1988 K1500 extra AC vent???

[DearJimmy]

I'm still working on replacing my dash and interior that Best Buy's audio Manager tore up doing an install and have an idea. Best Buy's aftermarket radio delete/pocket was not even close to fitting so I bought the GM pocket. What I was wondering is the original radio spot where the delete will go is a perfect spot for an extra AC vent. Has anyone torn apart the OBS dash to know where the duct is that feeds the left hand vent? The center duct looks like it branches off to the left. There are two black plastic mounting pieces in the back of the old radio spot that might need to be relocated, but I think there's room for a new round feed tube to go down behind the HVAC control module. If you look at the dash a vent would look perfect in that spot and the center vents don't really do a good job! Can anyone answer this or has anyone ever done this?

[LS6TT]

i actually thought about the same idea..

my idea was to just take some plastic tubing maybe even pvc, cut a hole into the duct that runs back there and mount that tube and bring it straight to there.

problem i had was directing the air

[DearJimmy]

Is the duct that feeds the left vent behind and below the heater control? If so you can tap in there. A problem I see is not getting enough force to the new vent and losing some force in the left vent. You could take a large tube and reduse it half way to the new vent for extra force. Kind of like the way an HVAC reducer works to maintain preasure in long runs in a house.

[DearJimmy]

I had to replace my dash bezel because the Best Buy installer broke my light switch pod instead of just unhooking them. The old bezel's left vent would fit perfectly in the old radio ares. I'd have to cut it to fit.

[LS6TT]

well you could put something in the tube to restrict the air, it would cause it to be forced through maiking the air speed up (given you have a complete seal so the air just doesnt find another ave to venture)

thats a good idea with the old vent didnt think of that

i didnt want to try it though for the same reason as you, the air doesnt travel from my center vents hard enough to even reach me or the passanger, still trying to figure that out

[DearJimmy]

When you tap into the duct you might be able to recess the new tube into the duct with a curved piece to direct the air up the tube. It's the only way to force the air to take a 90 degree turn. Restricting the flow with this methos could act as a reducer for the left vent and help it! It would be cool to add some helper fans in the left duct and the new radio delete duct! suncourt.com makes duct fans for houses to increase air flow. Their Duct Booster EQ2 works with a thermostat so it turns on with hot and cold air. Now if you could make one small and 12V you'd be in business!

[LS6TT]

yea a 90 or even a 45 in the duct would direct the air, the problem is the pvc tube needed to flow decent air would need to be at least 2 inchs, if you stick a 2 inch 90 dgre elbow inside that vent its going to cut flow to the left consideribly

my ideas with my center vents were CPU fans, i have about ten, wouldnt hurt to try

[DearJimmy]

The CPU fan is a computer fan that is 12 volt or is it something in a car? Would you attach it to the heater wires? If you use fans then that would solve the problem needing recucers. You could just tap into the duct and not worry about directing the air.

[LS6TT]

yea the cpu fans are just a power and ground, just ground it and tap into the power wire..the fans are like 3 inchs around so if you want a good airflow then do a big pvc pipe and it would be great

if i can get to the junker and get lucky i might go ahead and get another one of those front pieces with the grill, looks like its time to bring the fiberglassing stuff back out..LOL