1968 Center Vent Housing

[Space Cowboy]

I'm adding A/C to my 68 and was wondering if any of you knew where I could get my hands on a center vent housing that holds the defelctors in place. I hear they're a hard find. I've been to several parts web sites, and they don't list them.

Thanks

 

[68Roadster]

Welcome to my world!
The center vent just plugs into the plastic duct that comes up the middle and then you have to have the plate (metal) that screws into the center bezel and bracket riveted to the duct.
My plate has broken and now I'm trying to modify a 69 to work because I can't find the plate.
I may just end up manufacturing one from fiberglass, it would last longer.

Let me know if you have any luck.

Cee

 

[Space Cowboy]

Cee...

I was told that 'IF' one were to find a 68 housing, it would cost somewhere around $500+ because they are very rare. I was also told that one could use a 69 housing and only a Vette expert could tell the difference. I'm more for functional at this point, so if its a tad different, I could care less.

I bought my A/C system from HotRodAir and they have an adapter that connects to the Flex Air Duct then to the housing (which holds the deflectors). You might see if that adapter would work for you. Or is it the physical housing you need. I didn't know if that's what your calling the 'plate'.

 

[68Roadster]

Same here....rarity=big money

I was told the 69-74 was an equivalent but that is not true. The one I bought has two plastic vents with a lever underneath to shut the vent off. The 68 has one single, very wide, metal vent with no shutoff. The problem is the plate tha goes around the vents, it is very thin where it turns to go under the vent, they always break there. This is probably the panel you have that sayd CORVETTE on it underneatht the wiper switch.

I'll post some pics tomorrow of the two.....

 

[Space Cowboy]

You are correct. The housing goes in place of the panel that say's 'CORVETTE' under the wiper switch. I found someone that may have a housing in stock today, but not too sure. They said if they did, it would be used and would have to paint it. Should get word tomorrow.

 

[yellow77]

Dont know if this helps, but when I b roke the wiper switch on my 77 (stalk type) I bid and won on ebay a wiper switch complete with the center vents for an earlier year. I was going to cut / modify to fit, but ended up having my entire column and switches refurbished. I still have the panel, its not perfect but has both vents and the wiper switch and knob. If anyone is interested, I can have my wife take photos of it and I can post pics if anyone is interested.

It is doing me absolutely no good sitting on a shelf. I am on TDY in the UK for a while, but let me know.

Cheers all

Richard

 

[Space Cowboy]

yellow77... I'm definitely interested. From what I've been told at HotRodAir, their duct adapter will work on years 69-78. The big question is that if the actual housing you have will fit in my 68.

 

[yellow77]

DNewton, you have a pm!