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So you know, there were 2 center lower heater outlets — the console one shown above and a non-console one used in most all 65-66 88’s and 98’s that had no cutout for the console, just a rectangular fixed outlet at the bottom.
My Starfire came to me, I think from factory, with the non-console outlet. I swapped in the console one a few years back. Console-specific outlet looks proper when the car is console equipped.
Having seen very few 4 speed big cars, It’s hard to say.
My hunch is that if the big car had a console on the 4 speed, then console style heater duct. If just 4 on the floor with no console, standard style.
Purely a guess on my part, since the 4 speed big cars I’ve seen have been no console.
But a 4 speed console exists for the big car. What I’ve never confirmed is whether the big cars with manual transmissions used the Cutlass console or if they had their own. I’m told there are separate part numbers, but the pictures I’ve seen look suspiciously like the Cutlass console.
Digging around through old threads, just wanted to put an observation out there.
As Olds de-contented (cut costs) on the ‘66 Starfire, the seem to have done away with the shaped-around-the-tach heater outlet that aimed hot/cold air on either side of the ‘66 Starfire Tach in favor of the cheaper one-size-fits-all outlet for all the other big cars.
Somewhere along the line, I bought a 64 or 65 heater outlet that directed the warm air on either side of the tachometer. It looks right. Better than the ‘66 generic piece. Can’t say it’s better, but at least to my eye, it looks like it was meant to be there more than then straight outlet ‘66 version
Here's a picture of my 65 Jetstar 1 , 4 speed car (with out A/C) see pic's from earlier post from a 65 Starfire with air, automatic.. Maybe this will help.
OMG Bill. How much for that duct? That part is missing from my 4-speed Jetstar 1. Was missing when I bought it. Guy I got the car from said it was broken so he threw it away.
OMGosh Bill, that duct must be priceless! I couldn't even imagine how much one of those would sell for! Mine is missing also and that's why I started this thread.....
Here's the one I'm using in my '66 Starfire. As I recall, it was listed on ebay for a '64 Starfire, but what got my attention was the curvature of the bottom of the duct -- it was designed to fit around the curve of the tachometer which sits a the front of the Starfire console. Knowing Olds didn't change the castings or plastics for the console from '64 to '66 (they only changed the logo). I rolled the dice on this duct hoping Olds didn't change the size of the heater box outlet. Good news - they didn't so this '64 piece fit my '66 perfectly. Small win.
