C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

'69 gill slits question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 05:53 PM
  #1  
Mark Otnes's Avatar
Mark Otnes
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 49
Default '69 gill slits question

Can someone explain why some of the '69s I've seen have the rearmost gill slits blocked off? It looks so much better when all 4 on each side are open. I understand the chromed inserts were an option, but what's with blocking slit #4? Thanks! —Mark
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 06:06 PM
  #2  
vettebuyer6369's Avatar
vettebuyer6369
Administrator
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Default

Actually, all the '68-69 rear gills come blocked off stock. If its open, thats the one thats been modified.

What you see is an optical illusion. If the rear gill is painted black to "blackout" the gill, it looks open. Cars with the polished louvers in '69 and the back gill painted black look open. They arent.

Last edited by vettebuyer6369; Aug 19, 2014 at 11:16 PM. Reason: whew, cant type in old age
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 06:14 PM
  #3  
Mark Otnes's Avatar
Mark Otnes
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 49
Default

Okay, thanks. But WHY is that one blocked off to begin with? And the ones I'm thinking of were not painted black to simulate being open, but were actually open. So you're saying someone cut into something to open that last slit up?
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 07:52 PM
  #4  
gbvette62's Avatar
gbvette62
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Default

Originally Posted by Mark Otnes
Okay, thanks. But WHY is that one blocked off to begin with? And the ones I'm thinking of were not painted black to simulate being open, but were actually open. So you're saying someone cut into something to open that last slit up?
If they were open, then the car's ventilation system isn't going to work properly.

That area of the fender, is where the cowl is closed up, to create a plenum for outside fresh air, to be fed to the interior. Air is drawn in at the base of the windshield, down through the plenum formed in the cowl, and out through the vent ***** in the dash.

The first three vents are open, to vent hot air out from under the hood. If that forth vent is open, it will draw the hot under hood air and fumes, from the other three vents, into the interior.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 08:50 PM
  #5  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi,
In rvzio's thread "rvzio's 69 restore" (on this page) there's a picture of the gill openings taken from the inside of the fender so you can see why the last gill can't be open.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 10:25 PM
  #6  
Mark Otnes's Avatar
Mark Otnes
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 49
Default

Wow. I believe you, but I've seen it, up close, so these owners are doing SOMETHING to open that 4th slit.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2014 | 11:18 PM
  #7  
vettebuyer6369's Avatar
vettebuyer6369
Administrator
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Default

Originally Posted by Mark Otnes
Wow. I believe you, but I've seen it, up close, so these owners are doing SOMETHING to open that 4th slit.
We are not saying some people dont take a saw and cut that open. What we are saying is, the original design is closed and maybe paint schemes make more look open than actually are.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 02:15 AM
  #8  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Default

At the factory, the rear 'gill' was given a "blackout" treatment with some satin black paint....so that it would appear to be open. What "Bubba" does when he gets hold of it, I couldn't say....
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 07:52 AM
  #9  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Mark
If you open the last gill the opening is in the hinge pillar air plenum as gb explained.
Regards,
Alan

The rear area of the 70-72 side grill opening is blocked off for the SAME reason.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 08:08 AM
  #10  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by Mark Otnes
...Okay, thanks. But WHY is that one blocked off to begin with?...
There are bonding areas behind each closed off gill. Hence the closing.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 01:57 PM
  #11  
Red Vert 02's Avatar
Red Vert 02
Pro
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 628
Likes: 34
From: Evergreen Park Illinois
Default


Originally Posted by Mark Otnes
Can someone explain why some of the '69s I've seen have the rearmost gill slits blocked off? It looks so much better when all 4 on each side are open. I understand the chromed inserts were an option, but what's with blocking slit #4? Thanks! —Mark

Here is why you should not cut open the rear gill. The vent door for the interior kick panels is right there.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 02:17 PM
  #12  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by Red Vert 02
...Here is why you should not cut open the rear gill. The vent door for the interior kick panels is right there....
So is the bonding strip to the right. Ditto for the driver's side. There's a reason the gills are closed.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To '69 gill slits question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:32 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE