1968 rear deck vent doors

[Don Izzo]

while at a show last week I saw a guy's 68 which had a frame off done. I noted that the rear deck vent doors (found under the convertible top deck) had what looked to be screens in place. When I got home I looked at mine and they have solid block off plates. Can someone tell me what the purpose of these vent doors are if they are blocked off. Am I supposed to remove them in summer months or what?
Don

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Don, cars with air conditioning have the vent doors blocked off. Only non-air cars have the vacuum actuated vent doors, and they are part of the "Astro-
Ventilation" system.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by screeens. If the screens are replacing the vent doors on a non-air car, then that's probably incorrect. If the screens are in addition to the doors, I can't say if the screens are original are not on a 68. All I can say is, to my knowledge, later cars do not have screens on the vent door openings...the vent doors open into the rear plenum that resides under the rear deck grilles.

[Don Izzo]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Thanks Chuck, Mine is indeed an air car and this fellows 68 was not!
Don

[Richard D.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

I don't think all non air cars had vacuum controlled doors for the rear vent openings.

Mine (Nov 67 build) only has rubber flaps that open or close due to air flow presssure pushing them to an open position.

Maybe they went to vacuum control later on in the 68 build year.

Rich

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Actually, Rich, I can't say positively that ANY 68s had the vacuum actuated doors. If they had doors, they were vacuum operated.

The doors could have been added in 69 or 70, if not a change during 68. By 70, the doors are definitely there and are vacuum operated. It appears from the AIM that the vacuum operated doors also have some rubber flap check valves between the doors and the plenum openings, presumably to keep outside air from coming inside.

Do your vent openings have any screens?

[Richard D.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Chuck:

After working on my vacuum system all winter (still not done yet), all I can say is "Thank God" those dopey little flaps are not vacuum operated.

I will be working on the old money pit tomorrow, and will take a look to see if there's any screens in there. Sounds like a good idea though with bugs and all.

I'll get back to ya...

Rich

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Richard I have an original owner 68 built in February and bought in March. It is not a air conditioned, has no screens, never has, and no vacuum control to the rear vent. The venting of air is just like your 68, a rubber flap that lifts or moves up with the forced air flow. Mine are really aged and need replaced. I have had the gaskets for the perimeter frame for many years (17 or more), thought I was ordering new flaps when I ordered these.

[Richard D.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Hey Jim, thanks for the info.

I didn't think there were any screens in there when I looked at them last year when I had the rugs put in, and they still looked like original parts there to me.

Rich

[Richard D.]

Re: 1968 rear deck vent doors

Guys:

Looked at mine today, and pretty am sure they're original.

No screens, just a rubber flap in a duct that will not allow water to blow back in.

Rich