[charles bledsoe]

I posted this in the interior section, but think I might get a better response from the guys who have the 68/69 cars.

I am changing out the original air deflectors in my 69 GTO and looking to see if anyone has advise on removing and replacing the center vent deflector? After I removed most of the pluming, glove box, radio, and ash tray I found out the side vent deflectors had small tangs on either side that needed to be pushed in and the whole assembly just pops out. I don't see anything like that on the center vent. I'm guessing I need to remove the A/C control panel which is going to be a pain. I hope I do not have to remove the dash pad as I have never been able to get things like that to fit back as tightly as they were before removal. Any tips or advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[2002Z4CSS]

Might want to take the dash out to replace that center vent. I believe it is bolted in from the back side.

[gtohurstjudge]

You need to remove the dash, but the good news is it really isn't all that hard to do. Briefly.......remove the two column bracket bolts and let the column hang down, but a thick towel over the column to prevent scratches while removing the dash. Take out the three screws at the top of each guage pod, remove the glove box and remove the three
nuts from the studs at the top of the dash. Remove the two lower corner bolts located at the
bottom of the dash right next to the door jamb. disconnect the temp cable from the heater box, disconnect the wires and vacuum hoses from the temp control panel, disconnect the
wiring for the dash at the bulkhead connector on the firewall.......and remove the dash!
Actually can be done in about thirty minutes. If you have ram air you will need to drop the control bracket for the flap doors, and if you have A/C you will need to remove the lower duct (three phillips screws hold that on).

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

You need to remove the dash, but the good news is it really isn't all that hard to do. Briefly.......remove the two column bracket bolts and let the column hang down, but a thick towel over the column to prevent scratches while removing the dash. Take out the three screws at the top of each guage pod, remove the glove box and remove the three
nuts from the studs at the top of the dash. Remove the two lower corner bolts located at the
bottom of the dash right next to the door jamb. disconnect the temp cable from the heater box, disconnect the wires and vacuum hoses from the temp control panel, disconnect the
wiring for the dash at the bulkhead connector on the firewall.......and remove the dash!
Actually can be done in about thirty minutes. If you have ram air you will need to drop the control bracket for the flap doors, and if you have A/C you will need to remove the lower duct (three phillips screws hold that on).

Yep, what he said. Not a hard job at all.

[gtohurstjudge]

One thing I omitted....there are two bolts on either side of the steering column
underneath the removable plastic cover that screws on under the steering column, so you
have a total of four bolts on the bottom of the dash, three phillips screws at the top of the
instrument pods and three nuts at the top of the dash behind the glovebox.

[1978 T/A]

I was able to replace mine without taking anything out. You have to very careful with the clips but it can be done.

[charles bledsoe]

Yes I was able to get mine out without removing the dash, this was before the above post^^^^1978 T/A is correct, you do have to be very careful with the clips, ask me how I know. Can these clips be purchased? I am now missing one, I might have it, although I don't know where it fell out to.

[1978 T/A]

Chances are if it fell it went down the ac duct and is sitting in the duct work for the knee vents.

Good job on getting it done! Saved yourself a lot of time.

[gtohurstjudge]

How exactly is this done without risking damaging the unobtanium outer bezel
surrounding the vent? I'm pretty sure GM didn't intend for the vent to be serviced that way. sounds pretty risky with 46 year old brittle plastic parts.

[charles bledsoe]

There are clips on both sides of the deflector, that slide into slots on the inside of the bezel. I took a very thin small head flat tip screwdriver and inserterted it between one side of the deflector and the clip, then pushed the clip in. I had to use a flash light to see the clips. Once the clip was in, I pushed the deflector back into the bezel and with a little finagling the other end came out of the clip. With both ends out of the clips (the deflector was now vertical and one end was protruding out of the bezel) I just pulled the deflector out and replaced it with the new deflector. Put one end of the deflector in the indention of the clip and slowly push the other end in. Once the other end goes in far enough it clicks into place. I did everything very slow and didn't force anything. It seemed to me that this was the way it was designed and engineered to work. I brlieve that if I had removed the dash, I would of had to replace the deflector in the same manner, it just would have been easier to see what needed to be done.

[gtohurstjudge]

amazing! congratulations on figuring this out....I never would have believed
it could be done that way.