GTM AC Accumulator mount

<< GTM AC Plenum Relocation                                      Passenger foot well >>

Major System Category: AC & Cooling System
Task: Install AC Accumulator
Parts: Donor car AC Accumulator
Prerequisite Tasks: Install evaporator and hardlines
Additional Costs: N/A
Time Requirement: 30 Minutes
Date Started: August 25, 2012
Date Completed: August 25, 2012
The accumulator mounts to the cross member running above the steering rack. It helps to have the hard lines extending from the evaporator. This aids in placement for the accumulator. Once the rivet inserts are drilled and tapped, the accumulator bolts to the cross member. These hoses are very tight. amd when I ran them through the tunnel to where the compressor should mount to the accessory rail for the engine, they come up short. I figure sometime early next summer I will nee to splice in an extra foot or so to give everything enough slack.

Initial mount inside the forward arear above the hard lines running into the tunnel from the radiator.

Hose lines hooked up.

GTM AC Compressor Shield

<< Cockpit/Tunnel Aluminum (Rear)   Front/Center Undercarriage Aluminum >>

Major System Category: AC & Cooling System
Task: Install AC Compressor Shield
Parts:
Prerequisite Tasks: Sound Proof  Rear Tunnel
Additional Costs: N/A
Time Requirement: 30 Minutes
Date Started: August 25, 2012
Date Completed: August 25, 2012

This is the cut out as delivered with the kit. Orientation: Passenger side, behind the firewall.

The compressor shield is thick chunk of metal that covers the hole in the panel facing the passenger side fuel tank. This really simple. Drill five holes and set five rivets. The important thing is to get this finished before mounting the fuel tanks. No one wants to undo the fuel tanks once they are installed. I also sound proofed the area.

Same area with the sound proofing and shield installed.

AC “Blower Relocate” Plenum

<< GTM AC Evaporator Kit                            GTM Blower Motor  >>

Major System Category: AC & Cooling System
Task: Optional Upgrade for blower motor relocation
Parts:  AC Plenum supplied by Vraptor Speedworks
Prerequisite Tasks: Dismantle the passenger foor well
Additional Costs: Plenum Box ($45)
Time Requirement: 6 - 8 hours
Date Started: August 4, 2012
Date Completed: August 6, 2012
The AC Plenum box is used to relocate the blower motor. The standard location for the blower motor is in the front equipment bay between the radiator aluminum and the beginning of the tunnel. These are the items already living in this section of the car:

1. Battery
2. Steering column
3. Master Cylinders
4. Passenger side front brake line
5. AC Condenser
6. AC Compressor
7. Surge Tank (Moved to rear)
8. AC Blower Motor (Moved to Passenger foot well)
9. Coolant lines (soft and hard)

It seems a tad crowded to me. There are electrical lines to run for the lights, fan motors, radar detectors, signals and probably things I have forgotten about.

This is the triangular piece that fits intot he front wall of the foot well. This needs to be cut so  an opening exists for the  air to flow through to the blower motor. The blower motor will connect tot he this piece.

The new home for the blower motor is the passenger foot well. The basic design connects the blower motor to the evaporator via a rigid plastic sleeve. This pushes the blower motor into this crowded space. The AC plenum relocates the sleeve with a two piece aluminum box, creating two right angles for the air to flow through.

AC Plenum view from the top. I still need to trim the top bracket holding the evaporator unit. The hard coolant lines are visible. This is taken from the top of the car. The top of photo is towards the front of the car.

The front footwell needs to be modified to handle the the AC plenum and the accommodate an opening for the blower motor air flow. These pieces still need to be riveted back into place. However, I would leave the panel between the evaporator and the blower motor off until everything is hooked up and tested. This is going to be a while, because duct work needs to be run into the dash panel.

This is a second shot of the plenum from the other direction. The clamp on the  upper left of the photo holds the plenum tab that needs to be riveted to the chassis cross member.

I made the plenum as air tight as possible. I used plenty of black silicone to fill in an holes/cracks. I also plan to use Eastwood's contour filler as an additional body sealer before I put down the sound proofing.