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Astro Ventilation Door Movement Guides

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Old Sep 19, 2025 | 06:52 PM
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Default Astro Ventilation Door Movement Guides

I don't know what to call these things, the plastic guides around the actuator rod for the rear Astro Ventilation doors. Anyways, I had a broken one and though I suspect a 3-D printed replacement could be viable, I decided to fab some out of rectangular aluminum stock. Wanted to post here in case anyone else finds themself in this situation. Replacements are currently not available.

Cheers


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Old Sep 19, 2025 | 06:54 PM
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I will clean these up some more probably, then share photos once attached to the doors. Planning to use 1/8" aluminum rivets.
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Old Sep 20, 2025 | 06:39 AM
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What in the world is "Astro Ventilation". Some sort of moon landing?
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Old Sep 20, 2025 | 08:57 AM
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Astro Ventilation is the system GM used in some of their cars for extra ventilation inside the car with a window up or down. On my 1968 C3 it consists of a small entry vent for cool air located near the foot well area. It has a small handle on the center console to open the vents and close them. The system also uses vents mounted on the rear firewall which allow any built up pressure inside the equalize. This vent allows the pressure to be released and the Buffeting stops inside the car.

Astro ventilation is a "Gift from God" when your Corvette doesn't have Air Conditioning. In my C3 convertible the air in the car can get pretty toasty on a hot summer afternoon without A/C. I can open my windows but normally the buffeting gets so bad that it is hard to deal with. With Astro Ventilation your car's internal air is being constantly refreshed and replaced which helps in the warmer weather. Even when both windows are down the buffeting is very minimal inside the car which makes driving it more comfortable. Thanks GM for the Astro ventilation on my 1968 C3!!

It is very important to keep the little rubber flaps nice and flexible so they do their job. I replaced mine as they were a bit dried out.

I heard another poster mention that his rear vents were actuated with a vacuum line. I know NOTHING about the newer C3's and any vacuum system they used with Astro ventilation. I do know that my Astro ventilation works great and I am glad to have it
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Old Sep 20, 2025 | 09:31 AM
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My 57 had “260” air conditioning - 2 windows down at 60 MPH.


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Old Sep 20, 2025 | 09:57 AM
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I am doing the EXACT same thing.


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Old Sep 22, 2025 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by ctmccloskey
Astro Ventilation is the system GM used in some of their cars for extra ventilation inside the car with a window up or down. On my 1968 C3 it consists of a small entry vent for cool air located near the foot well area. It has a small handle on the center console to open the vents and close them. The system also uses vents mounted on the rear firewall which allow any built up pressure inside the equalize. This vent allows the pressure to be released and the Buffeting stops inside the car.

I heard another poster mention that his rear vents were actuated with a vacuum line. I know NOTHING about the newer C3's and any vacuum system they used with Astro ventilation. I do know that my Astro ventilation works great and I am glad to have it
How are your rear vents opened on a 68 ?

71 has a vacuum canister that opens them
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Old Sep 24, 2025 | 09:27 AM
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Where do these go on the car? What are they for? How did you know it was broken? My 1971 Astro-Ventilation consist of two pull ***** on the center console and on/off pulls on the two round vents. Not sure what would need a big bracket like that unless it's on the door in the rear compartment that closes when you turn on the heat (which I never do). Never really paid attention too much about this, I did change the seals on the doors behind the trim panels near your feet and my drivers side window was replaced by previous owner and it was missing the Astro-Ventilation script on it. I bought a sticker for that.
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Old Sep 26, 2025 | 04:56 PM
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@theandies Attached is a photo of the broken piece. I will definitely have to add a window sticker!

@ed427vette yours look like they will turn out cleaner than mine.

My car doesn't have a vacuum system, so I'm planning to run a lawnmower throttle morse cable, with a lock function, but I haven't determined where the lever should live. Maybe just on the rear quarter panel, I don't see myself adjusting the setting while driving.



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Old Sep 26, 2025 | 05:39 PM
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Success.
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Old Sep 27, 2025 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by theandies
Where do these go on the car? What are they for? How did you know it was broken? My 1971 Astro-Ventilation consist of two pull ***** on the center console and on/off pulls on the two round vents. Not sure what would need a big bracket like that unless it's on the door in the rear compartment that closes when you turn on the heat (which I never do). Never really paid attention too much about this, I did change the seals on the doors behind the trim panels near your feet and my drivers side window was replaced by previous owner and it was missing the Astro-Ventilation script on it. I bought a sticker for that.
I missed your question about where these go. They attach to the rear deck drains. On cars with AC, there are blank panels installed. Think of it as the “exhaust” to your intake via the ball vents.
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Old Sep 27, 2025 | 01:21 PM
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Here are pics of my 69 roadster, very original, been off the road since 1978. The pic quality is a bit crappy as I have to take pics of my PC monitor where all the pics are stored. It’s an old PC but good for storing pictures, however, I can’t easily get them back on my iPad which I use to get online right now….my tech hardware sucks….

They attach to the rear wall of the interior and funnel air through the rear vents on the deck lid. Operated by vac controls on the console.


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Old Sep 28, 2025 | 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by iNdigo
I missed your question about where these go. They attach to the rear deck drains. On cars with AC, there are blank panels installed. Think of it as the “exhaust” to your intake via the ball vents.
Got'cha!
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Old Sep 28, 2025 | 11:33 AM
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Hello,
To add to Ed427's photos... here's a photo of the small vacuum actuator on the driver's side and the copper tube and rubber line that runs from the console control to the actuator.
Regards,

The copper tube running along the driveshaft tunnel




The copper tube passing across the lower part of the seat bulkhead and up the lock pillar



The rubber hose running from the copper tube to the vacuum actuator




Drain hose running from the air plenum to the upper rear wheel well ( one on each side) You can also see one of the 3 rectangular foam pads the stopped the rear window tray from rattling.


Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 28, 2025 at 01:48 PM.
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