Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

[Mike E.]

Am I correct that the flappers are closed by vacuum, therefore open when the car is not running? What prevents that from being easy entrance for small rodents? Or am I missing something?

[Warren F.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Mike,
I would think that the metal grilles would prevent that.

[Bill L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

They have a drain to direct any water to the outside.

The assembly is shown in the AIM.

Bill

[Wayne W.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Rodents in a Corvette? Naw, you know its sealed up better than that.

[Bill W.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Thats why some of them have RAT motors

[Patrick H.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Am I correct that the flappers are closed by vacuum, therefore open when the car is not running? What prevents that from being easy entrance for small rodents? Or am I missing something?

Nope, they are closed by the round ball vent levers on each upper corner of the shift console.
You know.. the ones that say Vent.

(Actually they say "Close")

[Joe L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Nope, they are closed by the round ball vent levers on each upper corner of the shift console.
You know.. the ones that say Vent.

Patrick------


The "round ball" vent levers only open and close the vent doors behind the kick panels. They don't have anything to do with the rear Astro-Ventillation doors.

[Terry M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Damn I wish Rolph Kruger was still with us. He knew that vacuum system up and down. We have never done a good job of assessing the operation of the AstroVent system, even for PV. That is a wide open area for someone to research.

Mike if all you are worried about is points for rodent entry, there are lots more points of entry than the rear flaps on the AstroVent system. For example, I doubt too many Corvettes have a good seal at the toe vents Patrick mentioned or any of the vents in the HVAC system, and the rear vent grilles will pose no hindrance to them. Mice can get through an opening of far less than 1/8-inch.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Patrick------


The "round ball" vent levers only open and close the vent doors behind the kick panels. They don't have anything to do with the rear Astro-Ventillation doors.

You sure?

I could swear that they opened when I moved the lever, and it surprised me that the cables went to the back of the car.
Of course, like you, I'm not near the cars right now.

OK, I checked the AIM
UPC 1, Sheets F22 and F23. Also E10.
As Rev Mike notes, there is a vacuum actuator shown, but no drawing of any vacuum line going to it. I suspect that is on a different page.

You learn something every day. Thanks for the education gentlemen.

[Terry M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

You sure?

I could swear that they opened when I moved the lever, and it surprised me that the cables went to the back of the car.
Of course, like you, I'm not near the cars right now.

I don't know for sure about your car Patrick, but on my 1970 they go to the toe panel vents. There is a neat plastic threaded adjustment in the middle (or so; up under the dash) of the cable to adjust the length of the sheath so that the door closes fully when the handle with the round knob is all the way forward. It is easiest to see that on the passenger side if one does not have C60. I won't rule out that C60 is different, I don't have a lot of experience with those comfort thingies.

[John C.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Mike

The rear Astro-ventilation flaps are only closed when the temperature control wheel is turned towards hot. This will close the flaps to help quickly heat the car interior. The operation of the flaps are vacuum controlled only through the temperature control wheel. The flaps are spring loaded to be open when the car is off.

Besides the rear deck vent covers and a small rubber flap there is nothing to prevent mouse entry into your car from this location.

John

[George D.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

If your car has AC (RPO C60) the rear vents do not function. They are sealed at the factory.

[Dave S.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

You sure?

I could swear that they opened when I moved the lever, and it surprised me that the cables went to the back of the car.
Of course, like you, I'm not near the cars right now.

OK, I checked the AIM
UPC 1, Sheets F22 and F23. Also E10.
As Rev Mike notes, there is a vacuum actuator shown, but no drawing of any vacuum line going to it. I suspect that is on a different page.

You learn something every day. Thanks for the education gentlemen.

As I recall the C60 cars don't have any vacuum flappers on the rear vents.

[Michael M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

The believe the drain holes for convertables are different than that for coupes. My 71 only has a hole in the bottom of the vent well in rear deck. From what I have seen in the assembly manual there is a tube that dumps in the rear wheel well on coupes. The holes in the conv. are more then enough for small rodents to enter vehicle.

[Don L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

The believe the drain holes for convertibles are different than that for coupes. My 71 only has a hole in the bottom of the vent well in rear deck. From what I have seen in the assembly manual there is a tube that dumps in the rear wheel well on coupes. The holes in the conv. are more then enough for small rodents to enter vehicle.

Hi Mike.

I agree, it looks like it's not right, especially when compared to the coupes, no?

I re-did my Astro flaps last winter while replacing carpet and found the entire flap design to be kinda crummy. I figured out then, how the flaps default to open. For a while, I thought I had a faulty actuator. I looked for a replacement/spare and came up empty. Mine works fine, however, I would like to have a spare for the day I need it.

As pointed out here, there's nothing to keep vermin out of the car in this area, but I suppose if/when they wanna get in, they'd chew through the soft top if there wasn't an easier way in. With this being the case, I'm appreciative of the crummy design.