C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

[Peter C.]

Hello out there:

My name is Peter Cook and I am a new member who was signed up at Corvettes at Carlisle.

In the process of replacing the dash wiring harness I found that I needed to disassemble the driver's side cowl vent for a number of reasons. Primary reason being that the vent cable had been cut off and there was a little four inch stub left.

After removing the fresh air vent grille I found the oval (presumably fiberglass) connector (I don't know the actual name so I will call it the "oval connector") with the cowl vent door installed inside it. I removed the cowl vent door and tried to reinstall the cowl vent door and found that the holes for the door were very shallow about 1/4" and the entire oval connector looks as if it is a replacement. As a result, I am concerned that I am reassembling this properly. As it appears Bubba may have worked on this vent door and oval connector previously. The cowl vent door has two protruding round metal rods that snap into the oval connector. One end of the protruding metal rods is spring loaded. One picture is with the cowl vent door closed and three with cowl vent door open.

In the oval connector there appears to be "new work" for example you can see a brown triangle in one of the photos near the bottom.

Q1. Does the springloaded end of the protruding metal face up?

Q2. What is the brown triangle in the one photo?

Q3. Other than rebuilding the cowl vent door (likely a winter project), is there anything else that I should be doing while I am putting this back together?

I have set forth the photos below as I don't know yet how to paste them into the thread. Your help is greatly appreciated.

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/?action=view&current=DSCN0031.jpg

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/?action=view&current=DSCN0032.jpg

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/?action=view&current=DSCN0033.jpg

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/?action=view&current=DSCN0034.jpg

Best regards,

Peter Cook

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

Peter,

I am going from memory but I THINK the cowl door is the same part left/right and is one way on the drivers side and turned over for the passenger side. If you look at the grill, there should be a mounting tab for the cable attachment and from that you can see the correct installation position for the door. The door installs in the small holes top and bottom, slide the one side in and compress the spring to install the other.

Be careful you do not over tighten the screws that attach the grill so you do not crack the plastic, these are $$$. If the mounting tab is gone on the grill you will need to replace. It's a easy job to install new rubber on the cowl doors and they will operate much better.

I can't tell from your pictures if there is damage in this area, there looks to be cracked fiberglass but it's hard to see. At some point there may have been damage from accident in this area so look at the fender if it's been replaced. The cowl vents air from the grills above with the passenger side providing a fresh air intake for the heater. I hope this answers your question.

[John H.]

Re: C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

Peter -

The photos below of an original driver's side vent door in both the closed and open positions may be of help to you.

[Michael M.]

Re: C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

Thats what I needed to see. I have got mine exactly backwards but now is the time to find it out. I didn`t have the cover for the left hand so didn`t know what way it went. Thanks you so much@! Mike

[Harry S.]

Re: C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

Q3. Other than rebuilding the cowl vent door (likely a winter project), is there anything else that I should be doing while I am putting this back together?

Take a mirror and a flashlight and look at the bottom of the opening. There should be a hole that allows rain water to exit onto the street. You can see the hole when under the car. This area typically fills with leaves and other debris over time and does not allow the water to exit. The clog is the primary reason the front pillar post rusts-out at the bottom. Take a thin vacuum hose and clean out the entire area and ensure the drain hole is open. It's a quick cleaning to avoid many future headaches.

Good luck!

[Gary C.]

Re: C2 1964 Left Cowl Vent Issues - New Member Need Help

While you have the door out of the car it's a good time to install a new gasket if it's needed.

Replacement gaskets are from the various C2 vendors or you can cut one from an inner tube.

Drill out the rivets, take the door apart, install the new gasket and re-poprivet the door halfs back together.

Check the holes in the fiberglass to make sure they're not wallowed out and the door pins fit well. If they don't fit well, then add a little bit of resin or JB Weld and re-drill the hole(s).

Gary
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