Progress update, I have put the dash bar back in, and connected every wires, and miracle the car starts just fine ... that's a relief
I confirm that the car can run without ANY airbag sensors. I have at this point removed completely the airbag sensor located at the bottom of the central console, and all wirings associated.
PAINT
This was a pain, I brushed the metal with a drill metal brush, then sprayed rustoleum primer, then color matched paint, then a clear coat. Not perfect but saved a bunch of money.
I sent the dash bar to power coating, it came out great
AC RETROFIT
As I was working on the car, I realized that the AC module may fit... not the full HVAC box, but only the AC part.
I unscrewed the box and the bottom part is only the AC and electrical and it ended up fitting to the inch, below the knee bar I have in the car. Without the knee bar I would have certainly put the whole HVAC system back in but I like the extra bar.
The full HVAC box. White on the left side is the heat and directional conduits, on the right it is the recirculation conduits.
HVAC box less heating system
HVAC without heat or recirculation
HVAC - AC ONLY in the car
I am still working on putting the wiring wherein belong and arrange it nicely, but it is coming along nicely.
The only piece I am not super excited about is the placement of the fuse box and power steering box. But with a couple of zip ties, I think they are pretty secure. I wish there was a nice bracket available but the location is pretty tight and the cable are just long enough to go there, no wiggle room at all.
DISCOVERY - STEERING PULLS OUT
Of course now that I am done, I just realize that the whole front steering assembly can be pulled out without any tool. I am glad I found it out because it was not easy to screw the steering column back to the dash bar. Once the front part removed, it was much easier / lighter to put together.
Steering assembly:
The whole front part slides right out (all wiring is unplugged):
Only this part remains and it is much easier to work around the steering column... I wish I had done that... last week
Hopefully it will help others.
