A/C Cowl

[Buford T. JuSStice]

Hey guys, I've started work on my '80 Buick Century Wagon, and while cleaning up the engine bay I decided to take out the A/C cowl so I could clean up and paint the firewall properly. While I was taking it down (removing screws/bolts) some of the screw holes basically crumbled. Some areas were damaged from previous repairs, and the blower motor gouged the sidewall of the well it's in somehow.

I look online and the only thing it seems is offered is either a delete plate for A/C and Heat, or A/C Delete. I don't want to delete either, I want to replace the old cowl and blend doors with something new or in better shape. Does anybody offer these new? I tried Classic Auto Air, but they only deal in older cars, and GBodyParts.com only has the delete cowls.

 

[Longroof79]

Could you post some pics describing the problems? From what it sounds like to me, the area of the firewall where the heater/ A/C box screws to has some rust issues.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

I'm wondering if he is talking about the HVAC box mounted on the firewall?

 

[455'ed80Regal]

I think he is referring to the top half of the HVAC box. I don't remember how many but there are some screws that go into the lower half. It's where the screws go into the lower half that is deteriorated. I can imagine that it would get brittle over time with the under hood temps during the summer months during it's life. Makes me wonder what mine is going to be like when I pull it apart to replace the evap and heater cores.

 

[Longroof79]

I think I now see the picture. I've also had a few of the heater box top screw holes strip out and split apart. If I recall, I epoxied and re-drilled a few of them. They do become somewhat brittle over time.

 

[liquidh8]

I would be interested in the pics too.

If you need either, you could post some stuff in the wanted ads and find a nice used unit. That is how I got my replacement ac box.

 

[Buford T. JuSStice]

I'll get some pics in a bit, I've been outside working on the car. It's not a rust issue with the firewall, that's fine, and the bolt holes on the firewall itself are fine. I apologize if I described it poorly.

O.D. Showtime is correct, the HVAC box mounted to the firewall fell apart in my hands as I was taking it out. It looked like it had microfractures in it before hand, especially at the stress points (corners and such)

 

[Buford T. JuSStice]

 

[81Regal]

I have a couple of complete boxes if you are interested. Shipping is not cheap though.

 

[Buford T. JuSStice]

I have a couple of complete boxes if you are interested. Shipping is not cheap though.

Yeah I figured... PM me a price on shipping to 06461 and what you're asking? Depending on how much it is, I'll decide whether or not I'll go that route or not. With how difficult its been just to find one of these things I've been warming up to the idea of not having A/C. No pun intended.