I'm back to work on my avatar vehicle. Looking at this great hole in the dash. It was a factory A/C car so it has the chrome vents in the dash on each end. What I'm concerned about is this opening in the center of the dash, down low. It has some sort of bracket riveted to the lower dash. I was going to fill it somehow, but it occured to me, some air cars had center air vents.
Can anyone address this issue? I don't recall what the dash of my last 65 442 A/C car looked like. Maybe somebody put a bracket in for a stereo, but I'm just not sure.

 

Hey Dave I think that looks like where the could if mounted a radio if you like I can take a pic tomorrow of the hole in the dash if you need
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The radio already has a spot. You can see it in the upper right of my picture. Where does that chrome piece go in the center of your picture? I don't seem to have one of those. Hmmm....

 

Dave, what your missing is the guts from the middle vent. That is the middle item in Justin's picture. Attached is a pictures from a 1964 Cutlass project car that's also an AC car. John


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If you look in my dash pic you can see the center lower hole in it the middle vent in my lower pic of the vents is what goes there I think some one put a newer radio where this hoes on your car could be wrong

 

Dave if you want the pic of the vents are spares driver at best it's yours if you want it.just cost of shipping

 

I agree with you Justin. At first I just thought it was missing the insides, but the frame on Dave's car is much wider and a different shape than what you and I have.

So you may need to do a little metal work Dave if the hole was cut out larger for something other than the vent.

John

 

Yes, I'm guessing somebody stuck a radio or booster or CD player in the hole. I'll have to carefully remove the bracket by drilling out the rivets, and keep my eyes peeled for a center A/C assembly. Don't want to totally damage it in case someone wants to switch back to A/C in the future. Could always make a delete plate, I suppose.
Thanks for the help guys. I'm back on track again.

Next, to figure out how to seal up the passenger side floor air........and on it goes! A regular kick panel doesn't cover the opening properly, and you guessed it, someone got rid of the stock air kick panels. I only have a set of non-A/C ones. Oh my.......

 

Well, I just drilled out six rivets and removed the old bracket. The hole I have remaining is 8 inches wide and 3 inches tall. I suspect this is not the correct size for the center air vent.

 

I can measure the vent when I get home to see if it will cover the hole, but it does look to have been modified less weight it must go faster

 

Maybe if I ever get the gas tank back into it !! Until then I can't put foot into it or the gas jug might jump up and out of the engine compartment.

 

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Hmmm.....looks like height-wise it might fit, but length-wise it's doomed. Might have to do a delete plate like I made up today for one of the firewall holes.
Before and after pictures from this morning.
I used metal about 1/16 inch thick. May not be pretty but strong, and keeps the engine compartment air out of the cabin.

 

Goop some seam sealer and you would never know lol

Yes a delete plate might work or weld in a patch and cut a new hole but that might be a lot of work for a current non ac car

 

delete plate looks good dave for a richmond back street brawler, did you keep any pics of it with dual fours and propane mixers? i may have one

 

Just occured to me, there's a bit of side metal that wasn't cut off. Instead they bent it back inside to use as brackets on both sides. If I bent them forward and flat with the dash, I might be able to glue or silicone a chrome A/C vent in there and it would have more support. Might look better than a delete plate.
I believe I may have to put a wanted ad out for a damaged or pitted one that's not too expensive.
Now you see why I don't get the BIG dollars for my old cars !!

 

You can have the one in my pic pm me your address and pay shipping and it's yours it's pitted

 

I don't believe I kept any. I usually try to weed out pictures or I have trouble finding the ones I need. As I recall it was quite a sight.

 

Right on !! PM comin at you.

 

Dave!
I'm going to hunt for that horn button tomorrow after work. You gots ta come by the new shop...

 

I'd love to come by the new shop. Haven't seen you since the move !!

Goodnight all, 4 am comes awful early.