[Tambo]

I need to remove the heater/a/c control module from the dash of my 70 GTO.
The bottom 3/8 nuts were a snack as was the glove box side one ... but the driver side one has limited access and I just can't get a tool on it to remove it.

Any clues?

Its the one on the top left of the pic ...

[Oldeboy70]

Does this car have AC?
I was able to get to this nut over the winter when I war re-installing after replacing dash pad. (no AC in my 70)

[Oldeboy70]

I did have the radio out at the time. I assume you have it out as well.

[Tambo]

I have everything out ... glove box, ashtray unit, radio, factory a/c ducts, ... my hair (pulled out).
Hope I remember where it all goes back. lol

Originally, I did this to get the damned fan switch out (faulty) but I noticed the air direction roller at the top of the unit was broken, so I have to take the whole lot out to repair it.

[Oldeboy70]

Did you try reaching it laying on your back in the passenger foot well?
I just went out to check but my radio is re-installed. (in the way)
If you can't reach it from the passenger footwell you might try laying in the driver side footwell.
The AC unit (switch/level) may be more complicated to reach that nut than non-ac.

[Tambo]

Yes I've tried all that. I can see it from the driver foot well and get a socket with a uni joint onto it but can't get downward pressure and when I try to turn the socket it slips off.
If I could get the top a/c duct off, I might get a better shot at it.

[Oldeboy70]

Ah ha. I don't have AC (no ductwork there) so that's where the difficultly lies. (clearance with ductwork)
Can you get a finger ratchet driver up there? That way you could apply some axial pressure on the nut/threads.

[Tambo]

Afraid not ... there isn't enough room.
Its a catch 22 situation where I could get the duct out if I remove the controls first, but can't remove the controls to get the duct out of the way.

[Tambo]

[QUOTE=Tambo;5156530]Originally, I did this to get the damned fan switch out (faulty) but I noticed the air direction roller at the top of the unit was broken, so I have to take the whole lot out to repair it.



I've solved the broken air direction roller problem.
Some of you may be aghast, but I positioned the roller in a most used position then from behind the dash, drilled a hole through the duct and on through the side of the roller and screwed a pk screw through the lot.
Roller secured - duct secured - job done! Amen.

Now just waiting on the a/c fan switch coming from Old Air Products in TX.

[Tambo]

Well the heater fan switch arrived today, and being unable to remove the control unit from the dash I once again got into the contortionist routine and endeavoured to screw the new switch into place ... five hours later I secured the first of the two 1/4 AF screws!

As the screws are under an a/c duct (that I can't get out) with about 3/8" clearance, it is impossible to hold the screw in place with your finger. So I devised a cunning scheme to hold a screw in the ring spanner with a flat magnet ... FAIL! I couldn't get enough turn on the screw to engage it with the thread and therefore lift the magnetised spanner off for a new turn.





Next, I used sticky tape to hold the screws in position on the switch and placed it over the threaded holes (which are unsighted due to their position). This worked AFTER THREE HOURS on the first one. After another hour, the second one refused to start. So being in a good frame of mind by this stage I used the professional approach and threw the efn thing out the door and made sure the first and only one is extra tight.

I have an idea that my methods won't ever be plagiarised by any technical writers.