Box swap 3rd gen to 1st gen

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I have a 93 parts truck for my 94 build. I also have an 88 I'm putting together.
I'm swapping the entire powertrain, dash, and everthing else I can.

Question is, will the 93 hvac box bolt up to the 88 firewall. The 93 has A/c and the 88 doesn't.

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[pwrranger88]

im not sure but i have one in my parts truck iff you need it just pay shipping and its yours

 

[JoshT]

It should I believe that they were the same through 94. I think in 95 the firewall changed a little, and I know the 98+ will not bolt on.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

So it is quite possible that the 93 box will fit the 88 and give it a/c, and the 88 box will fit my 94 and clear the 351w valve cover....

Cause that's what I'm hoping for here...

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[snoranger]

So it is quite possible that the 93 box will fit the 88 and give it a/c,

Yes, they will all swap 83-94.

and the 88 box will fit my 94 and clear the 351w valve cover....

It will probably still need to be notched. A body lift will lessen the size of the notch needed.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Awesome!

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[Insanejughead]

Yes, they will all swap 83-94.

It will probably still need to be notched. A body lift will lessen the size of the notch needed.

+1 on this. I swapped a Gen I non-AC box into my '94 ranger after turbocharging it, but I compared the patterns of the two before changing them over. They matched.

 

[wr250rdr]

Hate to thread jack but will a 95-98 bolt into a 94? I want to do a mustang dash swap and I have the wiring figured out but the havc controls are my last hurdle and if I'm not wrong the 95 unit vacuum operated right?

 

[snoranger]

Hate to thread jack but will a 95-98 bolt into a 94? I want to do a mustang dash swap and I have the wiring figured out but the havc controls are my last hurdle and if I'm not wrong the 95 unit vacuum operated right?

Nope. You have 2 HVAC systems. 83-94 and 95+. The firewall is different between them.

 

[wr250rdr]

Are the major through pieces the same? So all I would need to do is patch the holes and make new mounts or is it all different?

 

[snoranger]

Are the major through pieces the same? So all I would need to do is patch the holes and make new mounts or is it all different?

Everything is different, both inside the cab and out.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Hate to drag up an old thread but it seems to make sense to compile all of the info in one place..

I'm planning on adding A/C to my 1987 Ranger when doing a 1992 Thunderbird 5.0 engine swap. The complete engine and ALL accessories are being shipped to me now. I have the A/C - heater plenum on the firewall from a parts truck that I have. But it's an 88/89 model. I'm sure they'll swap just fine, but I'm sure I'll have to trim down the plenum for the V8 valve cover. Still not sure if it'll all fit or not though.. I'll have to buy a dash control to turn on the A/C system also, as my truck is heater only.

From what I'm seeing on Ebay, the heater and A/C control seems to just have a push switch that's only a two wire connection. Seems simple enough to make my own harness. I'm guessing that I could incorporate the high pressure switch and the original compressor connector into a hand built harness that kicks the compressor on using a relay. I know this wouldn't include a Wide Open Throttle cutout but I don't see that being a huge hazard or problem myself. Just push the switch to cycle the compressor off. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Any hazards to be aware of?

Here's a picture of the dash control which shows the back of the A/C switch showing two prongs for the connector, so it seems simple enough..

GB