C1 Cowl vent

IH2LOSE · 10-18-04, 06:19 AM

So as some of you may know I am building a custom 62,I am still not sure what you call this type of a project.(pro touring?)

You fellows with the C1'S

How often do you use your cowl vent.?

If you had A/C in the car would you still use it?

Are they problematic?

The reason I ask is I was in the garage yesterday making some fiberglass patch panels to cover the holes in the fire wall I was not going to need, and a visitor had suggested I just glass up the hole for the cowl vent.And I am just wondering what you fellows think. I am all for the smooth lines,As a matter of fact I am trying to figure out how to graft C5 door handels onto this car.

(I really have to get it out of my gargae I keep making more work for myself)

studiog · 10-18-04, 07:33 AM

Not needed if you have AC. Without AC it dumps allot of fresh air into the bottom of the cabin and removes allot of heat at speed. It also raises allot of dust if you open it affter not having used it for a while.

Tyler Townsley · 10-18-04, 09:05 AM

If you are top down the a/c is wimpy and the vent is a good thing. Once I took my top off it stayed off and have not used the a/c. One advantage of an a/c with the top on and the a/c on high you have no water leaks in the rain. The vent also makes a good bird catcher, just ask SebringBill.

Tyler

richscorvettes · 10-18-04, 10:43 AM

Larry,

I thought about glassing in the vent on ours as well. But, since it is a styling element of the original car, I decided to keep it. I guess, in this case, it's more a question of styling than real function especially since you have A/C. We haven't had any problems with leakage - or catching birds

.

Rich

Tom Bryant · 10-18-04, 01:09 PM

If you run top off or just want to have the windows down you will be glad you have the cowl vent. If you are one of these people that either run the heater or the A/C and only open the window at the occasional drive-thru then you don't need it.

Another thing to remember is that you cannot possibly have too much heat barrier insulation on the cowl and floor of a C1. These things are cookers.

Tom

IH2LOSE · 10-18-04, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Bryant

If you run top off or just want to have the windows down you will be glad you have the cowl vent. If you are one of these people that either run the heater or the A/C and only open the window at the occasional drive-thru then you don't need it.

Another thing to remember is that you cannot possibly have too much heat barrier insulation on the cowl and floor of a C1. These things are cookers.

Tom

I am the type that runs top down ,windows down,and I am still sweating.The only time my tops are up is for storage so they dont wrinkle.

As for they are cookers I dont see how they could be any worse then my 1966

Thanks for the input.

Tom Bryant · 10-18-04, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH2LOSE

As for they are cookers I dont see how they could be any worse then my 1966

Thanks for the input.

At least in the '66 you have fresh air vents you can open when it's raining. My '67 coupe was much better insulated than the '59. One time while cruising in the '59 with the hardtop on in a heavy rain I couldn't even open the widows a crack for air. The cowl vent would have been a water scoop so it had to stay closed. I lost 10 lbs. that day sitting in that rolling sauna. My wife says I exagerate but man it was hot in there.

Tom

Neal · 10-18-04, 09:42 PM

I don't have air, but even if I did, I wouldn't use it much. Fresh air is way better (easier on my sinuses too). I use my vent all the time. Like others have mentioned, it gets pretty friggin' hot in the cab, especially when I've got the hardtop on!

IH2LOSE · 10-18-04, 10:47 PM

Well thanks fellows and it has been decided ,

I am going to keep my cowl vent, it is one of the styling cues of the car that makes it such a classic.so it seems I can do anything I want except alter the body. C5 door handels are out also.

My Dad was up to my house this week end for my sons birthday.( eleven years old allready) and he is haviing a fit over what I have done to the car so far.He not a vette guy he is just a purist when it comes to cars.So as of now the body will stay as it was built with the exception of smoothing the front valance so I dont have to run bumperets.

A sincere thanks for all of the input.Normally theres always one guy who says its your car build it as you want,But I sincerely appreceate and respect the input from my peers on this car.

wallyknoch · 10-22-04, 01:20 PM

I use the vent all the time, especially since the car is black. Anything to cool the cockpit down on a hot summer day including leaving the soft top unlatched in the rear. If the hardtop is on, then sometimes I even open the door with my knee against it to circulate some cool air.