need heater box information

[72240Z]

i have a problem with my car, as the vent flap in my heater box has become stuck in the open position, letting in the cool outside air all the time. I'm part way into it, having removed the heater fan motor, and have run into difficulty getting any further. What I really need to access is the area where the cable end is. My body and chassis manual does not have any information regarding this area, so I'm looking to purchase a book with good information, or talk with somebody who knows their way around these things.

Thanks,

Devin aka 72240Z

email: 64bowtie@quik.com

[Graeme Suckling]

Hi Devin, we have two '73 Z's apart at the moment so heater info is a breeze. Removing the fan & motor may only help if the entire assy. has to be removed from the car. Anyhoo, the flap is operated by cable, as you knew, connected to a lever midway up the front RHS of the heater assy. The lever is pushed down to open the flap. If it is stuck open perhaps the cable end has dis-engaged from the post on the lever.

Does the dash control free wheel now??

I think you should be able to locate the lever/cable/clamp from the RHS of the console and determine what has happened.

The metal spring clip that retains the outer of the cable to the heater box may have sprung elsewhere and the cable may now be floating.

You should be able to close and open the flap manually, by operating the lever, to check for free operation.:classic:

[72240Z]

ok, here's the current situation: I spent about an hour working on it the other day and was able to remove the fan motor and the one bolt on top of the fan motor box. There are two bolts inside that are being stubborn about coming out. At this time I have not been able to remove the glove box, since there is no room to move it out from behind and I don't want to damage it in an attempt to get it out through the door opening. All of this in an attempt to get to the cable end on the outside of the heater box and check the condition of the cable. Before I was able to move the lever on the dash panel, which felt like it had some resistance, but the vent in the center of the dash was always blowing in cold air. I have moved the flap with my hand through the fan motor box, and it had quite a bit of resistance. I think it was stuck in the open position for a long time. With all that said, is there an easier way to skin this cat?

Thanks,

Devin aka72240Z

email: 64bowtie@quik.com

[EScanlon]

There is another way of tackling this monster. It will eventually make it much easier to remove and reinstall that vent flap box. However, it does require a bit more work to get there.

The problem you are having is that you are trying to do all this work WITHOUT removing the dash, commendable but not the easiest way to do this job.

If you were about 30" tall, and could snake up there, it would still be a tight fit.

The fresh air flap is mounted to the bottom of the cowl bucket and there is a putty gasket there. The fan / motor are easier left on it and remove them as a unit. The ducting to the defroster vents might be blocking access to the cowl bucket, and in addition to that you are trying to avoid the glove box.

Personally, although complicated, it isn't HARD to remove the dash. With that out of the way you can effect a proper and complete fix and it won't give you any trouble in the future. It will take you about 2 hours (because of the learning curve) to remove the dash, then about an hour to fix what you need to fix in the flap box (2 if it needs rebuilt), then about 1.5 hours to reassemble.

2¢

[skip260z]

There is another way of tackling this monster. It will eventually make it much easier to remove and reinstall that vent flap box. However, it does require a bit more work to get there.

The problem you are having is that you are trying to do all this work WITHOUT removing the dash, commendable but not the easiest way to do this job.

<snip>

Personally, although complicated, it isn't HARD to remove the dash. With that out of the way you can effect a proper and complete fix and it won't give you any trouble in the future. It will take you about 2 hours (because of the learning curve) to remove the dash, then about an hour to fix what you need to fix in the flap box (2 if it needs rebuilt), then about 1.5 hours to reassemble.

2¢

And.. while you have the dash out, take the opp to replace all those tiny bulbs in your instruments. Real PITA to do one guage at a time with the dash IN.

my 2cents!