heater control assembly wiring problem, no heat!!

[mgatlag]

Hey all-
I've been messing with trying to get my heater working and have been completely stumped. The PO (dad) removed the AC many years ago and now that the car is mine, I'd like to have at least the heat working again. I have a good working heater control assembly but can't get it to work unless I touch a ground wire to the metal slide arm. When I do this, the blower motor comes on just fine but the wire gets really really hot. So this tells me I have a wiring issue and I'm thinking it has something to do with dad removing the AC. Here's the question... What is going to be the easiest way to get my heater working again now that the AC is gone? I have read all the wiring diagrams and know that power goes through the AC switch (which I still have) and the switch overrides the slide levers when AC is on. And when AC is off, the slides operate the heater controls. Does anyone have any pics of their wiring to show me, or tell me what the hell to do? It's 36 degrees today and I don't feel like bundling up just to drive to work!! Thanks.