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Fresh Air Vent door

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Bruce74B

Jedi Knight
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OK Gang, I have another "newbie" question...
How is the fresh air vent door supposed to work? I have a faint recollection (from my 69B I owned in the 1980's) but my handle on my 74 is in the staight down position and doesn't want to move in any direction...and before I continue to struggle to get it working, can one of you tell me how it is supposed to work...like which direction in open and which is closed???

Thanks!

Bruce
 
The door has two hinges at the top. Operating properly (not rusted shut!), you pull the handle TOWARD you to open the door. Push it AWAY from you, and it shuts.

(When you pull it toward you, the handle will also go up a bit.)

You probably want to get yourself contorted and upside down under the steering column so you can take a close look at what's going on. Then you'll be able to see the door and the two hinges on the top.

Most likely, you should get some lubricant on the hinges and work it back and forth to limber it up. You may want to unscrew the door (I think it's just four little screws that hold the hinges on the firewall) and take it out for rehab. (Rust removing, painting, and new weatherstrip.)

Good luck! Other than the contortion maneuvers you need to make to get your head in there under the dash, it should be easy for you to see what's going on!

[ 01-27-2003: Message edited by: Kim de B ]</p>
 
And sometimes they just feel stiff anyway. It isn't a smooth variable open/close, it has two major positions (at least mine does) and takes a little effort to move.

If you can go through the motions Kim suggested and use some LPS lubricant (once you get it moving), or even the LPS rust inhibitor/lube it'll keep the door operating freely.
 
The one on our '71 sort of "snaps" to and fro, like the hinges are spring loaded. Takes a surprising bit of force to move the handle.
 
It feels like it is spring loaded because it is, the vent door has a sort of double stop spring behind it.

Otherwise it wouldn't stay in the open position, but you guys are right, it won't open readily if treated with kit gloves, you have to pull the sucker hard.

regards

Tom
 
Ok thanks! I have the interior gutted to recarpet and thought it would be a good time to check this out to...now I know which way it is supposed to work! That shoud make it easier to figure out...Thanks All
wink.gif


Bruce
 
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