1964 Roof Vent Grilles

[Gary A.]

I am in the process of restoring a 64 Coupe. This car was the classic 70's custom. Shark fin,three tailights, rear flares and filled roof vents. The first three I can handle.I need advice on the safest approach to clean the filler out and expose the indentations for the roof vent grilles without causing more damage. It looks like it may have been filled with just bondo.

[Don H.]

Re: 1964 Roof Vent Grilles

Gary, I am not an expert but since no one replied I will try. I would strip to bare glass, chemical stripper will usually soften bondo. Once the opening is apparent you could carefully start in the middle of the hole & work your way out to the outer edge. Taking measurements from another car would also help locate the holes. Good luck, Don H.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1964 Roof Vent Grilles

I am in the process of restoring a 64 Coupe. This car was the classic 70's custom. Shark fin,three tailights, rear flares and filled roof vents. The first three I can handle.I need advice on the safest approach to clean the filler out and expose the indentations for the roof vent grilles without causing more damage. It looks like it may have been filled with just bondo.

Check your '64 Assembly Instructions Manual, if you have one [UPC 1 sheet B11, in my '65 AIM -- should be same].

The roof vent on '64 (& 65) passenger side was a dummy, so try it first. IMO, absolutely necessary to remove the interior "halo" panel, so you'll have a view of the backside of the filler vent grill panel, and hence the extent of bondo to remove. Don's advice is good for determining outline of the original panel hole from the outside.

Driver side is more complicated as it's part of the rear blower ducting and drain. Is blower motor and drain to wheelwell still in place ? (may have been eliminated in the customization).

[Gary A.]

Re: 1964 Roof Vent Grilles

Wayne, I removed the interior and found the blower assembly to still be intact. I am going to drill two small holes from the inside out to locate where the grilles would have attached and then use Don's method to find the outline by stripping and working my way out. It looks as though they may have been glassed -in with bondo over the glass. I am fearful that this may be harder than I first thought. Gary