Heater surround and package tray
I'm putting a 1961 corvette together and putting the interior in the car. When I got the car the interior was out of it. Does the heater surround and package tray go in first and then the kick panel or does the kick panel go in first. There is a molded bracket on the heater surround but it doesn't matchup to anything to bolt or screw to. Any help would be appreciated.
-
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Check your AIM. SECTION 101, SHEET 2.00. -
Re: Heater surround and package tray
David:
The kick panel goes in first, then the surround, and finally the package tray. Be careful putting in the surround. It is easy to crack it when inserting it between the center console and the kick panel as it is a tight fit.Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Listen to Art! I know all about what happens if not inserting the package tray surround to the kick panel very, very carefully; the tab will snap off.Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
The sequence cited above is correct - note carefully how the right hand side of the package tray is attached to the car....its an odd arrangement of two clips - study the AIM on this....Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
This is how I install it....excerpt from another site that I wrote some time ago.....
It's called a 3762211 PANEL EXTENSION in the AIM, but most call it the heater cover, even if there's no heater installed.
This is how I install the heater cover....I've been fortunate not to break any over the years.
The right kick panel has to be installed, as the right side of the cover has to fit into the detents first. This also means the carpet should be installed before the kick panel. It's hard/impossible on some to get the carpet under the kick panel once installed.
Using a heavy duty plastic sheeting like from a contractors bag, doubled up, I use it to cover the right side of the center console over the lip where the captive flat nuts are. This protects the paint of the side of the console, yet it's thin and slippery enough for the left side of the cover to slide past it. Stop the plastic just after the vertical lip of the catch area with the flatnuts. I usually tape the plastic to the console so it doesn't fall.
Look at the backside left area of the cover. Make sure it's smooth and flat with no burrs of any kind. Sand any roughness off if needed. Start the right side of the cover into the kick panel detents, with the left side of the cover in front of the center console. Slide the left side of the cover rearward over the plastic sheeting over the console side. Make sure the plastic is in place.
Slowly and carefully push the left side of the cover into the small vertical catch of the console and stop. Do not go past the catch area. Carefully pull the plastic out towards you. It may catch a little. Just pull until it's out, but keep your hand on the cover so it doesn't come back out. Each car is a little different. Some are so tight you can't get it in or out without a difficult time. Other cars I've done are so easy with lots of slop. Sometimes you can put a thin piece of cardboard, like the backside of a writing tablet, against the console, then the slippery plastic or wax paper over the cardboard.
Another thing that's confusing in the AIM....the right side attach points of the cover use 2 screws. The AIM shows flatnuts on the kick panel for the screws to attach the heater cover to the kick panel. There is no provision for the clip type flatnut there. The top one is easy, the one below that is tough to get at.
You can use a non-clip type flatnut. Lay in there with the seat bottom removed and padded for your back to rest comfortably. Using your left hand, hold the flatnut and reach over the kickpanel while using a stubby Phillips screwdriver in your right hand to install the screw into the flatnut. Have a few flatnuts handy so if you drop one behind the kickpanel you have extras. Retrieve the lost one with a magnet, or just leave the lost ones there for the next time you take it all apart so you'll have spares.
The small L-Bracket attached with a rivet to the package tray is meant to mate with the bracket attached to the L-Bracket attached to the kick panel as seen in the AIM.
Rich
47796127d1400407048-58-package-tray-assembly-trick-p7090001.jpg 47796125d1400407048-58-package-tray-assembly-trick-p8100036.jpg 47796126d1400407048-58-package-tray-assembly-trick-p8100026.jpg 47796124d1400407048-58-package-tray-assembly-trick-p9160002.jpgComment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Very nice photos Rich.Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Rich - On more than one occasion I've seen Mike Coletta pull the dash extender in and out with the kick panel attached...e.g. pulling them both in and out as one assembly... I would never have thought of it if I hadn't seen it. He made it look easy; but then he always does...Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Hmmm, interesting idea. I'll have to try that. I wonder if that's how they did it in St Louis. It makes perfect sense. They'd have attached the heater cover to the kick panel on the bench using those flat nuts, then put the whole assembly in at once. Clever!
Mike is amazing! Definitely one on my "heros" list.
Rich
p.s. You went to be around the time I got up?...2:51am? yikes.Comment
-
Re: Heater surround and package tray
Thanks everyone for the information. I'm giving it another try tomorrow. I hope for a better result this time around. Thanks Rich your instruction will be a big help.Comment
Comment