Chevy dash with a/c into Buick without

[druggles85]

Hey all, I have an 83 Regal with the interior stripped out due to Mice. My car doesn't have air conditioning. Dash is gross and a little warped, and I don't know if anything works.

I'd like to get a dash out of a Monte Carlo SS along with the steering column, under hood wiring harness, and newer style wiper motor..

The Monte has air conditioning though so obviously the heater controls are different, and I have no idea about the duct work behind the dash...

Would I need to track down ducts and a lower steering column panel from a Monte Carlo without a/c? Can I use any of the Buick stuff? Or will the a/c ducting be fine with a heat only box if I switch the heater controls and get the right under column panel?

 

[fleming442]

I'm going to say yes to be on the safe side. There isn't much room for duct work back there and a slight difference here or there could make it much harder to get the dash in.

 

[druggles85]

Hmm. That could slow things down. The Chevy dash is in good shape. And has actual gauges though...

 

[pagrunt]

Ever thought of just putting the A/C box & duct work in & not use the A/C hard parts? Make a block off for the evaporator opening then ad in the vacuum shut off to the heater hose.

 

[81cutlass]

Are you 100% sure the Buick is a heat only car? I have never seen a heat only Buick, especially into 83 since most heat only cars were earlier production.

 

[Longroof79]

I'd say remove the duct work from the Monte Carlo along with the dash and other components. You'll probably have to compare the duct work side by side.
I know I had to replace the ducts when I put a Pontiac dash in my Chevy. Looking back in retrospect, I'm glad I had the foresight to remove the duct work when I removed the donor dash.

 

[Longroof79]

Are you 100% sure the Buick is a heat only car? I have never seen a heat only Buick, especially into 83 since most heat only cars were earlier production.

Good point, Jake.
I think for the most part, Buicks came loaded with options. ...A/C, cruise, tilt, etc.

 

[81cutlass]

I'm just asking since my 80 century wagon is about as low option as you could get, not even cruise and vinal rear seat, and it still has AC as a standard option according to the window sticker.

Do you have the heat only box under the dash? It's possible the previous owner swapped a heat only box into the car and left the ac vents and ducts in the car.

The olds and chevs with non AC would have not had a vent left of the steering column, and had a blank plate instead.

If your Buick doesn't have a vent left of the steering wheel on the dash I'd say your car is a factory heat only car and somewhat of a unicorn. If it does have a vent I'm not saying it's not a factory heat only car but I would say it's unlikely it is factory and more likely home done.

 

[Longroof79]

I'm just asking since my 80 century wagon is about as low option as you could get, not even cruise and vinal rear seat, and it still has AC as a standard option according to the window sticker.

Do you have the heat only box under the dash? It's possible the previous owner swapped a heat only box into the car and left the ac vents and ducts in the car.

The olds and chevs with non AC would have not had a vent left of the steering column, and had a blank plate instead.

If your Buick doesn't have a vent left of the steering wheel on the dash I'd say your car is a factory heat only car and somewhat of a unicorn. If it does have a vent I'm not saying it's not a factory heat only car but I would say it's unlikely it is factory and more likely home done.

Good points again, Jake.
More of a reason to remove the duct work from the dash donor car.

 

[druggles85]

Are you 100% sure the Buick is a heat only car? I have never seen a heat only Buick, especially into 83 since most heat only cars were earlier production.

Has cruise, tilt and T-tops, shitty looking chrome all over it but no a/c. Outside vents in the dash are fake and no ducting reached over to them. When I pulled the dash out.