Removing Dash A/C vents

After 10 years on this forum with plenty of reading this is a job that I had high anxiety about doing. Delicate Ferrari plastic parts pried out of an expensive leather dash. With some recent quality guidance I was directed to two inexpensive tools to make this one of the quickest and safest jobs I've done.
First for about $6 a piece you purchase two fish hook remover tools (mine from the Internet). It comes as a handle with about a 10" rod with a "S" shaped end on it. You hacksaw or grind it down to a hook type end and smooth off the sharp edges, 5-10 minutes effort. See pic.
With the tool made you put them carefully inside the vent about 4" to 5" deep, as close to the outer edge as possible, at roughly 180 degrees apart (see pic). You want the hooks pointing towards the outside. You are essentially hooking the most inner part of the vent from the inside out. Being certain you are hooked well, with even pressure between the two handles you pop out or pull away from the dash. In most cases it takes a substantial pulling effort. In some cases to the point that you think this thing is going to rip apart. Done with experience with a slide hammer type effort, it takes only seconds and you have a complete dash vent removed. Only a few minutes for all of them.
Naturally when you haven't done the job before you start pulling easily raising the effort until it pops loose. As mentioned sometimes a significant popping/pulling effort is needed. Once hooked over the edge and pulling just try not to alter your rod angle too much against the outer ring of the vent. These parts are more resilient than expected.
In some cases there is a rubber ring that comes out too. It is simply slipped back in over the tube that the vent flows out from. Easier to do and see than I can describe.
One more tip would be to put your vent arrow at the 12 O'clock position before removal so it can be reinstalled the same way. There are gears on the bottom of the vent that need to be positioned at the 6 O'clock position for reinstall. More simple than it sounds. To reinstall you simply line up and push the vent back in, should hear some clicks as the plastic tabs pop back into place.
In my case, all boxed up and sent to Dave at Sticky RX for his fine service.
Both sticky repair services have how-to videos on their respective websites.
Happy to help with any questions.
Bill
FL
Posting with Idevice so several post will be involved
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Work in progress, tool positions.
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Borrowed this pic from the Internet to show side (bottom) view of vent.
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Safely ready to go in just minutes.
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Thanks guys. Like many here I enjoy helping when possible. There is much less stress and much easier to do a job with guidance. Unfortunately the learning curve here for Ferrari is still straight up.
Ask me anything on a 1970-72 Olds 442 and I can be much more help, although much is being forgotten

Thought to add one more pic that might be of help. This is looking right down the now empty hole into the A/C vent feed duct. All you see is the rubber gasket previously mentioned. Nothing else there.
Bill
FL
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Kevin I've seen the carbon pieces and they look very nice. The car doesn't have any carbon options and my vents are in very nice condition so thought to just have them restored back to original.
Bill
FL

 

Good job Dave, I so thought about this. Wasn't sure it would have been strong enough and in my case I don't think it would have been. Had to pull so hard on the center one about fell over. Worrisome at the time but amazing how it all comes out unscathed.
Glad it worked for you.
Bill
FL

 

Patrick thank you and I do remember.
And I agree, a "how to" sticky would be a great idea. It would take a lot of work putting together past post that are useful. Searching and finding useful tips are an effort in the current search function and many times not productive.
If there were a way to put something together I'd be happy to assist.
For now if a thread were started as "How To" and forum members added good ideas with the subject matter in bold in the title section, it might be a good start. Perhaps if enough post were added it might grab attention for sticky status.
Further input welcome.
Bill
FL

 

Patrick, will send you a PM regarding this.

Dave, very Nice. Love the the park switch. My vents are due back Tuesday. Any troubles popping them back in?
Bill
FL