[69firebird]

Did the 69 Firebird come w/ a rear window defroster? If so, was it like the typical "lines" on today's vehicles' rear windows? Where can I find oem or aftermarket defrosters? Thanks much!

Rendell

[69firebird]

Did the 69 Firebird come w/ a rear window defroster? If so, was it like the typical "lines" on today's vehicles' rear windows? Where can I find oem or aftermarket defrosters? Thanks much!

Rendell

[Bob25]

These cars came with a package deck blower unit. They o come up on e-bay for sale from time to time.

[69firebird]

Thanks for your help Bob25. I'll be on the lookout for it.

Rendell

[RAJ7395]

Yep. The rear window defogger is nothing more than a small squirrel cage style blower that sucks air out of the passenger compartment and blows it up on the rear window. Therefore, it doesn't work worth a hoot until the air in the passenger compartment starts to heat up. While you're at it, I'd look for a rear defogger switch as well. They too can be hard to find. One last thing, make sure your electrical charging system is up to par otherwise on some cold rainy night when your running the lights, dash blower, rear defogger, radio and windshield wipers your hosed. Been there done that!!

[69firebird]

Thanks RAJ7395. Been looking for a rear window defroster and have a better chance of finding a needle in the haystack. Any suggestions for dealing w/ a fogged up rear window? Are there any aftermarket rear window defrosters of some sort, like the " window lines" in today's vehicles?

[PLAY400]

Got 1 I pulled out of my 68 FB. No idea how original it is as I have no idea what the factory 1 looks like. alan

[einstein]

I have a proper 1969 defogger switch to sell - email me privately.

If you want the grid style glass heater, maybe there are still aftermarket kits available. When I lived in Long Island, they were found at most auto parts stores. New York made heated rear windows mandatory many years ago for all new cars sold in the state.

Funny, when I visited there for Christmas, the car we drove is an 86 Bonneville without the grid. My nephew showed a neighbor kid the glass with the funny lines - he'd never seen one before.

PS The heated grid style defogger was introduced on the 1969 Grand Prix, then offered on most full size and mid-size GM cars for 1970.

Glenn Uettwiller - [email protected]
http://firstgenfirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=209
http://firstgenfirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=210

"I'm an atheist before my first cup of coffee." - Chuck Colson

[RAJ7395]

There's one on E-bay right now. You'll need a different switch and maybe a different harness but the rest is there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6775

[RAJ7395]

There's one on E-bay right now. You'll need a different switch and maybe a different harness but the rest is there.

E-bay Rear window defroster/defogger setup

['ol Pinion head]

Was the '69 Bird defroster set-up, just a small blower that that bolted under package tray, or did it have the elaborate ducting & thin plastic grille similiar to '69 GTO usage?

Thanks

[einstein]

It mounted directly to the package tray, with a grille which has fins in two directions. Same as Camaro at the rear but with a Pontiac rocker-style switch common to 69-72 Pontiacs. I believe the shelf-mount defogger was common to much of the GM line in those years, but not too many were sold since they were so pitiful in getting the job done. I know I've seen them in other cars such as Cutlass, LeMans, Chevelle. I added a grid rear window to a Cutlass I owned (72 model), and while searching the boneyards I got control panels for both the blower and the grid, likely from 70 or 71 cars - but that was 22 years ago! The ducted unit was I believe for convertibles - a very few had them installed.

Glenn Uettwiller - [email protected]
http://firstgenfirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=209
http://firstgenfirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=210

"I'm an atheist before my first cup of coffee." - Chuck Colson