Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

[Mike E.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

It surprises me that they used a metal vacuum line most of the way from the control to the flapper. (With rubber line on each end.) The carpet gets wet, and the line rusts through. Nice design!

[Michael M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Mike,
When a rodent does get in they will chew the rubber parts also. I know this as fact because mine was. I found his remains under the parking brake console, not far from where the hissing noise was coming from.When you would turn the heat on it would call for vacuum to close the vent doors. Once the hole was repaired all worked well.
Don,
I replaced the foam sealing material in mine several years ago. When I bought the car in 2004 it had been sitting for 15 years. In 2005 I noticed that every time I drove it there were these small sticky chunks of rubber in the rear package area. It was the seal material crumbling and being drawn into the car. Not that difficult of a repair in a conv. would be a bear on a coupe.

[Michael M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Terry,
After going through flight judging in 2010 I did wonder why in was not checked in opps. Maybe in the future.

[Mike E.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Good point on the rubber. I'm working on the rear seal area right now on a 71 LT-1. I'm glad it's a convertible. I can reach that area with my 67 year old body much more readily.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

It surprises me that they used a metal vacuum line most of the way from the control to the flapper. (With rubber line on each end.) The carpet gets wet, and the line rusts through. Nice design!

Mike,

Where does the line run?

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Mike,

Where does the line run?

Patrick

Patrick------


In runs from the console-mounted heater control vacuum valve to the vacuum actuator for the Astro-Ventillation doors.

[Joe L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

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

Dave------


Yes, there are no operable ventillation doors on C-60-equipped Corvettes.

[Robert R.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

That is correct. The flap areas are sealed on C60 AC cars.
The down side on convertibles is that you can see the top of the fuel tank through the outside vents. It caused my tank sticker to melt away as every time it got wet, the water would hit the top of the tank. Also caused me to replace the tank on mine due to metal fatigue.

[Joe L.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

That is correct. The flap areas are sealed on C60 AC cars.
The down side on convertibles is that you can see the top of the fuel tank through the outside vents. It caused my tank sticker to melt away as every time it got wet, the water would hit the top of the tank. Also caused me to replace the tank on mine due to metal fatigue.

Robert------


The top of the fuel tank cannot be seen through the rear deck vents on my 1969 convertible. It's not A/C equipped but I don't think this should make any difference in this regard.

[Robert R.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Hi Joe,

When I look straight down from the deck vents on my car, a C60 equipped convertible, I see the angled black rubber flap, part of the fuel tank and even a bit of the ground.
There is no trough below the vent area, nor hose that is on the wheel well to divert water.
My tank had to be replaced when I first bought it. The rust occurred on the top panel of the tank.

[Phil W.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

The vacuum control hose routing diagram for the rear flappers is on sheet M4 in the 1971 AIM

[Patrick H.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

The vacuum control hose routing diagram for the rear flappers is on sheet M4 in the 1971 AIM

Thanks Phil. That's what I was looking for.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

Patrick------


In runs from the console-mounted heater control vacuum valve to the vacuum actuator for the Astro-Ventillation doors.

Joe,

That would be the "of course it does" answer.
I was wondering how it was routed; perhaps that would have been a better way to phrase it.

Phil mentions it's on sheet M4, so I found it now.

Patrick

[Michael M.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

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.

Don,
This is a picture of the drain hole on my 71 convertable, right side.
Mike

Astro Vent Drain.jpg

[Jeff P.]

Re: Astro-ventilation flappers on rear bulkhead

So the flaps on a convertible are screwed to the rear inside back panel above the carpet? As the car drives over the road, the flaps open into the rear vent area from air pressure on them? This is the area i'm concentrating on this weekend. I will sandblast the metal frames then spray satin black rustoleum. Paragon sells the flaps, gaskets, an fasteners. Any pictures available on this subject?