AlV 69 Dodge GTS project

I have the original AC Hardware but have decided to put a Sanden unit in there eventually.

Initially i thought the same as you, and thought is was going to look bad but I am happy with the way the heater hoses routed.

I also took the AC condenser completely out of the heater box and sealed up the vent opening with a piece of sheet metal inside the car and made a metal plate to cover the holes in the firewall. Would have taken the valve off the car, but I wasn't sure that the rest of the heater box controls would work properly and I didn't want to give up heat in my car all together.