64 C10 - connecting one of the defroster hoses

[elane352]

Greetings,

I need to replace the defroster hose that connects to the left side circular vent on the driver's side. This is a thrift heat set up by the way.

I cannot seem to connect the hose to that vent. I guess trying to do so while laying on my back and trying to reach up has not been effective.

I thought that if I could push up the circular vent piece, release it from the hole it goes in, and stick the hose up through the hole, it would be a piece of cake to make my connection. Then I could stick the connected vent/hose back down through the hole.

The vent does turn a bit. But there seem to be two little side pieces that hold it in place. I have been pushing in, pushing down, and pushing up to see if I could free things up and get the vent out. Nothing has worked. Since I have never dealt with these vents before, I do not know what is the right technique to push them up. And I did not want to get a wood block and take a hammer and try to release the vent that way. That I believe would result in damaging the vent or breaking it.

So if anyone has any insight, please share.

Eddie

[Llay R. Rac]

if i recall correctly there are two small notches in the dash that the little side pieces line up with and then allow the vent to be removed. mine was so full of sand, grit, crumbs that i had a hard time getting the vent to turn, water helped me get it loose. i think you have to rotate the vent at least a quarter turn.

that was 20 years ago, i just replaced my defroster hoses again last month, i had the radio and wiper motor out and all my panel gauges disconnected, so it was easy attaching the hose from underneath. i put a spot of hot glue and a zip tie around the hose as the last one had come off the vent long time ago. I didnt want to take the vents out this time as i was afraid of chipping my 20 year old paint.

[ACK]

You would think attaching a hose to the defrost vent would be one of the easier tasks, but it isn't. Here's some tips that might help ...

1. Make roughly a 1/4" cut in the fabric at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, this helps prevent the fabric from buckling and getting in the way
2. The fabric tube contains a coiled wire, attach it to the vent using a twisting motion that would "open" the wire
3. Don't push too hard or have someone hold down the vent from up top, you don't want to break a vent clip
4. Use some persuasive language

Good luck

[elane352]

Gracias for the tips. I also had thought about making a small slit also. Glad to hear that I was not off base with that idea. I will give it a shot.


Eddie