Cleaning Up Fresh Air Ventilation Box, Removing the circular clips Options

[andys]

I'm cleaning up my fresh air ventilation box (under the cowl), and want to disassemble the housing that holds the fan and motor. There are some circular steel wire clips that hold the plastic housing halves together. What is the best tool or method to remove, and then replace them without cracking the plastic bosses?

Also, it looks like the foam rubber on the butterfly valves are about shot. Where can I get suitable replacements or the material to repair them? Recommendations?

Thanks,

Andys

[realred914]

neoprene rubber works nice for the seals on the vanes. and should last longer thn stock rubber, make sure you have the correct amount of overhang of the rubber, too little and it wont full seal when closed.

the neoprene is the same stuff used in wetsuites. 1/8 inch thick works fine.

besure to add some sort offine mesh bug screen on top of the intake, under the cowl louvers. the stock sceen (may or may not be present, ealry cars lacked any screen) does not preventpine neeldes and other debries from clogging up the fan, so use some aluminum bug screen, paint it black and place it above the stock scrren, thsi will keep the debries out very well.

also the seal between the box and the underside of the cowl is critical, so before you put teh gas tank back in, test with water, spray it vigurasly with water after you install the air box, spray all along ithe outside of the cowl louvers, in all four directions, then look inside the trunk to see if any water got in. water leaks hear can rust the gas tank fromt eh out side (the felt pads soak up the water and hold it on the metal tank) the water can get inot the footwell,a nd rot out your floor too

also make sure your wiprers is all cleaned and lubed and make sure the wiper shaft bushing protrudes above the 'water line" of the wiper shaft wells on teh colw, if the bushing for the shaft is below the "water line" then water will get into the bushing, rusting you wiper shafts,and leak into the the dash area. proper adjustment of the shaft hieght stick out length is done with teh big nuts on each shaft. be above the water line!!!!! else you will damage the wiper shafts and leak water inside!


good luck