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Hot Rods Dress up for Vintage Air firewall

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Pgaines, Nov 3, 2024.

  1. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Has anyone found a way to address the hideous look of the Vintage Air and Heater Hoses running through the firewall. I hate what I have now. I’m grateful for the support and suggestions.
    Thank you!!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 13,808

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Stuff like that is tough. I find it is sometimes best to not even try. Chrome, plastic, split loom cones to mind. Egads! I didn’t put heat and air in my roadster just to keep the firewall clean. You already have it so own it. Lose the house clamp and install fittings and crimped barbs. Then wrap up the bundle in tan header wrap and see what it looks like. Just an idea
     
  3. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,695

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I routed mine through the floor of my 49 Buick. It's hidden behind the kick panel. Probably wouldn't work on a smaller car, however. There is also the option to put one of the bulkheads that VintageAir sells.

    upload_2024-11-3_14-2-59.png
     
    firstinsteele, pprather and gnichols like this.
  4. miker98038
    Joined: Jan 24, 2011
    Posts: 1,315

    miker98038
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Difficult, on the other hand it needs to be something you can access. I used a repop of the factory heater delete plate on my ‘bird. Backed it up with a stiffer structural plate, used bulkhead fitting. A/C and heater hoses. Then the cheap screw in the hose holder rusted. Not surprised in Seattle. IMG_0668.jpeg
     
  5. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,617

    RodStRace
    Member

    You have 4 big hoses for function. They are black so they aren't obnoxious. There isn't much else to do and keep them. You could have them run out the floor and along the frame, tucked down more, but this will intrude into floor foot room and be subject to more road hazards and grime. Not much else can be done unless you want to fabricate a big cover that looks like the tri five ducts, and I don't think they look great either.
    duct.jpg
     
  6. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,575

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Close the hood, they disappear!
     
  7. KevKo
    Joined: Jun 25, 2009
    Posts: 976

    KevKo
    Member
    from Motown

    If they had 90-degree elbows on the engine side of the firewall, you could fab up a cover to hide the really ugly stuff.
     
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  8. Clydesdale
    Joined: Jun 22, 2021
    Posts: 261

    Clydesdale
    Member

    Can’t see it when you’re driving the shit outta it!!

    You are driving the shit outta it????!!!!!!!
     
  9. Luckily for me I build cars just for me to drive so I don’t stress about that stuff, if it’s a show car I understand but I think @Bandit Billy nailed it, own them, love them, embrace them.:confused:
     
    Tow Truck Tom likes this.
  10. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,084

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    You didn't build it to sit in the garage and be looked at.
    You built it to drive it and be comfortable while doing so!
    Enjoy the heck out of it, and do it in comfort!
    KK
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  11. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,030

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Jim’s got it!
     
    Tow Truck Tom likes this.
  12. On my Deuce, the hoses are on the inside of the frame rail and enter the interior down low, behind the kick panel.

    It was a good plan and is fairly invisible.

    Here's the right side of the firewall:
    1698209940590_20200102_141528.jpg
     
  13. :p:p:p

    Ben
     
  14. Perhaps you could at least trim the length of that top clamp so there's not a tail hanging out and rotate it so you don't see the screw housing.
     
    Just Gary and alanp561 like this.
  15. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,975

    corncobcoupe
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Never been a fan of an open hood for pictures.
    Messes up body lines pics.
    Just my opinion but to each their own.
     
    hotrodharry2 and Johnny Gee like this.
  16. Modify an old fire wall mounted heater/blower motor housing to camo it

    we would order extra hose and mount the hoses lower or even up from the bottom of the firewall.
    Sometimes route them on the other side of the inner fender
     
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  17. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 5,018

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm sorry, I don't see the problem. I do believe I'd get rid of the Ty rap and use some heater hose separators instead.
     
    Tow Truck Tom likes this.
  18. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,078

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    I owned my 32 for over 30 years , could not cut up firewall . Finally I installed a vintage heater , best thing I have done to it in years . It has rubber hose and correct size worm clamps . Don’t sweat the small stuff . Don’t and billet to a real hot rod
     
  19. Joe H
    Joined: Feb 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,671

    Joe H
    Member

    I ran the heat and high side through the passenger side, low side out the drivers side. No hoses crossing the engine, compressor under the alternator out of sight, hoses are the only giveaway till look down at the frame or through the grill. DSCN2923.jpg
     
  20. [​IMG] 29 A cabriolet, hoses from heater were routed to driver’s side where they connected to cooling system for four banger. No AC.
     
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  21. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Yeah the clamps are going. Thanks
     
  22. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Nice suggestion, thank you.
     
  23. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

     
    hotrodharry2 likes this.
  24. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Looks clean and sweet. Thx
     
  25. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Thanks Rod
     
  26. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Just about done.
     
  27. Pgaines
    Joined: Dec 16, 2013
    Posts: 43

    Pgaines
    Member

    Squirrel, Your a genius! Thanks
     
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  28. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,575

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    heh...I have the same problem with my 59 Chevy truck after I put AC on it. It's ugly under the hood now.
     
  29. I'm easily offended by zip ties and graphics stenciled end-to-end on hoses. Your tastes may differ.
    Here's a solution I've used more than once when faced with something that jangles my ugly detector and I wish it would go away. The first instinct is to shove it in the background somehow, but a lot of times that won't work. It sounds counterintuitive but often making the ugly patch a feature and bringing it to the foreground has worked for me.
    When I first looked at your photos, I basically saw a bundle....... and I thought, 'why not try a "lace cable harness?", but scale up the cord size a little bit. Some of you might think it's an off the wall idea...... and you might be right. I'm just tossing it out as a suggestion

    http://www.dairiki.org/hammond/cable-lacing-howto/
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  30. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,173

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    IMG_2992.png They make reduced diameter/thinner wall hose for A/C systems. Helps reduce the bulk.
     
    pprather and alanp561 like this.

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