Dash Panel Air Vent Replacement on 328 | FerrariChat

Dash Panel Air Vent Replacement on 328

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by scott1967, Aug 10, 2006.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. scott1967

    scott1967 Karting

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2004
    Messages:
    148
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Due to years of exposure to the sun, it is time to replace the rubber dash panel air vents in the 1986 328. I have tried to search this subject on this site, but I have not had any luck. Has anyone replaced their dash panel vents recently and can you please provide some insight on how they are connected? Thanks. Scott
     
  2. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    May 29, 2001
    Messages:
    18,044
    Location:
    USA
    Rubber? They are hard plastic. You are speaking of the round ones in the center/top of the dash? They simply pull straight out. You can order replacements from the usual sources...
     
  3. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran Consultant Owner

    Joined:
    May 5, 2001
    Messages:
    7,022
    Location:
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    davehanda,
    You're behind, was talking with Dave of Ricambi, the round vents are now NLA. Also no longer show up on the Ferrari.uk site. There may be still a few out there sitting on somebody's shelf tho.

    Stand by,
    I'm looking into making them.
     
  4. scott1967

    scott1967 Karting

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2004
    Messages:
    148
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Actually, they are not the hard plastic ones in the middle of the dash. These are the rubber ones in the front left and right corners up by the window.

    Scott
     
  5. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ Sponsor Owner

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2003
    Messages:
    16,448
    Location:
    Winston Salem, NC
    Verrell - Ya know, it occured to me after our conversation... I used to have an old Alfa with remarkably similar vents. It was something like an 88 Spider Quad. I wonder if Alfa vents would be close enough that a new bezel would make them fit?

    They looked just like these:

    http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2641&posid=1174357

    http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2641&posid=886078

    Thoughts?
     
  6. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    May 29, 2001
    Messages:
    18,044
    Location:
    USA
    Can also check with the usual used parts houses, like T.Rutland's and such...
     
  7. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2001
    Messages:
    33,118
    Location:
    E ' ' '/ F
    Full Name:
    Snike Fingersmith
    They're hard to find, and snap very easily. I've broken 2 round ones so far, and can't find another :(

    Verell, if you make them do something about the brittle pins that hold the blades to the body
     
  8. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran Consultant Owner

    Joined:
    May 5, 2001
    Messages:
    7,022
    Location:
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    Scott,
    Those curved vents in the window corners are hard plastic as well. Haven't looked at their availability, but have a NOS L & R pair safely stored away for when they go NLA.

    Reminds me, I ought to make me a pair as I managed to crack both of mine with the window sun screen. Then I'd have the dubious pleasure of pulling the entire padded dash to replace them...
     
  9. bill308

    bill308 Formula 3 Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    May 13, 2001
    Messages:
    1,224
    Location:
    Windsor, CT
    Full Name:
    Bill Sebestyen
    Replacement corner vents are tough to find. Last year I recovered my dash and of course broke the plastic retaining pins in the process of trying to remove these vents, before pulling out the dash covering. The plastic pins are retained by metal clips on the back side and are properly removed only after the crash pad is out of the car.

    I managed to secure a couple of used replacements from T. Rutlands but they weren't cheap. One of the replacements had all four pins intact, the other only had three pins. I fashioned a piece of stainless steel wire to hold the vent down where the missing pin was and the end result is really undetectable from the outside.

    I talked to Bill at GT Car Parts at this time and while he didn't have any replacements, he was considering having some metal replacements made. You might want to check with him and see if he ever sourced some replacements.

    Bill
     
  10. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2003
    Messages:
    43,182
    Location:
    PNW
    Full Name:
    John
    That's one of the only pieces I haven't been able to find yet. Luckily my center round ones are all in great shape. Those little kidney shaped ones though are not.
     
  11. scott1967

    scott1967 Karting

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2004
    Messages:
    148
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Thanks for all the responses. I will have to look again when I get home, because I swear mine our rubber. They might not be the original ones. Scott
     

Share This Page