Another 68-ism?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Another 68-ism?
I'm still having an issue with my driver side Astro-vent ball.
Here's the deal. The felt seals supplied by the aftermarket are just too fat as compared to the stock ones in my '68. The felt seal that came in a replacement duct sent to me was also too fat. The ball simply can't turn without stressing the duct area.
It's not a matter of age, mine are just thinner. I don't know if this is only the case with '68 non-AC cars or if it extends to all the early non-AC cars. I had a buddy pop a ball out of his non-AC '68 and he also confirmed the skinny felt.
But the bottom line is that I'm looking to buy a used felt - preferably from a 68-69 without AC.
-W
Here's the deal. The felt seals supplied by the aftermarket are just too fat as compared to the stock ones in my '68. The felt seal that came in a replacement duct sent to me was also too fat. The ball simply can't turn without stressing the duct area.
It's not a matter of age, mine are just thinner. I don't know if this is only the case with '68 non-AC cars or if it extends to all the early non-AC cars. I had a buddy pop a ball out of his non-AC '68 and he also confirmed the skinny felt.
But the bottom line is that I'm looking to buy a used felt - preferably from a 68-69 without AC.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Aug 24, 2011 at 12:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,613
Likes: 3,094
From: Shamong, NJ
Did you buy new vent ***** too. It seems to me that some of the ***** on the market, are slightly smaller than the original ones. The felts may be oversize, to compensate for the smaller diameter of the repop vent *****.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
The felt issue is an older vs newer or AC vs NON-AC. Even the OEM used felt I got was fatter than mine. So I'm sure of that which I speak here.
-W
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,380
Likes: 415
From: N J
Yer not alone. Same here with my 68 felts and repro *****. I loosened up the 3 screws on the back of the dash that holds the ball in to make it a little easier to move, buts its still not as ez as the originals. If they didint look so ratty looking I would have left them in.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Gentleman, you three are on a public forum taking about....your *****.
I LOVE IT!!!
P. S. My felts are ratty and need to be replaced, but I've left them in for the time being. Replacement is one of those "when I get around to it" things, which I seem never to get around to.
I LOVE IT!!!
P. S. My felts are ratty and need to be replaced, but I've left them in for the time being. Replacement is one of those "when I get around to it" things, which I seem never to get around to.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 24, 2011 at 02:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Yer not alone. Same here with my 68 felts and repro *****. I loosened up the 3 screws on the back of the dash that holds the ball in to make it a little easier to move, buts its still not as ez as the originals. If they didint look so ratty looking I would have left them in.
I put my ***** in a caliper (ouch!) and they were pretty much dead on on both axis.
-W
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
Just buy a small piece of black felt material. Cut it into 1/4" wide strips by 4-6" in length. Put some double-sided tape on one side of the felt. After cleaning the vinyl where the seals will sit, press the felt/tape into place. Put seals at inner and outer locations for each ball socket. Turn the ball 90* (outlet/inlet facing to the sides of the car) and push it into the socket. Then turn the ball to face outward. It'll be good for another 25+ years.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Just buy a small piece of black felt material. Cut it into 1/4" wide strips by 4-6" in length. Put some double-sided tape on one side of the felt. After cleaning the vinyl where the seals will sit, press the felt/tape into place. Put seals at inner and outer locations for each ball socket. Turn the ball 90* (outlet/inlet facing to the sides of the car) and push it into the socket. Then turn the ball to face outward. It'll be good for another 25+ years.
-W
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
When you get the 'green' felt strips constructed, use a [permanent] black felt-tipped marker (how ironic 
) to turn it black. Or, if you already have a can of SEM black vinyl dye, use that. This isn't brain surgery....
) to turn it black. Or, if you already have a can of SEM black vinyl dye, use that. This isn't brain surgery....
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Something about a guy named Clams talking about his ***** just seems all wrong. If it will help stop all this nastyness... 
Email me your address to WillcoxCustomerService@Willcoxcorvette.c om and I'll send you a used felt from a dash pad I'm going to toss out tomorrow.
Willcox
Email me your address to WillcoxCustomerService@Willcoxcorvette.c om and I'll send you a used felt from a dash pad I'm going to toss out tomorrow.
Willcox
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran