Drag Racing Tech - Can I keep my HVAC with a full cage?

Don't know if I'm up for cruising in 90 degree heat without my AC but the front down bar on passenger side from windshield down looks like it will not fit with hvac unit in car.
What options do I have? If any... :confused:
Still at very begining stages of cage install. Totally removed everything from interior including dash. Wolfracecraft 8pt.
Thanks

You will lose the corner vents, just have to block off the ducts, but you can keep the center ones, if you don't put a dash bar in

Ok. I'll have to look closer at it when I get home from work. Sure looked like the actual blower portion of the hvac unit was in the way. Have you heard of anyone gutting the heating core to save some weight while still keeping ac?

Putting the down bars in front of the dash instead of through it will allow you to keep everything.
Down side will be that the dash won't be removeable.

Down side will be that the dash won't be removeable.

Plus it will look like shit.

And you will likely shack your knee to death every time you get in and out of the car :bang:

I would not run them unless they are properly located in dash. I'm kinda a big dude and it is cramped for me somewhat already.
Can anyone tell me if they or anyone else has modified the box to keep ac and lose the heat? That should cut down some weight. I'm probably just going to open her up and see what i can do.
When deleting heat do i just block off both ends on water pump OR do I make a loop/bypass connecting both???
Sorry for all the questions but this is all new to me.

You can block the water pump off, or loop it either will work. Most people ditch the ag and put a cheap heater in to retain the defrost ability to stop the glass from fogging up... Not sure why you want to keep the ag part, taking the heat only out won't save much, the heater core, and lines are pretty light

what about a smaller aftermarket unit?

http://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-racing-tech/1218671-lets-see-those-10-point-cages-3.html

A little searching would give you a clear picture. This car doesn't have the HVAC but you can see how far above the block off panel the bar is.

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/cage_rear.jpg


NRC said they could do a 10pt Cage certified for 8.5, put the dash bar in place and retain the HVAC. NRC is probably one of the top 5/10 shops in the entire country that has been doing it for a while, so I don't know the actual particulars, there are a few of their cars around on this site that have 10pts and retain full HVAC.

$3300 for 8.5 cert-ed cage and mini tubs was the quote I got last year, 100% street car retaining the back seat, HVAC and dash

http://www.nrcmotorsports.com/index.html

You can block the water pump off, or loop it either will work. Most people ditch the ag and put a cheap heater in to retain the defrost ability to stop the glass from fogging up... Not sure why you want to keep the ag part, taking the heat only out won't save much, the heater core, and lines are pretty light

Thanks... I don't want to ditch air conditioning because I cruise with this thing 99% of the time only in summer.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-racing-tech/1218671-lets-see-those-10-point-cages-3.html

A little searching would give you a clear picture. This car doesn't have the HVAC but you can see how far above the block off panel the bar is.

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/cage_rear.jpg


NRC said they could do a 10pt Cage certified for 8.5, put the dash bar in place and retain the HVAC. NRC is probably one of the top 5/10 shops in the entire country that has been doing it for a while, so I don't know the actual particulars, there are a few of their cars around on this site that have 10pts and retain full HVAC.

$3300 for 8.5 cert-ed cage and mini tubs was the quote I got last year, 100% street car retaining the back seat, HVAC and dash

http://www.nrcmotorsports.com/index.html

Appreciate the info. It's not the dash bar that would interfer but the down bar on the right that follows the windshield. If I have to ditch the entire hvac setup then I will... just going to try to make it fit first and attempt every avenue. If there are any secrets out there I sure would like to know them.

what about a smaller aftermarket unit?

Thought about this but $$$ is always an issue... :burn: