Plenum panel installation

[wwilkins]

Inside the windshield wiper compartment on the right side is a black plastic screen. Behind that is supposed to be a plastic door and actuator in a fiberglass frame that let fresh air in to the fan. All of that was missing on my car. I found those parts this weekend but the fiberglass frame doesn't want to go in the hole where it fits. The car we pulled it from had the fenders off so it was easy to get at. Does anyone have any idea how to get this in there.

On the bright side I am just about done replacing the things that were missing from my car when we rescued it.

Thanks for the help.

Bill

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Bill,

I don't have the answer but please keep us posted. I have been working on the "comfort" aspect of my car and have spent a lot of time working with the HVAC system trying to cool the car down. I have not messed with this area yet and will be tackling it when I get the carpet back in.

Bob

 

[wwilkins]

This is one of those areas that you should never see. Without taking off the fender or cutting the fiberglass plenum support I can't find a way to get the support in. Once it's there and glued in place all the other parts go right in. I'm sure there is a trick and hopefully someone here will know it. It's really sad all the things that were missing from my car when I got it. I got it cheap but now I have more money in parts than I paid for the car. If I find a way I'll be sure to let eveyone know.

Good luck on your carpet. I had a major blood letting episode trying to get the old trim rings off the rear storage doors. After that I decided it was cheaper to buy new and forget about my old ones. Buy 3M glue. The cheap stuff takes more and holds less.
Bill

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I just bought all new rear compartment doors and frames. Mine was ratty, etc, and the new ones came painted already. 3M is the only way to go. I got some off that stuff on my finger and when I peeled it off it took the skin off the end of the finger. Looked like a blister that had popped.

Good luck getting that in there. This control is supposed to be an integral part of keeping the cabin cool on the a/c cars. I've read a lot of things about the plastic door that is supposed to be down there but have dreaded looking at it. Hopefully with everything in place I won't have as many problems though I'm not optimistic.

Bob

 

[wwilkins]

I still don't have the panel fitted in but I got the door fixed and the metal brackets rebuilt. The brackets are a fairly easy thing to make, you just need some patience and sharp cutting tools. The plastic door was mangled real bad when I started. I got it all apart and used my heat gun on the edges of the door to soften it up. Then I pressed the soft edges between two pieces of hardwood to flatten them out. After an Armor all bath it looks like a new one.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Sounds great. Good luck with the rest.