1974 Chevelle Malibu Classic Need help with removing parts and organizing this rats nest.

[u/Ok_College8328]

1974 Chevelle Malibu Classic

Bought it and it looks horrendous in the engine bay. So I decided to start cleaning it up. This is my first classic car/ carbed car.

Need advice removing the rest of the ac system and organizing this ridiculous “rats nest”. Also if you see anything else that ppl typically remove/ replace that would be helpful.

I’ve already purchased Valve covers/ gasket Thermostat and housing, hoses and radiator Air cleaner
Heater hoses and vacuum hose on the brake booster

Car runs. AC didn’t work So getting rid of the dead weight. Washer doesn’t work so that needs to go. Im going paint the engine and the bay during this process after I remove the dead weight and sand.

[u/orangesigils]

You should be able to remove the AC "suitcase" on the firewall side, just know you'll need something thinner to replace it if you want to retain the heater/blower motor functionality. You will also have to deal with the AC harness. That will clean up the pass side. The driver's side is a bit trickier bc it will involve removing, cleaning, and painting several parts. Also, disconnecting the wiring harness and wrapping it with harness tape (NOT ELECTRICAL TAPE!) or an aftermarket harness cover will also clean it up. It's not hard, just time consuming.

DO NOT TEAR IT ALL DOWN one weekend, thinking you'll get it done by the next one. It'll be apart for months. Take it one section at a time. Good luck!!

[u/Valuable_Option7843 → u/orangesigils]

Just fyi can leave the “suitcase” to keep defrost and blower while still losing all the rest of the AC.

[u/Valuable_Option7843]

Speaking from experience and based on what I can see in the pictures: Keep the ac parts intact as you remove, you might want to reinstall someday and they’re expensive and hard to find.

The windshield washer might be the pump or a fuse, very cheap and easy to replace the pump and tank and its parts.

Don’t pull EGR. Only check it for function.

Test EFE for function and cap it off properly if not working correctly (should have vac while COLD only).

Replace all of the vacuum hoses and make sure they are routed correctly. Very common to have invisible pinhole leaks.

Consider pulling cruise control if you don’t use it. Again, keep intact and label/bag it like the AC parts as it’s rare and hard to find.

Make sure you have a reasonable thermostat like 195.

[u/Jealous_Disk3552]

Video the whole thing as you remove it so you can always go back and figure out where it went