XframeFX Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 1963 Consoles, are they supposed to have the cardboard duct pictured? I don't remember from 25 years ago. I have one from a '65 Riviera (poor images I know). It fits even with the fat Dynaflow shifter but the hose for the drivers vent is partially blocked by the duct. Fitting the console is hap-hazard enough without the duct. All a tight fit. A forum search and chassis manual is of no help on this. Thanks, John B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedeDownUnderR63 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Well, they are supposed to have a cardboard duct although it is likely to be different than in a ‘65 as the console is slightly different. I renovated the ‘63 I had in the late ‘70s and remember I had to put it back, it wasn’t that hard. Sorry no pictures and the only page where it is documented in the chassis manual, p11-26, isn’t so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Its function is to supply heat for the rear seat passengers. Do you drive the car when you need interior heat? Do you carry rear seat passengers when you need heat? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Yes the 63 uses this type of duct. I still have the one I removed from my car when I did the VA installation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 If you eliminate the duct, don't forget to block off the hole in the plenum where the duct is supposed to fit. That duct is a somewhat dicey piece of engineering, as they tend to warp and the seal at the plenum tends to distort. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr914 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 the console is certainly a piece of engineering. I have taken them out quite a few times, and would love to find a nos black console for my 64. The duct should be carefully laid out and carefully connected as to seal the heat flow to the two rear vents. all of the gen 1 cars had the duct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC1968Riviera Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) I wonder if Repops, Inc. has tested creating new replacement center console duct assemblies. This looks like something that would be right up their alley. Edited February 18, 2020 by NC1968Riviera (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 2 minutes ago, NC1968Riviera said: I wonder if Repops, Inc. has tested creating new replacement center console duct assemblies. This looks like something that would be right up their alley. I agree, but the way that e drive our cars these days, it's really not needed. I think that a good DIY guy could recreate one of these out of some sheet aluminum and coat it with something to insulate it and quiet it. As mentioned earlier, the paper ones have a tendency to loose their shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Just copy what you have out of re-enforced cardboard. Probably take a couple hrs. at most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Besides supplying heat to the rear seat passengers it ALSO supplies heat to the drivers left leg. One of the diff. between '63 & '64-'65 is that the duct directs heat directly on the middle part of your shin in '63. Whereas the '64-'65 has a louver over it to direct the heat down to help keep from getting too hot & burning your leg. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 If you didn't want to supply heat to the rear, can you tap into the duct under the dash and run a dedicated line to the vent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 1 hour ago, RivNut said: If you didn't want to supply heat to the rear, can you tap into the duct under the dash and run a dedicated line to the vent? I think there already is? Tom M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 this is true as there is a separate hose for the leg vent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share Posted February 19, 2020 AAH, Section 11 page 26 of the "SHOP Manual" - the HVAC section. Thanks Jan. I looked in the "CHASSIS Manual" and as you all know, a chintzy 9 sections at the back is for 4700s. The Shop Manual shows the duct and shifter vaguely but no console. So, all 1st Gen Rivieras were built with a console duct. All I remember before marriage and kids when I 'freely' worked on my '63 and the parts car, neither had this contraption. I didn't know it existed. Thing is, as evident with broken tabs that engage (or, do not) with the dashboard, previous owners messed with the console. They probably struggled with trial & error on re-installation that they discovered they missed the duct but called it 'good' in frustration! Yes, don't really need it but this project has vexed OCD on me! It's a '65 duct in good shape and was part of a larger purchase for my ST-400 swap. It turns out, I don't need most of it. What I do need out of that LD Purchase is junk - except this duct. So, I'm using it, absolutely and unlike those tabs, fits like a glove. BTW, I've found mounting the '65 shifter inside a stripped '63 shifter 5/8" higher makes it work with the original console. It is still preliminary but, I wish I knew that before I bought that bundle for $$$. Now, apart my struggle with those tabs, I have 4 brackets sitting in the glovebox for 29 years and 3 holes on each side for 6. This does not include the single slanted vertical hole at the back in the waterfall below the courtesy light. The hump has 2 holes at this location. Think I'm missing a bracket. Front ashtray light is missing, just a cut wire with no clue how that worked. Still looking to resolve my missing chrome push-button on that junk '65 shifter I bought online. Hmm, maybe lower my expectations and move on. Thanks All, John B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J3Studio Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 That's one sketchy part. I understand both the @RivNut "do you really need it for how first-generation Rivieras are now driven" and @XframeFX wanting to get it as original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 John B, That cigar lighter is feed by the gray wire that feeds light to the Shifter bulb when you put the parking lights on so you could splice off of that wire IF the wire is missing completely. I have the holder/bracket for the cigar lighter IF needed. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodneybeauchamp Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 When I did the heater core in my ‘63 I refurbished the cardboard ducting with a glue called Weldbond. Used it to seal any gaps in the cardboard and to strengthen any areas that were suspect. Dries clear and is very strong and seals. I was happy I did that, knowing that it will last a long long time. Its nice also to feed heat into the rear even when only one or two up as it creates a more even distribution around the cabin. Worth the effort. just my two bobs worth. 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 What is the exchange rate for a bob nowdays? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Definitely get that duct working -- especially if you have (and use) a rear window defogger. There are lots of things you can use to coat/reinforce the cardboard, but the main concern is making sure it's flat and square at the seals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Thanks all on my console duct. All these years I was unaware of the cardboard contraption. Thought the Console itself was what directed the flow to the rear vents. The console is becoming a project in itself. The crusty leatherette inlays restores nicely with cleaning and touching up the peeled-up corners with contact cement and clamping. No need to replace. John B. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodneybeauchamp Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 On 2/21/2020 at 1:29 AM, RivNut said: What is the exchange rate for a bob nowdays? Hi Ed, Current exchange rate is US$0.000000000067854c to every AUS$. Or it seems that way when you buy from the US. Whatever it is it is not good ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 Move the decimal point another digit to left for the Canadian Dollar. I hate cross border shopping, we have no buying power it seems. UPS not our friend. USPS - reasonable. Vendor quote: " Free shipping to the lower 48 with purchases over $100" - ya. right! I try to source locally. It turns out the friendly Cardone Warehouse people alerted me that of all the Cardone Warehouses in North America, Only in Edmonton they have the Nailhead AC Water Pump and Wiper Motor. Curious if they're going to re-stock now that I cleaned them out. Now trying to source the 'tight' roller timing chain set on this side of the border. I wonder what manufacturer it is? In the old days, didn't have Google, didn't need it. I simply visited the most competitive jobber store and purchased or ordered almost anything! John B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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