i have a 1971 Cutlass 442, when I got the car it was gutted on the interior including all heat and ac ducts and even the heating and cooling components that bolt to the inner and outer firewall, including blower motor. Is there a way to tell if the car was an AC car from the factory. I would like to put it back to original either No AC and heat only, or AC and heat. Before I try to find the replacement parts I would like to know. There is some kind of vacuum regulator on the passenger side behind where the kickpanels should be. It has connections for vacuum lines. I was given a bunch of parts with the car but not sure if they are originally from this car.
Please help end my confusion, at least on this part of the project.

 

The holes in the firewall are different between a AC and non AC car. If the rectangler hole is longer on the vertical runs, it is AC.

 

This would tell me the car originally had A/C, as this is the recirculate/fresh air intake door that was used in the A/C MAX position.

Also if there are air vents in the middle of the dash, it would have been an A/C car, as heater only would not have those middle skinny vents.

 

If you get OE parts for AC I suggest changing the evaporator and condensor. The older R12 systems don't cool as well when they are charged with R134a. By getting an oversized condensor and evaporator you can improve the cooling quality of the system.

FWIW, I suggest getting an aftermarket compressor that is designed to run on R134a with an orifice tube.

 

Thanks for the responses. I thought that it was an AC car. Now comes the process of finding all the correct components. One item on my to do list that will have to wait. Still need to do a lot of other stuff just to be able to drive it.

Thanks Again!

 

or find some old R12. it is expensive.

 

Right on! I have a small can in my garage that my father bought at K-Mart years ago when it was only $3.00 per can.

I guess I am saving it for a rainy day.

 

where does the drier mount on a 71 cutlass

 

I have about 8 of them in my freezer.