Driver side kick panel vent removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**MikeB** · 10-02-2018, 01:39 PM

OK, I've got all the screws removed and I can pull the driver side panel out an inch or so, but then the vent door surround (for lack of a better term) gets hung up on the hole in the body panel. Looks like I may have to remove the parking brake bracket, but that's not what the panel is hanging up on yet. Any suggestions?

Truck is an 82 model, if that makes a difference.

**MikeB** · 10-02-2018, 05:57 PM

Never mind. Finally got it out. Not a pretty sight behind it though

Rich84 · 10-03-2018, 09:04 AM

I remember having a lot of trouble trying to remove it also. That was years ago. What did you have to do?

Did you find rust?

SunSoaked · 10-03-2018, 09:50 AM

Please post a pic. I have been wanting to see what's inside. Curious if there's enough room to mount a speaker (with modification of course).

**MikeB** · 10-03-2018, 11:08 AM

Ended up removing the parking brake assembly. It took quite a bit of effort to disconnect the cable and release rod. Of course I had to reduce tension on the cable under the truck.

You can see some of the rusted sheet metal clinging to the glue on the vent panel. Looks like some PO had been in there before.

Water had been dripping out the bottom even during light rain. Drain passage does not seem to be clogged, so it's not like water is rising up to the vent.

Pretty frustrating that this 82 truck has significantly more rust than my 69, which needed only outer rocker panels and cab corners. Have to say the panel vent design is the culprit.

My photo hosting website is maxed out, and I can't figure out how to do a direct image link from iCloud or Google Photos, so here you go:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e4...w1336-h1002-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZR...=w752-h1002-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qO...w1336-h1003-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LW...w1336-h1002-no

SunSoaked · 10-03-2018, 11:23 AM

Thanks for the pics. Now I'm curious cause my 85 has the plastic panel but I don't have a driver side vent like you. I'm wondering if it was an option thing and it just has a cover over the sheet metal. I actually want the floor vents, especially since I converted to vintage air a/c. It has no provision for outside air blend like the factory.

**MikeB** · 10-03-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Thanks for the pics. Now I'm curious cause my 85 has the plastic panel but I don't have a driver side vent like you. I'm wondering if it was an option thing and it just has a cover over the sheet metal. I actually want the floor vents, especially since I converted to vintage air a/c. It has no provision for outside air blend like the factory.

Was it a factory AC truck? I know there were some difference between AC and non-AC kick panel vents. Others here can chime in here.

SunSoaked · 10-03-2018, 12:13 PM

Yes, it had factory a/c. It didn't work when I bouyght it and I just pulled everything out and went aftermarket. When I removed the ps vent, it had a vacuum pot on it so I assume it was controlled via the control panel. I would like to put the vent back in and control it manually and add the same on the d/s.

**MikeB** · 10-04-2018, 01:51 PM

I doubt the sheetmetal is different, so maybe you can find a non-AC vent panel somewhere.

Dead Parrot · 10-04-2018, 02:15 PM

IIRC, the AC vent still retains the place in the plastic where the manual vent control knob goes.

**MikeB** · 01-31-2019, 11:07 AM

Checking back in to show the "before, during, and after" repair pictures. Welds are covered by the vent panel.

10-02-2018, 01:39 PM	#1
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,599	Driver side kick panel vent removal OK, I've got all the screws removed and I can pull the driver side panel out an inch or so, but then the vent door surround (for lack of a better term) gets hung up on the hole in the body panel. Looks like I may have to remove the parking brake bracket, but that's not what the panel is hanging up on yet. Any suggestions? Truck is an 82 model, if that makes a difference. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

10-02-2018, 05:57 PM	#2
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,599	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Never mind. Finally got it out. Not a pretty sight behind it though __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

10-03-2018, 09:04 AM	#3
Rich84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Woodbury, Ct. Posts: 1,694	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal I remember having a lot of trouble trying to remove it also. That was years ago. What did you have to do? Did you find rust?

10-03-2018, 09:50 AM	#4
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Please post a pic. I have been wanting to see what's inside. Curious if there's enough room to mount a speaker (with modification of course).

10-03-2018, 11:08 AM	#5
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,599	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Ended up removing the parking brake assembly. It took quite a bit of effort to disconnect the cable and release rod. Of course I had to reduce tension on the cable under the truck. You can see some of the rusted sheet metal clinging to the glue on the vent panel. Looks like some PO had been in there before. Water had been dripping out the bottom even during light rain. Drain passage does not seem to be clogged, so it's not like water is rising up to the vent. Pretty frustrating that this 82 truck has significantly more rust than my 69, which needed only outer rocker panels and cab corners. Have to say the panel vent design is the culprit. My photo hosting website is maxed out, and I can't figure out how to do a direct image link from iCloud or Google Photos, so here you go: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e4...w1336-h1002-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZR...=w752-h1002-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qO...w1336-h1003-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LW...w1336-h1002-no __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

10-03-2018, 11:23 AM	#6
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Thanks for the pics. Now I'm curious cause my 85 has the plastic panel but I don't have a driver side vent like you. I'm wondering if it was an option thing and it just has a cover over the sheet metal. I actually want the floor vents, especially since I converted to vintage air a/c. It has no provision for outside air blend like the factory.

10-03-2018, 12:13 PM	#8
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Yes, it had factory a/c. It didn't work when I bouyght it and I just pulled everything out and went aftermarket. When I removed the ps vent, it had a vacuum pot on it so I assume it was controlled via the control panel. I would like to put the vent back in and control it manually and add the same on the d/s.

10-04-2018, 01:51 PM	#9
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,599	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal I doubt the sheetmetal is different, so maybe you can find a non-AC vent panel somewhere. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

10-04-2018, 02:15 PM	#10
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,620	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal IIRC, the AC vent still retains the place in the plastic where the manual vent control knob goes.

01-31-2019, 11:07 AM	#11
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,599	Re: Driver side kick panel vent removal Checking back in to show the "before, during, and after" repair pictures. Welds are covered by the vent panel. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 02-02-2019 at 01:19 PM.



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