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1969 vent door removal

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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 12:44 PM
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Default 1969 vent door removal

would like to pull the fresh air vent doors in the lower kick panel to replace the seal. This looks like it should be simple. There is a spring on the upper hinge, and pulling the door up compresses the spring and should allow the lower hinge pivot to come out of the hole and release the door. Even with the door pushed up all the way, there is not enough slack to get it out. Anyone run into this? thanks
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 12:59 PM
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I think I know what your problem is Bellaire. When you pull up on the door to compress the spring, you must push the bottom of the door towards the outside of the car. They will not pull inboard, only outboard. I just replaced the seals in mine and reinstalled them Good Luck, Rick
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 69L46vert
I think I know what your problem is Bellaire. When you pull up on the door to compress the spring, you must push the bottom of the door towards the outside of the car. They will not pull inboard, only outboard. I just replaced the seals in mine and reinstalled them Good Luck, Rick
Thanks Rick! That did it
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 02:22 PM
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Hi,
I just recently had one of my vent doors out (fishing a screw out of the bottomless pit that is the hinge pillar) and realized that the top of the oval opening that the door fits in has a little 'track' that if followed compresses the sprung pin as the door is moved into place to make installation easier.
It's hard to see because it's on the top of the oval.
My thought at the time was that it made assembly on the production line easier because I doubt it was done to make it easier for us!
Regards,
Alan

Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 7, 2014 at 02:25 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
I just recently had one of my vent doors out (fishing a screw out of the bottomless pit that is the hinge pillar) and realized that the top of the oval opening that the door fits in has a little 'track' that if followed compresses the sprung pin as the door is moved into place to make installation easier.
It's hard to see because it's on the top of the oval.
My thought at the time was that it made assembly on the production line easier because I doubt it was done to make it easier for us!
Regards,
Alan
I would like to do the same thing. Do you get new doors or new seals and where.
Thanks
R
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 05:52 PM
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Doc Rebuild is one of the better places to get things like that imo. The rubber is very good quality and comes with all the rivets and what not. It was one of the more enjoyable jobs for me. Just my $0.02.
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 05:57 PM
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Hi r,
I agree that Dr. R is a good source for the seals.
It appears replacing the seals involves dealing with the small tubular rivets which convinced me to leave mine alone.
How did you set the rivets L46.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi r,
I agree that Dr. R is a good source for the seals.
It appears replacing the seals involves dealing with the small tubular rivets which convinced me to leave mine alone.
How did you set the rivets L46.
Regards,
Alan
The rivets that I got from the Doc already had a counterbore in the soon to be peened end so all you need is a conical drift, a light hammer and some kind of a small anvil. Rick
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 07:35 PM
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Hi Rick,
Thanks!
That does make it sound like something ordinary people can do.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Nov 7, 2014 | 07:50 PM
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I cheated and used small screws on mine, about 25 years ago. Lou
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Old Nov 8, 2014 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 69L46vert
Doc Rebuild is one of the better places to get things like that imo. The rubber is very good quality and comes with all the rivets and what not. It was one of the more enjoyable jobs for me. Just my $0.02.
Yes, it was a rewarding project. I used the Doc Rebuild kit as well, it has everything you need..for someone planning on doing this, be aware three of the rivets for each side are slightly longer, for the attached pivots.




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Old Nov 8, 2014 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by bellaireroad
Yes, it was a rewarding project. I used the Doc Rebuild kit as well, it has everything you need..for someone planning on doing this, be aware three of the rivets for each side are slightly longer, for the attached pivots.




Nice job, just got done ordering my kit. Should be a fun project.
R
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Old Apr 3, 2017 | 07:41 PM
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I realize that this was an old thread but if someone reading this knows what the measurement of the foam is where it sticks out please comment . It looks like about 1/2 inch all of the way around. It looks simple enough and I want to make my own tomorrow while I have the doors out . Thanks , BJ
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Old Apr 3, 2017 | 08:55 PM
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Glad I came across this thread, as mine have been staring at me and saying please fix me.
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