Dash Insert - How Do you Remove and Reinstall the Vents

[71SandbugCharger]

Hello, I want to remove the vents from my dash insert and clean them up.... remove the rust, make them all connected correctly. Then, I want to put it all back together. How do I accomplish this?

Is "dash insert" the correct part terminology for this piece?

See pictures and thanks!!!

 

[Coronet 14]

Are you going to have the dashpad redone If so I would let them do it. If not I usually use some plastic cleaner and Qtips As far as the rust. I have used a small piece of sandpaper taped to a common screwdriver blade. Slow but works ok Then you could coat the metal

 

[flypaper]

i would just take the whole part off the dash and
soak it in a bucket/container of evaporust overnight and then rinse it off with thinner
and never even bother to take it apart...

 

[71SandbugCharger]

i would just take the whole part off the dash and
soak it in a bucket/container of evaporust overnight and then rinse it off with thinner
and never even bother to take it apart...

Awesome!!!! Great idea!!! Thanks!

 

[dgraver]

I have one in near perfect condition I am going to be selling off a satellite. I bought a dash pad off ebay and my car is non ac so I'm not going to use it. Not sure if you'd be interested or not, I'll take pics of it and post later today.

 

[71SandbugCharger]

I have one in near perfect condition I am going to be selling off a satellite. I bought a dash pad off ebay and my car is non ac so I'm not going to use it. Not sure if you'd be interested or not, I'll take pics of it and post later today.

Very interested!

 

[dgraver]

Very interested!

ok, ill send you a pm

 

[daytona71]

Hi 71
I took my insert apart to clean the louvres and re-do the chrome trim. The vent assembly is held in by a small pushed in pin. A thin blade screwdriver was used to start them out, then small needle nose pliers. After all cleaned and repaired, they went back together no problem. I used the Krylon silver leafing pen to redo the trim. Looks like new

 

[plumgtx]

Thanks Daytona sounds like what I am going to do on my car. Good advice. Is there any special cleaner or conditioner that works best on the fake wood?

 

[daytona71]

Plumgtx
I used a cleaner from the dollar store called "LA Totally Awesome". A very mild all purpose cleaner, so no problem using it on the plastic woodgrain.

 

[flypaper]

the silver leaf paint pen works very good
if you don't want to use foil embossing
which also works very well.
some silver paint and a nos emblem
makes it look just like new..

 

[partfiler69]

Interested in parting with the old emblem?

 

[flypaper]

one of the 3 pins broke when it came off
throw me a pm if you are interested

 

[idrivemopar]

As Flypaper stated above, for projects like this, evaporust is your friend, its worth the cost of a gallon or two, so you don't have to take the vents apart. I would not try sanding because if you put too much pressure on the bar that runs across the louvers, you may end up breaking them off.

I restored mine on my 73 and I did take the vents out, its tedious but can be done. The pins that hold the retainers on each side are knurled, and if you grab them with a pair of needle nose pliers and twist counterclockwise they will back out. Anyway, if you use evaporust and rinse and dry the metal bars between the louvers, you can then use a paint pen and paint these small parts.

Also, as Flypaper shows, the silver leaf paint pen will do wonders for your emblem.

Here is a before and after of the front side of mine.

 

[SureGrip]

I've always just used Testors silver paint pens for all the trim.

I've also pulled all the pind from these vents, but haven't tried putting them back in yet.

I hope it goes in as well as it did to come apart.