1969 Imperial progress thread

[vdk2010]

And another huge package arrived from VintageAir with all new parts:

HVAC Box with all the accessories, the Control Panel, hose Bulkhead fittings, drier and so on...

My Bodyman already drilled the holes for the bulkhead before the body went into the CDC bath. I checked the fitment and it's perfect!
Ireally like the clean look!

Next project is to integrate the HVAC controls onto the center ashtray. The general fitment is ok, I think I will make that work, but I still have to make major changes to the ashtray and the control panel because the circuit board is much bigger then the bezel itself.

That's it for the small update so far. Besides these things I'm working on right now, I'm constantely searching and buying parts for the things to come next.
I ordered everything to reassemble the rear axle and thrid member from DoctorDiff and new leaf springs from Springs and Things for example. Stay tunes on that!

 

[PH27L7]

Fabulous job throughout! Whoever your sheet metal guy is, he's an old world craftsman, absolutely first rate. Hats off to you for tackling such an intense project, Imperials are a challenge due to complexity.

 

[commando1]

I had so wished you could integrate the controls into the instrument panel.

 

[Gary Grand]

Nothing major to show right now, but a lot of small things I can update you about.

Nothing major..
You´re underestimating your work!
That´s some serious progress on my eyes!
Really good to see this going forward.

Shopping new small items all around is seriously hard work..

 

[commando1]

I had so wished you could integrate the controls into the instrument panel.

After a night's sleep, I'm still bothered by sticking the controls in the ash tray.
This Imp is being brought back to the condition it was when it rolled off the line and stuffing the HVAC control panel in there is a Saturday night at Dairy Queen Chevy hack.

Will somebody post a sharp, clear picture of the stock controls for me?

 

[Big_John]

Saturday night at Dairy Queen Chevy hack.

With your permission, I'm going to incorporate that into part of my regular conversation.

Thank you.

 

[vdk2010]

After a night's sleep, I'm still bothered by sticking the controls in the ash tray.
This Imp is being brought back to the condition it was when it rolled off the line and stuffing the HVAC control panel in there is a Saturday night at Dairy Queen Chevy hack.

Will somebody post a sharp, clear picture of the stock controls for me?

I looked into doing that but all the vintage air controls are electronically operated and not adaptable to the OEM vacuum switch. I saw no way to do it anyway.

 

[3175375]

I looked into doing that but all the vintage air controls are electronically operated and not adaptable to the OEM vacuum switch. I saw no way to do it anyway.
View attachment 437487 View attachment 437488 View attachment 437489

There is always a way. I don’t know the new control circuit but people have inserted all kinds of controls into old radios...

 

[vdk2010]

There is always a way. I don’t know the new control circuit but people have inserted all kinds of controls into old radios...

Sure, there is always a way, but I'm not a studied electro technician and don't know how to do it

 

[3175375]

Sure, there is always a way, but I'm not a studied electro technician and don't know how to do it

Many here are knowledgeable and could help.
I understand that you are doing what you know, but you have been assembling a masterpiece and with all of the incredible work and attention to detail that you are doing, a more integrated climate control panel would match well with the incredible work that you have done.
My opinion on the controls that you have pictured is that they look like a total scab on low quality item. They may be fine in quality, but that’s their appearance, which is in total conflict with the elegance of the rest of the interior...

 

[Imperialist]

I wonder if it would be easier/possible to adapt the OEM manual control rather than the dreaded Auto Temp?
At least there are fan speed controls.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Well, I presume the original controls will still be there so that'll be good.

I can't imagine folks fussing over this once she's back on the road, too much beauty to admire.

Keep up the good work Julian.

Perhaps a contact with electrical experience could advise whether connecting original and new is possible before you use the ashtray?

Either way your 69 will be stunning.

 

[JJ300]

I honestly believe that I would buy a ticket to Germany just to see the car when it's finished....wow, such detail.!!!!

 

[vdk2010]

I wonder if it would be easier/possible to adapt the OEM manual control rather than the dreaded Auto Temp?
At least there are fan speed controls.

I've never seen manual A/C on an Imperial. If there was such thing, I would imagine it's very hard to find these controls.

 

[vdk2010]

Well, I presume the original controls will still be there so that'll be good.

I can't imagine folks fussing over this once she's back on the road, too much beauty to admire.

Keep up the good work Julian.

Perhaps a contact with electrical experience could advise whether connecting original and new is possible before you use the ashtray?

Either way your 69 will be stunning.

Honestly, I like the ashtray idea as plan B since I couldn't figure out a way to use the OEM controls.

Vintage Air doesn't offer any push button controls I could use. So I would havbe to build something that converts the push button signals to a poti value. And I don't even know where to start on that.

Saturday night at Dairy Queen Chevy hack would be to just throw the controls in there and call it done. But if I do that, I'm gonna do it nice obviously. With brackets, a cover and all that so it looks nice. ;)

 

[ceebuddy]

Julian is a non-smoker, so he sure won't miss not being able to use the ashtray to store old cigarette butts in.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Honestly, I like the ashtray idea as plan B since I couldn't figure out a way to use the OEM controls.

Vintage Air doesn't offer any push button controls I could use. So I would havbe to build something that converts the push button signals to a poti value. And I don't even know where to start on that.

Saturday night at Dairy Queen Chevy hack would be to just throw the controls in there and call it done. But if I do that, I'm gonna do it nice obviously. With brackets, a cover and all that so it looks nice. ;)

Fair enough, considering the excellence of your build I'm sure the ashtray controls will look just fine.

 

[Gary Grand]

Fair enough, considering the excellence of your build I'm sure the ashtray controls will look just fine.

I think that´s best option for now..
It´s better to hide it in ashtray, than hacking something that looks like that vintage air on beautiful original instrument panel..

 

[Imperialist]

I've never seen manual A/C on an Imperial. If there was such thing, I would imagine it's very hard to find these controls.

The manual control A/C was not available on Imperial, but it was on Chrysler and since they use the same instrument panel, a manual control would fit directly. I don't think it would be too hard to find one. It's a matter of adapting it. That's where somebody else would have to chime in. (Since I can't get Auto Temp to work in my '69, I'm thinking of trying to try a manual control myself.)

 

[vdk2010]

The manual control A/C was not available on Imperial, but it was on Chrysler and since they use the same instrument panel, a manual control would fit directly. I don't think it would be too hard to find one. It's a matter of adapting it. That's where somebody else would have to chime in. (Since I can't get Auto Temp to work in my '69, I'm thinking of trying to try a manual control myself.)

Chrysler and Imperial does not have the same A/C dash bezel! So unfortunately a chrysler unit would not work.