Question: Broken C2 Defroster Vent?

[Douglas C.]

Possibly this question has been answered before, but why is virtually every C2 Corvette defroster vent broken, typically on one side only, on the flange where it attaches to the heater box? I've looked at dozens of these over the years and everyone is crudely broken - not smooth, but jagged along the edge.

Has anyone ever found the residual defroster flange chips in their car when it was disassembled? Is it possible they were broken on the assembly line to achieve a better fit?

Anyone repair there's prior to re-installing in their car or do people put them back in busted?

Any insights would be appreciated.

--Doug

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[Jeffrey D.]

Re: Question: Broken C2 Defroster Vent?

Doug,

I can't answer for all, but in my experience you'll find these mangled up simply as you've guessed, it's tight under there and not much wiggle room is
given when removing these to service something such as the heater core. The defroster vent in my '63 is cracked too and I noticed this while changing out
the heater core. Instead of worrying about doing a "proper" repair, I simply wrapped around the end of it with black Gorilla tape (stronger than duct tape) so as
to not make it crack more when reinstalling it.

Jeff

[John H.]

Re: Question: Broken C2 Defroster Vent?

Possibly this question has been answered before, but why is virtually every C2 Corvette defroster vent broken, typically on one side only, on the flange where it attaches to the heater box? I've looked at dozens of these over the years and everyone is crudely broken - not smooth, but jagged along the edge.


Any insights would be appreciated.

--Doug

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Doug -

The problem may be from owners or their mechanics trying to attach the defroster duct to the heater box - the duct is designed specifically NOT to touch the heater box outlet under any circumstances (standard Chevrolet design practice) to avoid noise/vibration from the heater box being transmitted to and amplified by the main instrument panel. Most folks don't know this, and some come up with "creative" ways to attach the duct to the heater box, thinking there's a part missing or "forgotten" in the design.