Hey fellas, I'm getting ready to do the Retroair install on my 1978 308GTB. I was wondering if anyone had ever relocated the center A/C vents up to where the radio is? I never use the radio, probably couldn't hear it anyways, and I think removing it and putting the vents there would make the cabin look a little cleaner. Anyone have any experience or insights? Thanks, E
I do have the Retro-Air system on mine, and thought about doing exactly what you are thinking, but in the end, decided that the original dash would be best not altered. I have the radio blank off plate and if it was originally designed with the A/C vents there I think it would've been cool. It's your car, do whatever you like, but I'm pretty sure it would hurt resale value. The system bolts into the engine bay without issue and provides cold air!
Yeah I wouldn't want to cut the dash, but it looks OH SO CLOSE. Maybe I can create and adapter plate that would accept the vents. Do you recall if there was enough play in the flexible pipe from the evaporator box to move it to position? Thanks! E
using the OEM dash vents - if you point the left and right dash vents towards the window, and then point the middle one towards you or just the middle of the cabin... tilt your sun visor just a smidge down... provided you have cold AC, this I have found is plenty to keep you cool - even cold in Atl summer traffic. if you are on the highway - anything above 3K RPM you will be cold. in stop and go... its less effective, but it does cool your face. I agree altering the top dash vents would seriously damage resale value.
@spirot - I'm talking about the vents that are below the radio. No way I'm messing with the top vents!
I always thought about swapping over the location of the radio and the centre console A/C vents in my 328,but I guess it would probably be a good idea to fix the leak in the system first
The "minor" move up to the radio position has been done very nicely in one of the major restorations in the past couple years, but I can't recall which. Looked perfect really. I remember the picture from some unveiling thread before concourso 2014 maybe? Not sure, but it's here somewhere.
I did it for the 4L project, that was shown at concourso in '14. It's a simple swap, the vents are smaller then the opening but a simple frame wrapped in vinyl and it looks factory. I based it off a factory pic floating on the web that shows the vents there and no radio. The paper flex tube has zero issue with the redirect.
Yep...that's the one! Thanks for directing us back to that car...it was extremly well done and looks fantastic. Looks way better than an empty hole or a black faceplate.
I was planning to do the swap, until I decided I also wanted a pop-up 7" screen from the radio, which would have shrouded the vents. So I moved the whole radio surround up. The whole project grew hairs and turned into a major "while you're in there", involving improving the A/C, designing and building a new radio surround, taking the whole dash out, etc etc. I'll try and remember to post some pics - have them at home somewhere. But just raising those vents with a radio swap improved cooling a lot.
Thanks for the tip! Here's the best picture I could find: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/143685069-post16.html It does look a little funny with the size being NOT QUITE right, but I think that also might be a product of the angle.
the lighting and angle of that one are not the best. I oddly don't have many interior shots. Here's a better one mid interior resto. The vents are smaller then the opening so I had to fabricate a bezel for the vents. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've just checked my pics, and I don't have a photo of the finished installation, but the construction shots should give you an idea. I first designed a mock up out of cardboard (cereal boxes) to get the size right for the fascia Image Unavailable, Please Login
I then fashioned a new radio surround, using the old one as a buck (only held in with 3 pop rivets) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This shows a trial fit of the radio, which flips up - the main reason I installed it was for the digital speedo on the GPS. I was then going to fold up a copy in aluminium (too hard), or use it as a mould for a fibreglass one (even harder). In the end I glassed over the cardboard and then covered it in vinyl - not shown, but it looks pretty factory (to a non-Fchat member). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That's pretty neat. The motivation was so that the popup screen would clear the dash? I would tell everyone that the cereal boxes were genuine NOS Fiocchi di mais that you found in a grandmother's kitchen on a trip to the old country. That should make everyone feel better, plus, I bet that's how the factory did it!
Yes, I initially was just going to reverse the vents and the radio, but when I came upon the unit with the 7" screen, I didn't want to shroud the vents - the initial task was to improve the A/C, after all (before it became a "while you're in there"). If you crane your head around behind the dash, you can still make out the "Cheerios" logo on the inside of it, otherwise, I like the Italian grandmother thing.
I love and admire the Aussie and NZ ingenuity. You guys are forced to work on your cars more because there aren't as many resources around. There are some clever ideas and amazing cars that come out of the region. I would advise against the screen. Not for looks or originality but more for functionality. I have an older version of one of these in my WRX daily driver. After a while the screen looses the touch accuracy. The touch accuracy goes funny in the heat. They are impossible to read if there is sun on it. If you have navigation on it, it becomes dated and doesn't compare to a free app on the cell phone. Mind you, I experienced this in a closed top wagon. I could only imagine how bad it would be in a GTS. I had an older unit but I would imagine some of these issues would carry over. If you are serious about sound, there are many single DIN models that are easy to integrate with your phone via blue tooth or direct cable that can most likely be operated by remote and be hidden away. That way you get the clean look of your blowers on the dash and nothing else. Just my thoughts. Please don't take them as the only source of truth in the world.
