Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
+8
orange Juiced
74Malibu383
77mali
Mcarlo77
Bruisr
Brainstain
jerry46765
Joe73
12 posters
G3GM :: G3 :: General Discussion
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Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Always wanted to clean up the engine bay and smooth the firewall, but did not want to loose my wipers or heater.
1. Anyone have any tips or pics of this being done?
2. Heard that there may be a way to reverse mount these so that they are on the inside of the car under the dash. Any truth to this?
Thanks and God bless,
Chris
1. Anyone have any tips or pics of this being done?
2. Heard that there may be a way to reverse mount these so that they are on the inside of the car under the dash. Any truth to this?
Thanks and God bless,
Chris
Last edited by driveit on Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
I dont think you'll be able to do it with the wiper motor. The area behind the wiper motor is empty and the linkage is in there.
Joe73- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 83
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Anyone have any tips at all on this subject at all?
I have been toying with the idea of making a panel to hide everything bolted or protruding from the firewall and fitting it around the engine.
All comments are appreciated!
I have been toying with the idea of making a panel to hide everything bolted or protruding from the firewall and fitting it around the engine.
All comments are appreciated!
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Get a copy of the latest street rodder magazine. There are a number of companies making compact heat/cool systems, southern air, hypercool, restomod air, and others. I can't find the ad, but someone also makes a cable driven wiper motor for street rods. It could be mounted anywhere.
If you are going to have heat/cool, you will have stuff going through the firewall. Keep in mind, some of this stuff is crazy money. Unless you are building a show circuit car, which then you don't need heat/cool, I'm not sure there would be much upside, and proabably won't be as sorted as oem stuff. Plus, if you have ever driven a car without heat in a mild climate, no defrost really sucks. Where does it end, you could hide the brake booster/master cylinder too.
At 60mph, you don't really notice that stuff hanging on the firewall...
If you are going to have heat/cool, you will have stuff going through the firewall. Keep in mind, some of this stuff is crazy money. Unless you are building a show circuit car, which then you don't need heat/cool, I'm not sure there would be much upside, and proabably won't be as sorted as oem stuff. Plus, if you have ever driven a car without heat in a mild climate, no defrost really sucks. Where does it end, you could hide the brake booster/master cylinder too.
At 60mph, you don't really notice that stuff hanging on the firewall...
jerry46765- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 20
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
If you're gonna smooth out the heat/ac you usually only drive it when it's nice. Therefore you don't really need the wipers. Smooth those off too.
Brainstain- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 8
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Even with the a/c, heater, and wipers gone, the firewall has so many different "elevations" and "depressions" I found it hard to do using a single piece of material. I finally decided to give up on the idea. I don't know how to work sheetmetal and figured the results weren't worth the effort. But, I think the idea is a good one, just beyond my capabilities.
Bruisr- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 8
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I plan to drive this thing as much as possible once I put it on a gas guzzling diet and I live in Kentucky so the weather is like a rollercoaster with its ups and downs in temperature. So I will need that heater and those wipers. Just want to make things look a bit nicer.
Thanks again and God bless,
Chris
Thanks again and God bless,
Chris
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Looking over an awesome thread that I follow over at Pro-Touring.com I found a few good pics of how this guy cleaned up his firewall. I just noticed that he has no heat though. I need heat and want to add ac soon. Looks really nice though.
http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/83706-1973-Pontiac-Grand-Am-LS7-Swap/page1
www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57065&d=1332570400" />
www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57066&d=1332570401" />
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Attachment](http://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57067&d=1332570402)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Attachment](http://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57070&d=1332570785)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Pic110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/18/26/79/66/pic110.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Pic210](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/18/26/79/66/pic210.jpg)
If anyone has any other ideas, photos or anything to add please do.
http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/83706-1973-Pontiac-Grand-Am-LS7-Swap/page1
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Pic110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/18/26/79/66/pic110.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Pic210](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/18/26/79/66/pic210.jpg)
If anyone has any other ideas, photos or anything to add please do.
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Weld up all the holes, do some body work, and install vintage air w/bulk head fitting.
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-019](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-019.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-020](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-020.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-022](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-022.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-023](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-023.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-024](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-024.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-019](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-019.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-020](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-020.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-022](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-022.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-023](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-023.jpg)
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas 2012-024](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/13/69/09/13/2012-024.jpg)
74Malibu383- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 26
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
I have a smooth firewall and no heat/ac. Driving in mildly cold temps is ok because the engine heat comes through the firewall and fender/fiberglass doors. It keeps me cozy. lol
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
The noticeable difference on 74Malibu383's firewall is that it actually looks like it could have come from the factory that way (very nice job, btw!). The first car's firewall looks like he slapped some rather poor fitting sheet metal on it. Guess that would be fine if you were going for the circle track car look. Just my opinion...
Mcarlo77- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 77
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
I like the circle track car look. lolMcarlo77 wrote:The noticeable difference on 74Malibu383's firewall is that it actually looks like it could have come from the factory that way (very nice job, btw!). The first car's firewall looks like he slapped some rather poor fitting sheet metal on it. Guess that would be fine if you were going for the circle track car look. Just my opinion...
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Oldschool454 wrote:I like the circle track car look. lolMcarlo77 wrote:The noticeable difference on 74Malibu383's firewall is that it actually looks like it could have come from the factory that way (very nice job, btw!). The first car's firewall looks like he slapped some rather poor fitting sheet metal on it. Guess that would be fine if you were going for the circle track car look. Just my opinion...
Me too!
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
And having had my car apart to that point I know how tough the contours of the firewall are to work with, unless you're a pretty good metal worker (guess I'm not. lol). I think that guy did a pretty nice job making it flat and cutting it to fit and especially making all those bends to accomodate the wiper motor and such. Or maybe I just have low standards... Hahah!
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Oldschool454 wrote:And having had my car apart to that point I know how tough the contours of the firewall are to work with, unless you're a pretty good metal worker (guess I'm not. lol). I think that guy did a pretty nice job making it flat and cutting it to fit and especially making all those bends to accomodate the wiper motor and such. Or maybe I just have low standards... Hahah!
Got pics of yours?
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Mcarlo77 wrote:The noticeable difference on 74Malibu383's firewall is that it actually looks like it could have come from the factory that way (very nice job, btw!). The first car's firewall looks like he slapped some rather poor fitting sheet metal on it. Guess that would be fine if you were going for the circle track car look. Just my opinion...
I'm in total agreement there! I don't like the look of the totally flat firewalls with no contours at all ... but I hate my A/C & blower motor housing worse!
![Neutral](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_neutral.gif)
77mali- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 62
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas Dsc04111](https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/18/94/14/30/dsc04111.jpg)
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
If you have the time and $ and want to do it the right way I would do what 74malibu383 did though. Especially if you want to keep the a/c like you were saying. But I know that's not within everyone's means of doing.
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Mcarlo77 wrote:The noticeable difference on 74Malibu383's firewall is that it actually looks like it could have come from the factory that way (very nice job, btw!). The first car's firewall looks like he slapped some rather poor fitting sheet metal on it. Guess that would be fine if you were going for the circle track car look. Just my opinion...
Thank you. And yes, it was a lot of work! Well worth it to me.
It's all a matter of opinion and to each their own. The "bolt on" look was not what I was going for, but it looks like he did a good job.
74Malibu383- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 26
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
Nice! Looks like you put a lot of time into that. Looks smooth
Oldschool454- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 5
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
The fire wall on my Elco project is hard to see ! But it's in there someplace !
I'm into function more than the show car thing I guess
![Very Happy](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_biggrin.png)
![Very Happy](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_biggrin.png)
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
I am kinda somewhere in between. I am sure it will look really nice when I first get it done. I will shine it up from time to time and then I will drive it everywhere. Mud, snow, ice, gravel, dirt, salt, you name it. This car will get it. I just want to drive it.
I like all of these. Mine is mostly stock right now. I am not sure which route I will take. I know that I still want everything to work, so unless I can hide everything somewhere else mine won't be as slick as some of these. Keep the tips and pics coming.
I like all of these. Mine is mostly stock right now. I am not sure which route I will take. I know that I still want everything to work, so unless I can hide everything somewhere else mine won't be as slick as some of these. Keep the tips and pics coming.
driveit- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 15
Re: Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas
![Firewall Smooth Info Questions and Ideas IMG_20140811_142557684_zpswfxuyl9l](https://2img.net/h/i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o674/dynchel/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/IMG_20140811_142557684_zpswfxuyl9l.jpg)
A factory base model has a somewhat clean firewall. No a/c or brake booster. Years ago I figured this was a warm weather car so I didn't want the "ugly" heater hoses so I eliminated them also.
dynchel- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 40
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