hacker-pschorr

For this car:

http://www.erik27.com/79928/bythelake/

My 79 has been a track car since the early 90's. Interior is gutted, no stereo, HVAC etc...
The original plan was to further transform this car into a 100% track car (full cage for starters). Plans have changed. This car is far too nice for that so I'm turning it into more of a street rod of sorts (headers / open exhaust....)

When I bought it, I thought it was totally gutted. I didn't do any kind of "inspection" on the car since it was in sorry shape when I bought it and I've known every owner of the car since the early 90's.

Turns out, the blower motor and all the wiring is still in tact. In order to re-connect the heater so I can at least have defrosters for chilly damp days, I need to connect the heater hose / valve and install the HVAC head unit.
I have no intention of installing the A/C, that's where the supercharger is going

What HVAC head units are compatible with a US 79?
Anyone have one lying around?
Am I possibly missing something with this and it's more complicated than I'm making it out to be?

Alan

You may not really need an HVAC head unit... the HVAC is for flap control, AC control and auto temperature control - seem like you need very little of this...?

If all you want is chill defrost and you don't care much about auto temperature control - just wire the flap positions (no solenoid required) and move the setting motor to a fixed (~1/2) mixing position.

Go with: defrost open, footwell open, comb flap in non-bypass, recirculate in fresh mode.

Then simply mount & plug in a blower switch (just the switch - its actually seperate from the AC Head) plus an on/off switch for the water valve. If it's cold turn the valve on, whan it gets warm enough turn it off (repeat). You can implement this with just a few connections on the HVAC head main plug (+ a bridge to enable the Blower Relay).

If you wanted to get a little more fancy you could add a rudimentary temp control with a single variable resistor for the flap motor setting - would give you a little variability - like manual HVAC control - but at that point a head unit may make more sense.

Alan

hacker-pschorr

Thanks Alan, gives me more options.

I figured the easiest / fastest solution would be just to re-install the control unit in the console since the harness is still there. I just wasn't sure what all comparable units would work across the years as I sort through the available units locally.

One thought was to yank the one out of my 81 just to test it.

It would be nice to have full heat / fresh air control since I'm going this route.

Heck, with the new speakers by Han's, I might toss a stereo in it.

James Bailey

78-79 are way different than the others even the 80-82 manual none climate is different...the early units had a bodine cable which always broke loose from the plastic housing....had sliding manual vacuum switches. Alan's idea to mickey mouse it makes a LOT OF SENSE Simple pull cable to turn on off the hot water. Switch to run the blower. So no worries about any vacuum leaks diaphrams etc...

hacker-pschorr

We would have to dig very deep to find any idea of Alan's that didn't make perfect sense.

Part of my plan to restore heat capabilities is also making it look more complete / stock. As I contemplate that, I can at least get the valve / hose installed and manually control it.

James Bailey

pretty much any A/C head will fill the hole and give you a fan switch

medipedicman

I have the internals and face from a unit removed from a 79. You are welcome to it if you decide to go the scavange route.