Retrofitting heater/defroster

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 1795

He said that I may have to unbolt the windshield and tip it forward to access the screws on the deflectors for hooking up the vent tubes; however I found this nifty little right angle Phillips had ratchet that may have enough clearance to get the job done without loosening the windshield.

Oh, wow, you're right. I hadn't even thought of that part of the job. Doing anything on these cars is a PITA.

[1795]

They sure can be a PITA, but it is my PITA now and I am enjoying every minute of it I have always been a glutton for punishment

[DanEC]

I forgot about the defroster vent screws securing the defroster ducts also. It's pretty tight in there - if you do decide to lean the windshield forward (which is really pretty simple) I would put a strip of masking tape at the front of the seal all the way across. The seal will slide forward as the windshield is stood up and any dust or dirt trapped under the edge of the seal will be pushed across the paint, scratching it. I would slip the edge of the tape just slightly under the edge of the rubber before you move it.

Do you have a glove box? Is so and if you decide not to pull the dash completely, you might want to remove the glove box - I think there are just two screws in the back of it. That will free up a lot of access to work with. I know I mentioned it before, but those defroster hoses are really stiff and difficult to work into position while screwing the defroster ducts into position.

Dan

[1795]

Dan,

I do have a glove box and plan on removing it. I do expect that it will be a pain, but I have worked in tight places before and have long fingers (can palm a basketball in either hand and I am only 5" 10"). I imagine that there will be a lot of @@@@ & #### along the way.

Thanks for the suggestion with the windshield, hopefully I will not have to loosen it.

Jim