Outboard dash vents....

[Aardvaark]

Noticing no air flow from my outboard dash vents on my recently acquired '75 Manta, I removed the glove box and found that they were both disconnected
(please see pictures) and need to know were to reconnect them. Also, I noticed the two center vents, although having some air flowing from them, don't have any ducting from their back side to the firewall ventilation hole.
Is this correct or am I missing some pieces?
This manta originally had aftermarket air installed by the dealer, but for some reason the first owner had it removed for a refund according to the paperwork that came with the car. I appears the dealer mechanics took a short cut when restoring the car to non-air. One last question. Are the two round outlets down near floor level used for the vents? i don't remmember after so many years and the service manuals don't show the vents in any detail. Thanks.
Regards,
Mark
'75 Manta

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Noticing no air flow from my outboard dash vents on my recently acquired '75 Manta, I removed the glove box and found that they were both disconnected (please see pictures) and need to know were to reconnect them.

The outer vents are for heating/defrosting, so they attach to the heater box itself.

Also, I noticed the two center vents, although having some air flowing from them, don't have any ducting from their back side to the firewall ventilation hole. Is this correct or am I missing some pieces?

There is a small duct that goes from the firewall to the center vents...fresh air only (no heat). Sounds like yours is missing.

Are the two round outlets down near floor level used for the vents? i don't remmember after so many years and the service manuals don't show the vents in any detail.

Yes, these go to the side vents/defrosters (per your first question). Only on 1974-1975 models however.

Bob

[Aardvaark]

Thanks Bob!
It looks like I can hook up the two outboard vents without too much drama.
And the search is now on for the missing central duct piece which I'm guessing is the same for '71-'75?
-Mk

[BQS4]

Mark;
I have one of the center tube/connectors, but, you have to remove the dash to get it in. Unless someone else knows different.

[Killer Texas GT]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark It looks like I can hook up the two outboard vents without too much drama. And the search is now on for the missing central duct piece which I'm guessing is the same for '71-'75? -Mk

Which parts ar you in need of? I also have the vent hoses that go to the out board vents (side window defroster) which are not shown in the picture. you can email me at rodney at opelwrx.com or PM to discuss needed parts and pricing.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Mark; I have one of the center tube/connectors, but, you have to remove the dash to get it in. Unless someone else knows different.

I'm told you can squash it down and pull it in/out without dash removal.
The main body of the piece is accordionated.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark I'm told you can squash it down and pull it in/out without dash removal. The main body of the piece is accordionated.

Yup, it's possible. I've had to do it a couple of times with the dash in place, after forgetting to install it ahead of time .

But it is a PITA, I suggest you remove the glovebox for access.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Yup, it's possible. I've had to do it a couple of times with the dash in place, after forgetting to install it ahead of time . But it is a PITA, I suggest you remove the glovebox for access.

Yup. The glove box, radio, instruments panel......fun fun fun!

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Killer Texas GT Which parts ar you in need of? I also have the vent hoses that go to the out board vents (side window defroster) which are not shown in the picture. you can email me at rodney at opelwrx.com or PM to discuss needed parts and pricing.

It's part #6 in the pic....

[Killer Texas GT]

Mark, have pictures coming your way on all items you inquired about, and more if interested. Will send them to you sight?

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Killer Texas GT Mark, have pictures coming your way on all items you inquired about, and more if interested. Will send them to you sight?

My e-mail is kramraap"at"msn.com

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by BQS4 It's part #6 in the pic....

Yup, that's the one. Plus the missing tubes for the outboard vents.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Yup, that's the one. Plus the missing tubes for the outboard vents.

Whatever Rodney doesn't have, let me know, I should have it. I have the tubes for the outside vents too.

[manta a]

Hey Mark,

From the center shot you posted it looks like you're the lucky guy who bought Brieg's car from Minneapolis. Congratulations-it's a beautiful car.
I was trying to wire him money and he went to his cabin, and a couple days after he returned he told me it was sold.

Did you clean it up much, or was it as nice when you picked it up? The pictures he had weren't very good.

Brian

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by manta a Hey Mark, From the center shot you posted it looks like you're the lucky guy who bought Brieg's car from Minneapolis. Congratulations-it's a beautiful car. I was trying to wire him money and he went to his cabin, and a couple days after he returned he told me it was sold. Did you clean it up much, or was it as nice when you picked it up? The pictures he had weren't very good. Brian

Yup, it was me. I didn't know anyone else was hot on the trail of it. Guess the first money in his hand did the trick.
The car was wet and dirty because for the heavy rain the day we met at a rest area 1/2 way between us and did the deal.
Since, I've been cleaning it up more and going over the car correcting minor issues found on 32yr old cars.
He sent me several better pics before I agreed to buy it if it was as good as he claimed. It pretty much was.
Aside from washing, touching up some minor paint issues and waxing, the only
mechanical issues I've fixed are straightening out the FI system idle adjustments, replacing a bad Aux Air valve ($15 used), cleaning the air flow meter potentiometer and adjusting dwell and timing to my personal specs.
I've also replaced all fluids and installed new front brake pads and changed the brake fluid. The car has had a new exhaust from the head pipe back, and new cheap tires recently.
I also had to pull the speedo and repair the nylon drive gear for the odometer because it had cracked in the usual VDO manner causing the odo to skip at times.
Also, when the dealer AMC a/c was removed the vent tubes were not replaced properly. It is now.
To protect my butt in hot weather, I've installed a cheap set of cloth front seat covers and also a European OEM old stock passenger side mirror and dash cover to protect the pristine dash.
She's just about ready for the trip to springfield for the Opel meet. Tommarrow it goes to the installers for a Rostra cruise control. Hope they don't get as covered with the Ziebart tar as I have the last few days!
Sorry I beat you out, but that's life I guess. I'm usually the one who's too late.
Regards, Mark

[manta a]

In a way I'm glad that you took the car home. I was looking at the car as a rust-free shell with the '75 "improvements" to help me build my fantasy Manta. Which would entail stripping it bare for paint (and color change) and having a ton of parts tossed along the way. Your car is a true survivor, and deserves to stay that way.

BTW, where exactly is that "one square inch" of rust?

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by manta a In a way I'm glad that you took the car home. I was looking at the car as a rust-free shell with the '75 "improvements" to help me build my fantasy Manta. Which would entail stripping it bare for paint (and color change) and having a ton of parts tossed along the way. Your car is a true survivor, and deserves to stay that way. BTW, where exactly is that "one square inch" of rust?

I guess if you added up all the rust on the rocker panels it would make 1 in sq.
Some small stone chips that began to rust and a little area on the RH rocker
up near the front that begain to rust. All surface rust and no penetration.
I treated all the small areas with Mar-Hide that converts the rust to a black primer and carefully touched up the areas with touchup silver metalic to match the rest. Looks good enough unless you lean down and stare at it.

It would have made a great rust free shell, but what a waste of a very nice survivor as you say. Many of the rubber hoses under the hood look to be originals. I've replaced some vacuum hoses with close replacements and will try to keep the originality within reason. I notice the electric fuel pump had been replaced with a universal FI type and the fuel filter doesen't appear to be the original type, but hey, they work fine and are hard to see. If that's all that isn't original after 32 years, I can live with it.
Btw. I should point out that there is a small repair area just aft of the drivers door
just below the rear swingout window about the size of a football that looks like maybe a tree branch dropped on it. When the repair was make apparently the resprayed the top of the car from the beltline up. A decent job but that and the original paint is checking in some areas due to age. it's still looking good and I won't do anything about it in the forseeable future. Also a very small area on the RR corner that looks like it backed into something and the paint was touched up.
Again, not worth fixing at this point. That's it I think.