More "The cockpit is too hot!!"

[Jim T.]

Re: More "The cockpit is too hot!!"

Lynn the plastic door was installed as only a plastic door, no other sealing attached. The only time that I know of reference my 1970 with air conditioning when the plastic door closes is when MAX is selected with the roll wheel for air conditioning.
This allows the interior air to be pulled through the vent behind the kick panel on the passenger side and the air is re-cooled. The plastic door is operated by a vacuum motor.
Driving your 72 and not using the air conditioner you are at a disadvantage because you have no flow of air coming from the drivers side, this plenum is completely blocked off at the factory.
I removed the rear block off plates to experiment with a somewhat astro ventilation once. Nothing good to report on the experiment. If your air conditioning is not functioning it could help some.
In traffic with a 454 and a lot of stop and go and waiting your engine will run cooler if you have full time vacuum advance. Easy to do, just route a longer piece of vacuum hose from a full time vacuum port on the carb to the vacuum advance unit. Better city/stop and go gas mileage is also a benefit.

[Tom L.]

Re: More "The cockpit is too hot!!"

Thanks for the clarification on the outer door plenum material. Not knowing any better and hearing it mat have supposed to be made of stamped steel I thouht perhaps Bubba had been there.

Is there a way to seal it better of am I a victom of 1972 HVAC engineering?

[Roger S.]

Re: More "The cockpit is too hot!!"

On my 73 I found the sealant between the firewall and the right fender had lost it sealing. Engine compartment heat freely flowed into the right hand pleum and into the HVAC system. I stuffed some foam insualtion into the joint and the high heat issues went away.

Roger