trouble fitting flex-duct
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
trouble fitting flex-duct
Is there a certain way to put on the flex-duct that runs from the air cleaner to the air intake duct? Mine did not have one on there so I bought the intake duct off Ebay and then I got the flex-duct from Corvette Central. It is a little odd shaped and it seems that I would have to stretch it quite a bit to make it fit. Is this the way it was supposed to be? Is it just a little small so that it seals in any air that comes through it?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Plainfield IL
Re: trouble fitting flex-duct (gmcclurg)
Jonny, I recently installed a pair of ducts on my '81. They are a real pain in the butt. The only suggestion I can offer is patience. I bought my ducts from Mid America. The metal clamps on both ducts broke when I attemped to close them. I complained and received a credit. A rep told me they were in the process of switching suppliers due to ongoing quality problems with their current vendor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: trouble fitting flex-duct (jonny4523)
Suggest you put the duct out in the sun for a couple of hours, and bet you'll find it's much easier to work with and install. If you have the small metal clamps on the flex duct, make sure that they are bent / shaped so that they will go over the plastic duct work, just takes a little time and patience, don't force it. Could also put a little armor all or something similar on the plastic duct work to allow the flex duct to slide more easily.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Re: trouble fitting flex-duct (john's '81 mouse)
ok, thanks. i'll try the sun and the armorall.
Another quick question. Has anybody had clearance problems with the top radiator hose? My top radiator hose hits the air intake duct right now. Is that normal?
Another quick question. Has anybody had clearance problems with the top radiator hose? My top radiator hose hits the air intake duct right now. Is that normal?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: trouble fitting flex-duct (jonny4523)
Not sure about your '77, but I do know that the center duct on my '81 is really close to the upper radiator hose, but can't recall whether it actually hits/touches the hose. Unless it rubs so much that you are getting a lot of chaffing (sp?), don't think it's anything to worry about.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Re: trouble fitting flex-duct (john's '81 mouse)
More than anything, I'm worried about melting. The intake duct DOES touch the hose and it looks like it might have softened enough to mold the shape but the rest of the duct has melted. I'll try to post a pic of what my jibberish means.
