1965 fresh air vents leak
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
1965 fresh air vents leak
I never had this problem until the car was stripped and painted. I have taken off the wiper cowl vents and cleaned them and the sides that drain water with air and water. I did get a lot of debris from the drain hole under the car. I still get water coming in from the fresh air vents. I have now removed the fresh air vent cover and flapper. There is no debris inside. Will a new fresh air vent seal kit prevent water from getting in? Any help , any ideas. Thanks.
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
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Put dum dum around the flange and screw it back down.
#3
Le Mans Master
Seal kit
Buy the kit from Dr. Rebuild. It is really inexpensive. If original, your seals are almost 50 years old. It may also be a good time to check on the operation of the cables and add oil to them. Once replaced, you can check with a hose to see if the fix prevents water from getting into your interior. Good luck. Jerry
#4
Team Owner
If its like my '63 the rubber seals are sandwiched between two metal plates and secured with rivets. Not much fun to change but its doable and helps seal the cockpit a lot.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 05-08-2015 at 04:33 PM.
#5
Race Director
I don't believe you should be getting water in through your vents even with worn out seals. GM didn't design the car to require the owner to remember to shut the vents every time they walked away from the car to prevent rain water on the floor boards. You have something else going on in there. Since you have the grill and vent out, I would run some water into the cowl vent while watching the vent opening to see where and how it's coming in. I think there is a diverter and dam around the vent opening inside the dogleg and maybe it has been damaged somewhere on the top side. Has the front clip been replaced on your car? With the vent out you can reach in there and feel if the diverter flange is intact all around the perimeter.
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dbw (05-29-2020)
#6
Team Owner
I don't believe you should be getting water in through your vents even with worn out seals. GM didn't design the car to require the owner to remember to shut the vents every time they walked away from the car to prevent rain water on the floor boards. You have something else going on in there. Since you have the grill and vent out, I would run some water into the cowl vent while watching the vent opening to see where and how it's coming in. I think there is a diverter and dam around the vent opening inside the dogleg and maybe it has been damaged somewhere on the top side. Has the front clip been replaced on your car? With the vent out you can reach in there and feel if the diverter flange is intact all around the perimeter.
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1960 (03-03-2022)
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks for the input. Front clip has been replaced. I'll have to feel around the diverter. I am going to install the new seal kit.
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1960 (03-03-2022)
#8
Instructor
Thread Starter
1965 fresh air vent leaks
Thanks for the input. I have the new seal kit to install. The rear clip was replaced, but I'll still feel around the diverter.
#9
Instructor
Member Since: Sep 2004
Location: Flower Mound TX
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#10
I thought there was a drain hole somewhere at the bottom of the plenum? If that us plugged, water will flood he plenum area and spill out of the vent. In any event, you don't want water sitting in the plenum.
Mark
Mark
#11
Drifting
I don't believe you should be getting water in through your vents even with worn out seals. GM didn't design the car to require the owner to remember to shut the vents every time they walked away from the car to prevent rain water on the floor boards. You have something else going on in there. Since you have the grill and vent out, I would run some water into the cowl vent while watching the vent opening to see where and how it's coming in. I think there is a diverter and dam around the vent opening inside the dogleg and maybe it has been damaged somewhere on the top side. Has the front clip been replaced on your car? With the vent out you can reach in there and feel if the diverter flange is intact all around the perimeter.
Steve
#12
How are these vents designed to open and close? Mine looks just like the one pictured in post #4, no control attached to operate it. Or is the control cable not in view? It opens and closes easily with my hand.
#13
Never mind, found this. Looks like I am missing the control completely!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-routing.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-routing.html