I bolted a cable from another chevy truck to that vacuum bracket that controls the defrost flap and then mounted the other side to the bottom of the dash, and you have to push or pull on the cable located on the bottom of the dash to control the heat or defrost which is all I really needed since I removed all the A/C stuff anyways, plus I hate vacuum lines...

 

[colbystephens]

well maybe I should look into picking up some bicycle cable and make my own cable operated set up. that'd be kinda fun.

 

[kennyw]

Did the diesels come with cable operated doors?

My '83 did, but I don't have AC.