Worked fine for me.
How to replace dash vents?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 109
From: B'ham Alabama
How to replace dash vents?
I just acquired a pretty nice 1971 roadster but the interior is a little tired. How do you go about replacing the dash vents, ( the round vents on each lower corner and the the A/C vents at the center top of the console?
Do you have to remove the dash or the console?
Do you have to remove the dash or the console?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 4
From: Woodbridge VA
First things first, congratulations! Now get yourself the AIM assembly manual for your 71.
The center vent is fairly easy, you'll remove the wiper switch bezel only to access the vents. From there it's fairly straight-forward.
The round side vents are more involved. It's much easier to remove the passenger side lower dash pad to access the back side of the vent. From there it's just three screws to remove the mounting bracket. I loosened the driver side lower dash pad and managed to somehow get a screwdriver in place to remove the screws for access. Since I was installing a Vintage Air system I had some additional wriggle room after I removed the conduit for the fresh air intake (non-AC car). You'll probably have AC ducts to work around. Remove what you can to get the needed access. Good luck!
The center vent is fairly easy, you'll remove the wiper switch bezel only to access the vents. From there it's fairly straight-forward.
The round side vents are more involved. It's much easier to remove the passenger side lower dash pad to access the back side of the vent. From there it's just three screws to remove the mounting bracket. I loosened the driver side lower dash pad and managed to somehow get a screwdriver in place to remove the screws for access. Since I was installing a Vintage Air system I had some additional wriggle room after I removed the conduit for the fresh air intake (non-AC car). You'll probably have AC ducts to work around. Remove what you can to get the needed access. Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
If you just want to replace the 'ball' vents, just turn them sideways (front and back openings of the ball facing sideways) and pull it out of the opening. No need to mess with all that 'monkey business' behind the dash pads.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 109
From: B'ham Alabama
This sounds encouraging! Is there a risk of damaging the dash? Will the new replacement vent ***** pop back into the opening and operate correctly?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
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From: Vero Beach FL
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 28
From: Tallmadge Ohio
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
7T1's method works whether the felts are there or not. Pull the *****, remove the old seals (if there is anything left), install new 1/16" thick felt seals, reinsert *****, drive car.
Removing the guts is a TOTAL waste of time.
Removing the guts is a TOTAL waste of time.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
There is no chance of dash damage. When you turn them sideways, there is only about 1/2 of the ball surface contacting the seals. So, it doesn't take very much flexing of the housing to release the ball. It is surprisingly easy to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
Have you installed new ones yet? You may find that the quality of reproduction parts are of a lesser quality than original, in that the parting line (from molding) creates some interference in the operation once in place. To help with this situation, you may want to skip replacing the felts with new as comes with the new *****.
One more tip: you may want to spray the felts with some water or some soapy water to aid in the install of the new *****. It helps as a lubricant.
Good luck with you project and with the car. Congratulations on the purchase.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Making your own seals out of 1/4" strips of black felt will make the ***** easier to insert and move, as well as keep them from 'drooping' due to vehicle vibrations. If the seals need more thickness, add additional layers of felt to achieve the resistance you need. I used a good quality double-sided tape of the same width (find at craft stores) to attach the felt. I've had no problems with them coming loose.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 6, 2014 at 12:05 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
Reach your fingers in and feel around the circumference of the vent sphere's socket. They should be somewhere around the high point of the sphere's diameter. Especially if your old vent spheres were loose, your felts may be heavily worn. In my experience, the sphere wouldn't stay in place without some kind of gasket/felt/etc.
I'll warn you though, many reproduction vent sets include felt that's too thick and causes binding problems when trying to "aim" the new vent sphere. The thickness of the felt, combined with the (perhaps) oversized sphere makes them a VERY tight fit. If your felts are not too worn, you may just want to try and keep them vs replacing.
Hope this helps.