Non A/C box vs box with A/C
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From: Seattle WA
Car: 1986 iroc-z
Engine: SBC 406
Transmission: T5 awaiting T56
Axle/Gears: Stock
Non A/C box vs box with A/C
My car is equipped with A/C and I have no need for it and would like to replace that hideous a/c box with the smaller flat one that comes in a non a/c cars. My question is if it is a direct fix or is there some custom work that needs to be done. I've found the non a/c box on ebay for 50$ not bad price. Any help would be great. Thanks
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
The box will bolt in, but you need the matching blower motor as they are different.
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From: Seattle WA
Car: 1986 iroc-z
Engine: SBC 406
Transmission: T5 awaiting T56
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
Kool thanks, I should be able to buy a new blower for the correct box for pretty cheap I suppose.
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
Edited.... I have lost my dang mind this am. 
Last edited by TTOP350; Jan 10, 2017 at 07:26 AM.
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From: Enschede, Netherlands
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
No you can't the squirrel cage offset us different and as such they will nit interchange.
I posted the pics of that somewhere
There's also one hole in the firewall that the non ac box doesn't use. Plug it. Although it's perfect for running additional wiring through
I posted the pics of that somewhere
There's also one hole in the firewall that the non ac box doesn't use. Plug it. Although it's perfect for running additional wiring through
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Enschede, Netherlands
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
Found it...
If you use the AC resistors and high speed blower relay you will retain the high speed setting that the non AC cars do not have. NOT all the resistors will fit however, the later weatherpack style will not fit without enlarging the hole. The wiring harness on those will also not fit the non AC motor, which will have a round connector and seperate ground tab.
connector difference:
motor difference
squirrel cage difference
...and you can not swap them over
This is what fits bolt on without mods, the earlier resistor bridge.
connector difference:
motor difference
squirrel cage difference
...and you can not swap them over
This is what fits bolt on without mods, the earlier resistor bridge.
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From: Davison, MI
Car: 89 Camaro
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
You can buy an aftermarket fiberglass heater box that accepts your larger AC blower. That's what I did.
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
you can also cut the white fan down to fit..thats what I did..and yes it runs fine...
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Enschede, Netherlands
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
What I wanted to show us that using the non ac squirrel cage with the ac motor will nit work because the offsets are different.
To get the all the speeds working you need to swap over the resustor bridge and high speed relay. Might need a little filing on the resistor hole and some tweaking if the original relay bracket to cleanly mount it to the box. I have pics of several solutions in my 82 87 and 88 project threads and in gerrutcamaros thread. All made to look factory with the high speed option. Non ac doesn't have that
To get the all the speeds working you need to swap over the resustor bridge and high speed relay. Might need a little filing on the resistor hole and some tweaking if the original relay bracket to cleanly mount it to the box. I have pics of several solutions in my 82 87 and 88 project threads and in gerrutcamaros thread. All made to look factory with the high speed option. Non ac doesn't have that
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
I would just like to add to your info. The (afik, not gospel) 87-older A/C cars had the separated (single post and chassis ground) power wiring. From the looks though, the non A/C cars has a slightly different frame stamping (more circular as opposed to pentagonal shaped)
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Enschede, Netherlands
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
yes the motor shapes are not the same, the surge hose is clocked differently, the hose itself is different. The seperate ground post and not is a matter of model year, I have a bunch of these cars and only the 90 up have the weatherpack type connectors. It really doesn't matter a lot though, it's very easy to rewire.
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Car: 1987 Iroc Vert
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
ill try to get some pics..but in short..using the AC parts in a none AC box..I cut about 1" off the white fan..outer ring..on mine I did not add anything after just reinstall it..i just used wire cutters to snip the outer ring and a bit of the blades off..till it fit the housing...
I did this 20+ years ago...runs fine..I did not over think it..
I did this 20+ years ago...runs fine..I did not over think it..
Last edited by articwhiteZ; Nov 27, 2017 at 12:39 AM.
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Car: 1988 camaro "SS"/ 1991 305/T5
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C
I just swapped squirrel cages from my Non AC box motor to my A.C. motor and it fits fine. Works with zero issue. Although I did need to make a longer box cooler hose which sucked lol
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Car: 1987 Iroc Vert
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Re: Non A/C box vs box with A/C