[tewitt1949]

I have a 56 nomad and it has AC outlets on the lower dash on each side. I see no other indication that it ever had air. If it never had air, why would it have these big heavy outlets?

 

[chevman57]

Do they appear to be in the factory location? Maybe someone did a very good job of adding them before a repaint with the hopes of adding A/C in the future?
Terry

 

[tewitt1949]

If someone added them they did a good job.

 

[Pops @ Tri-5.com]

Tewitt....Is there any other evidence that the car came with A/C? See the A/M FOA110:http://www.trifive.com/garage/56 Chevy Assembly Manual/110-1.gif

 

[Hafrod]

Post a pic of your pass side firewall

 

[tewitt1949]

Here are the pic's

 

[belairdave]

I don't believe it was a factory air car but the dash outlets are correct for a 56.... I bought some original ones on evilbay years ago and paid dearly for them... That was about a year before they started to re pop them... Later, Dave

 

[Pops @ Tri-5.com]

Amoung other things, factory 55/56 A/C cars had the battery relocated to the right front and it was not on the firewall.

 

[tewitt1949]

I think your right, its not a factory AC car. The tag on the fire wall doesn't say anything about air either. I've had the car about 30 years so the air outlets are not repops. When I got it, the car had already been repainted but wasn't a quality job that I would be proud of. There was no motor or trany in it when I got it, but the rumor was it did have a big block buick in it. I believe that to true because I had to replace the front springs as they were way too stiff for a small block chevy.

Getting back to the air outlets, the openings look good and round(not jagged from a chain saw, just kidding) but the edges are sharp compared to other factory panel edges, which make think they were cut by hand. I didn't know if the factory would take a standard dash (not wanting to make a special die since there wernt many AC cars made and dies are expensive) and cut them in by hand. But then we get back to the question, Why have them if no air? If someone liked the looks of them on the dash, could they special order the outlets and no other air componets?

 

[Rick_L]

Just to continue your confusion, I think the holes for the vents were cut by hand at the factory, they were not stamped.

 

[Hafrod]

Yes people it IS factory air! See the size of the hole for the blower motor? These were not stamped. All of them I have seen look like a butcher job. I had to rework the blower hole on my 56 cause all my factory AC stuff on the firewall was missing. I put a deluxe heater assembly in it.

 

[tewitt1949]

If it is a factory air car, shouldn't it say air on the tag on the firewall? You are correct the hole for the fan motor is way too big. On the tag I thought ACC was short for accessory. What does ACC stand for?

 

[Hafrod]

A factory air car does not have a stamping on the cowl tag

 

[acardon]

The factory air cars had a triangular hole next to the blower motor hole in the firewall, also. http://www.trifive.com/garage/56%20Chevy%20Assembly%20Manual/110-8.gif Is there signs that it was welded shut? There may also be holes in the inner fender where the battery was relocated, as someone mentioned.

 

[Shrunken_Head]

Factory Air cars had the cowl tag on the drivers side. It should also indicate AC in the accessory field of the tag. There are a few pics in this thread. http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47310&page=2

 

[Hafrod]

My cowl tag was still on the pass side but was bent over the edge of the AC firewall mount. Alot were installed later as dealer add ons.

 

[Hafrod]

It may not have rolled off the assembly line with air but someone put it on or at least attempted it. Thats the ONLY reason to have the big blower motor hole.

 

[tewitt1949]

My cowl tag is on the passanger side.