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: 10,992
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From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
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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
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From: Plainfield IN
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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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