Vintage Air driver side install snafu
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: New York
Vintage Air driver side install snafu
I am 99% complete with installing Vintage Air gen IV system. It’s in my 1969 Corvette convertible that did not have original ac. I finally was able to fit the supplied plastic duct into place underneath the steering column, but in order to twist it into place, had to remove the hood release bracket from the A pillar. Now I have no way to remount the bracket, as the two bolt holes are complete blocked by the perfectly placed duct. Has anybody experienced this issue and found a way around it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 725
From: Marietta GA
I have a 73 convertible so there is a brace on the drivers side. Never had any trouble removing or installing the plastic duct. I have a note that I wrote on the top “Push in Clutch “ before installing. I used my hand to push in the clutch, then get the round tube pushed into the chrome ball outlet. The 68 could be different, I wouldn’t know, but never read where any one had to remove the brake release. I replaced the felt air seal that goes into the chrome ball and that made it a little bit harder to get in. Maybe remove the chrome ball so you can align the round tube. Look at the Corvette Suppliers catalog to see if the 1968 AC Duct is the same as the 1973, then you will know if you are doing something wrong when installing the duct. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: New York
Thanks for the reply. The clutch pedal doesn’t get in the way, other than serving as a battering ram for my head when I’m under there. There just isn’t enough room under the dash to twist or just slide the duct straight across to the air register with the hood release bracket sticking out from above the kick panel. And once the duct is in place, the holes for the bracket are covered by the duct. So I now have the duct in place, but cannot reinstall the bracket!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 725
From: Marietta GA
Are all years C3 ducts the same? I am wondering if the drives side duct you have is made for a different year. I can’t look at my catalogs to see if the 1968 and 1973 are the same duct. Did your car have the chrome ball on the drivers and passenger dash panel? The cars with factory air had them.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: New York
I checked the pets catalogs. All the same. Good thought, though. I may just have to be very clever and nimble when I give it a go again later. I had to take much of it down in order to change the left blinker indicator bulb that inevitably fell out of the socket into the Speedo. Thanks for your thoughts and responses.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Imo
I am 99% complete with installing Vintage Air gen IV system. It’s in my 1969 Corvette convertible that did not have original ac. I finally was able to fit the supplied plastic duct into place underneath the steering column, but in order to twist it into place, had to remove the hood release bracket from the A pillar. Now I have no way to remount the bracket, as the two bolt holes are complete blocked by the perfectly placed duct. Has anybody experienced this issue and found a way around it?
LH VA driver duct usually hits your foot.
hood release bracket is tough to get bolted back on with LH dash in let alone VA LH duct. I installed flex duct to replace LH VA duct. Or i have also gotten a hair dryer and heated the VA duct and flattened it a bit to get clearance.
Flex duct is easier i want to remember you need 4" but check
Hope this helps
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: New York
Solved! Thank you for the tips and motivation. I removed the duct, and in doing so found that the wiring harness had slipped out of place, causing the duct to be pushed further forward on the car that itt should have been. I reinstalled the hood release bracket and repositioned the harness, allowing the duct to slip by the bracket (and the remnants of the removed diagonal support brace), finally meeting up with the vent hole. It also allowed the duct to be raised another inch, making it virtually invisible to the driver. It is locked in tight against the two brackets, leaving just enough room for the courtesy light socket to fit in. Finally, a well-placed long zip tie around the steering column bracket pulls the duct up nicely. Now, on to cramming the center gauge cluster back into place!
