Dumb question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 129
From: Plainfield IN
Dumb question
I know this is a dumb question, but I have to ask it in case I'm missing something. My '78 non ac car - how in the world do I get some decent fresh air while driving in the rain with the windows up?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Not a dumb question at all! I wonder about that too, because I could not see anything, anywhere, where there is a fresh air source in these cars. My interior was a shell, mind you and I still saw nothing. Or are we missing something?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 129
From: Plainfield IN
No Astro Vent on mine. Remember the good old days you had fresh air come in at your feet by pulling a **** on the bottom of the dash? There was a duct on both sides in the engine compartment that went to the front that supplied the cool fresh air - what happen to thoses?
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 5
From: Springfield Missouri
While I've never owned a car without AC (though my 76's AC is inop. right now) I would think that you just set the HVAC controls to "Vent" and it'd pull air through the box.
Maybe I'm wrong; hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in. Good luck.
Maybe I'm wrong; hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 129
From: Plainfield IN
That's the problem - that air is usually not that cool.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 5
From: Springfield Missouri
It's probably not intended to be cool, just fresh. If you wanted cool air you ordered AC, at least if I were the marketing guy back in the day that's what I'd have told people.
Sorry I can't help.
Sorry I can't help.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,144
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From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
Make sure your hood seal is good and there are no other holes from the engine compartment into the windshield wiper bay. That's where you get your outside air.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
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From: Plainfield IN
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
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From: eastern NC
Restoring the original A/C may no longer be an option for you, but one thing you might consider is a system such as Vintage Air offers. It's a modern system that is very efficient, compact and with a dose of mechanical ability on your part can be installed at home. Not inexpensive, but it can make that classic into a joy to drive year around... even in South Florida.
I've seen quite a few vintage muscle cars transformed in recent years from being fair weather cars into year around cruisers by many of these modern systems. We recently installed a modern climate control system in a '69 Camaro, with a tricked out 383 and a high stall automatic. Something pretty much unheard of back in the day. Technology can be a great thing.
Good luck... GUSTO
Racer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 360
Likes: 37
From: Sebastian FL
ventilation
It was a long time ago but I had a '78 with A/C and wanted fresh air to the driver side. I pulled the kick panel off by the LH side and cut a hole in the fiberglass. This opened up airflow from the plenum. Used an air valve off a C-2 to control the flow. It worked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
No Astro Vent on mine. Remember the good old days you had fresh air come in at your feet by pulling a **** on the bottom of the dash? There was a duct on both sides in the engine compartment that went to the front that supplied the cool fresh air - what happen to thoses?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 129
From: Plainfield IN
That sounds like a great solution - just what I wanted to hear. But more details would be nice. Thx