The vacuum switches are all the same except for the 70. It is all metal and the vacuum plug is 180º from the rest of them. But it is the one to get because it is all metal and dont break. The vacuum plug has enough extra so you can flip it 180º and plug it into the 70 switch. I will get you pictures of the dash cut in an hour or so. I have to dig it out.
Ah, thanks. That won't be so easy to make look right I think... Is that a flexible duct that goes there, or does it come straight off the AC box? Flynbrd, thanks for all the good tips! Where does one order the foam kit and vacuum line kits you're talking about? And how does that de-icer switch hook up electrically? I suppose I'll be able to tell easily enough when I pull it, right?
I got the foam kit and vacuum line kit from a classic mustang part supplier in town. Try Sacramento mustang, Just tell them you need the foam and vacuum line kit for your car. The foam kit was not perfect being made for several years, needing a little tlc to work.(wonder if I was better off getting a sheet of dense foam and making my own..) As for the de-icer its very simple. Just run the wire from the blower switch to the de-icer switch(use the single wire coming off the factory blower switch.) From there wire it out to the compressor clutch. You'll want to install a 4 amp fuse, I suggest near the compressor. On the second terminal of the compressor clutch is wired to ground. The de-icer switch has a probe thats inserted into the evaporator core. When the evaporator ices up the probe tells the switch to go open turning the a/c compressor off.
Well that sounds dead simple. I guess that's about all there is to this AC system electrically. Nice! :Handshake
"The car is in Jackson where my family lives, so I'll be taking a few days off work, staying at my parents' place while I do this." by the time you are done with the 2 swaps, they'll think you... moved back home... ......
You can change out the dash without removing the windshield. I did this back in 1990 when I swapped in factory air in my old '77. It is not fun, but it is doable. I have a couple pictures of my method here (you can also see what's behind the dash in a couple pics): http://www.maverickcomet.com/TechArticles/RemoveDash/RemoveDash.asp I did the swap after I first cut a hole in the non-A/C dash and wasn't real satisfied with it. With factory air, you'll want the hole in the center of the dash because this is where most of the air comes from.
That is one reason why I am swapping dashes... (the other being an ugly dent in my old dash) I had bought a vent, but knew that would be a pain. The center vent goes directly into the plenum chamber, no duct in between them.
Just a word of caution! I believe when you swap the dash the vin number goes with it. Meaning whatever dash you swap in will change the vin numbers!
Yeah believe me, I know... A previous owner did that once already so I'm stuck registering my car as a '73. I only know part of the original VIN, and it has caused a whole world of BS for me. Thanks for those pics, MavMark!
I hope, if I come down there prepared enough with info from this thread and all the special-order parts in hand, to be driving back in an air conditioned Maverick after a week's "vacation."
MavMark, those pics are gold. Thanks a lot. I'm still not sure if I'm going to do the full dash swap at this point but it's great knowing it's an option Looks like the defrost is above the center vents in the airbox, right? Does that still go to the holes where my current defrost exits, or is that yet another "special" thing about the AC dash?
I can't believe I forgot about that part! What I did was carefully cut the back of rivets holding the VIN plate in place so that way I could put it on the new dash. Those special "flowered" rivets are not easy to find...in fact in Michigan it is against the law to even possess them if you aren't supposed to have them. I am sure it's probably technically illegal to be switching VIN plates anyway, but it can't be any worse than putting in a dash with the incorrect VIN...
Glad ya like 'em! I wrote that tech article almost 10 years ago and I need to redo it, but the pics work for now. I am pretty sure the defroster vents are the same and connect to the rectangular hole on the top of the box that also feeds the center vents.
You will need the defrost 'tube' that connects to the dash. It connects differently to the plenum than the non-AC version does. I thought they were the same until I looked at them side by side.
