Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

[Mike B.]

Hi Guys,

Could anyone out there tell me who's the best at repairing cracked/chipped air conditioning ducting for '63-'67 Corvettes? Need some names of the best AC ducting restoration gurus. My left AC duct has a crack that's causing the flow shut off flapper to be loose.

Here's a file shot of a left AC duct from a buddy's car up in Canada. It's in good shape.

Thanks in advance for anyone's help.
Mike

[Paul D.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

I would be surprised anyone specializes in AC duct repair, but maybe so. I have been very successful using JB Weld or Vette Panel Adhesive to repair such pieces. Just be sure to rough up the area you apply it to promote adhesion. Sand smooth and paint. Chip.

[Gary B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Mike,

If you look thru the archives you should find someone who repairs and restores tire tub. I suspect that person can help you.

Gary

[Larry M.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Mike,

If you look thru the archives you should find someone who repairs and restores tire tub. I suspect that person can help you.

Gary

That person is Scott Sinclair.................

Larry

[Mike B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Hello Paul. Yeah I've been tempted to try tackling the plastic repair job myself but with nothing to practice on but my cracked originals, it's a little too costly if I make mistakes that I can't reverse. Here in my older life I find it best to leave it to folks that're experts on these repairs.

Hi Gary. I'm pretty good at doing my own fiberglass repairs, but black plastic AC ducting is another story. Some pieces appear to be unpainted black plastic, whereas others seem to have a light coating of black dye or paint on them. Need to find an expert if one's out there.

Thanks guys,
Mike

[Mike B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Hi Larry,

I've heard Scott Sinclair's name mentioned before on this subject. I see by your profile that you've got a '67 L79 w/AC. Did you have any repairs done by him? If so, I'd surly appreciate some feedback about the workmanship.

Would you be so kind as to send me a Private Message about the repairs and details?

Thanks Larry,
Mike

[Keith B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

not to sound crazy but this part has no structurally value. it just needs to sit there and direct air. unless the crack is bad enough where the duct is going to break in half I would leave it go

[Neal K.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Hi Guys,

Could anyone out there tell me who's the best at repairing cracked/chipped air conditioning ducting for '63-'67 Corvettes? Need some names of the best AC ducting restoration gurus. My left AC duct has a crack that's causing the flow shut off flapper to be loose.

Here's a file shot of a left AC duct from a buddy's car up in Canada. It's in good shape.

Thanks in advance for anyone's help.
Mike

Mike
I see that there are reproduction C2 a/c ducts offered for sale on eBay. Perhaps you clan find out who manufactures them by contacting the vendor. As another option, I have also seen plastic epoxy sold at Home Depot. If the repair area is small, perhaps you can mix in a little black paint to the epoxy mixture. Before using on your duct, try mixing up a small test amount and letting it harden to see if you achieve the hardness and appearance you desire. Good Luck
best regards
neal

[Peter M.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Mike,
Marine-Tex gray is a epoxy putty, but it is black.
It is good stuff but I have not used it for your application.
Kind Regards

[Larry M.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Hi Larry,

I've heard Scott Sinclair's name mentioned before on this subject. I see by your profile that you've got a '67 L79 w/AC. Did you have any repairs done by him? If so, I'd surly appreciate some feedback about the workmanship.

Would you be so kind as to send me a Private Message about the repairs and details?

Thanks Larry,
Mike

Mike:

Although I have a factory air car, the AC ducts are fine and did not require any repairs. But Scott did repair my broken tire tub. He did an excellent job on the repairs. I know he used to do this work, and he still may, so you would need to call him or email him and check. At the time he was repairing tire tubs and HVAC boxes. I do not recall hearing about any AC ducting repairs.

Scott lives in Canada. He is a Master Judge. He is also the NCRS National Road Tour Chairman/Co-ordinator.........so that is a good way to contact him. I dropped my tire tub off at one NCRS event, and picked it up from him at a later NCRS event. Very easy...........

If he takes the work, you will be satisfied with the outcome. So give him a call or email.

Larry

[Patrick H.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Scott lives in Canada. He is a Master Judge. He is also the NCRS National Road Tour Chairman/Co-ordinator.........so that is a good way to contact him. I dropped my tire tub off at one NCRS event, and picked it up from him at a later NCRS event. Very easy...........

If he takes the work, you will be satisfied with the outcome. So give him a call or email.

Larry

Scott no longer repairs tire tubs or anything else like this.
The fumes from the materials started to bother him, and he quit a few years ago.

Patrick

[Harry S.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Please remember that repairing the A/C ducts is like gluing and egg shell back together. I've made one repair to my 63 ducts. I used the fastest setup superglue I could find. Luckily it worked as you only get one shot at the repair. If you need to, form a bonding strip and glue that in first then repair over that. It will also give you extra strength.

[Mike B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Helpful responses by all. Thanks Guys.

Well, I'm going to try contacting Scott Sinclair. I'll let you all know if he does repairs of this sort.

I might be back to square one. Doing my own repair work. The key is what adhesive to use and to practice on a sample piece. Good luck to me. My original "Pan" duct was missing the metal flapper on the bottom side when I got it back from a prior owner in 1989. Got all ducting back from him. The only Corvette he'd ever owned so I assume they're my originals. The Pan had a chunk of plastic missing where the flapper rivets to the piece. I bought another Pan then from a guy in OKC that only had slight lip damage. I've always planned on transferring the missing lip edge from my original to the OKC duct.

Attached is a file shot of the "Pan" duct that will be worked. Either by me or an expert if I can find one. Definitely will risk the initial repair on this Pan vs. a left or right duct!

Mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Well, I'm going to try contacting Scott Sinclair. I'll let you all know if he does repairs of this sort.

See my response in #11 above.
He can give you tips, but won't repair them.

[Mike B.]

Re: Who's Repairing Cracked AC Ducting?

Thanks Patrick,

I just sent Scott a PM and an e-mail. Tips will be very helpful and I'll share them here.

Anybody else done successful repairs to AC ducting? Please help.

Thanks, Mike