Vintage Air.

[SAPPER07]

I'm a newbie, so please forgive my ignorance. I've searched the forum pretty closely and haven't seen the answer to the question I have. Do I need the hole in the passenger side of my rig if I'm putting in a vintage air system? I didn't see anything with the kit that tells me I have to have it and I'd just as soon weld it up if I can.

 

[WPS 73 Bronco]

I have the latest version of the VA. It‘s design does use that hole to pass the AC and heater hoses through it to the engine bay.

I went a different route and passed them directly through the fire wall. Personal choice. By doing so, it also required me to remove the fresh air box and cut a hole in the top where the box sat. It made installation much easier. I’ll find a pic and post.

It’s clearly a personal preference, but the kit as designed does use that hole.

 

[WPS 73 Bronco]

Here’s the pic. The black plate on top is the cover for the hole.

 

[SAPPER07]

Here’s the pic. The black plate on top is the cover for the hole.

View attachment 938798

View attachment 938797

Wow! That looks perfect and that's definitely the route I'm going to take. That's a really professional job you did. I hope mine turns out close to that. Thank you.

 

[gnsteam]

I'm a newbie, so please forgive my ignorance. I've searched the forum pretty closely and haven't seen the answer to the question I have. Do I need the hole in the passenger side of my rig if I'm putting in a vintage air system? I didn't see anything with the kit that tells me I have to have it and I'd just as soon weld it up if I can.

If your speaking of the hole in the kick panel. No it is not needed. This was the fresh air inlet, but the Vintage unit draws inside cabin air only.

 

[Gr8agnt2]

Hey guys, I’m in the same process with a Gen V system. It seems stupid to me to use the kick panel route. My freshly painted fenders are off now for the build but eventually when a heater hose fails the fender will have to be removed just for a replacement. I’m think my of changing the straight heater hose outlet to a 90 which are available from VA or Summtt Racing and go straight through the fire wall using the same grommet method as used in the kick panel. The a/c hose will actually fit better too but may need to be shortened. Thoughts?

 

[ba123]

No you do not "need" that hole and mine is deleted in my build.

I routed my hoses a completely different way as I think what they do stinks, unless of course, you're in need of covering those holes...

I wrote a lot about my install on a both my build thread as well as on my install thread here: https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/vintage-air-gen-v-install.320813/

 

[Gr8agnt2]

I'm a newbie, so please forgive my ignorance. I've searched the forum pretty closely and haven't seen the answer to the question I have. Do I need the hole in the passenger side of my rig if I'm putting in a vintage air system? I didn't see anything with the kit that tells me I have to have it and I'd just as soon weld it up if I can.

Ok, this is what I decided to do. I bought the long 90 heater
elbows from Summitt Racing and turned the heater hoses through the firewall. With the longer fittings There is plenty of room to install the clamps under the hood now. I dropped down under the passenger side wiring hole and drilled the pass thru holes for the refrigerant lines which may need to shortened a few inches but that beats pulling a fender off to replace a heater hose. Also my a/c hoses will not kink now as they did routed out the vent hole. I suggest taking great care in the layout process for the heater hose holes in the firewall but otherwise straight forward. I’ve got some pics if anyone is interested.

 

[fordguy]

We used reduced barrier hose and went through the hole, everything is accessible and the install was not too bad. No bulkheads or fittings needed other than hose ends.They redesigned gen V to have aliitle bit more room behind the unit making it easier to access.

 

[Tulsa76bronco]

I would love to see pictures Gr8. I will put in a new vintage as week would love to see the process