Swapping the stereo and airvents the other way around (maintaining stock operation)

[Chris_Von_Bron]

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?29...+vents+swapped

http://dmctalk.org/archive/index.php/t-2979.html?

http://ohiodeloreans.com/gallery-07-PAFallTech.htm

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...ttin21/D11.jpg

Has been done before as per above but no one to date has shown how to tackle the operation of each ventilation mode to work like stock. The below is how I went about it.

Six years ago I fitted a flip up stereo so the stock setup results in ambient airflow once the screen is open.





When the orifice tube broke up inside my evaporator core this became the catalyst for the conversion.

Side on when measured you can see how tight swapping them around will be (around 5mm of tolerance if I recall)



You don’t have to remove the entire airbox from the car just the part below:-


The green flap has two functions. In the down position it stops the air from coming through the centre vents and allows airflow up to the windscreen

And in the other position


I remodelled the airbox


I did not want any loss of functionality so the solution was to create a ‘slave’ ventilation door which would be located where the original door was have it driven by an arm to the actuator as before



The pivot arm can be seen in action below:-




>>> movie clip showing the pivot arm in action - click image below <<<

>>> movie clip showing the pivot arm in action - click image above <<<






Swapping the stereo and the vents around requires a new piece of aluminium (old piece from an old PC was ideal)



Sourced vinyl from my local trimmer which is an exact match (I have spare if anyone needs some)



End result




Really pleased with the end result as it is a subtle mod that most people won't even notice but makes all the difference on a hot day

[ccurzio]

Exceedingly nice work. Well done.

And holy crap you have a really nice interior.

[vwdmc16]

X2!

nice work cutting the plastic and gluing it back, what did you use to glue? CA, model ca plastic glue? also how was there any issues to allow the radio wires to reach or did you have to extend the harness?

[Chris_Von_Bron]

cheers for the positive feedback. As the stereo isn't stock neither is the harness that is used so there was enough slack to reach.

Glue wise I used Unibond's 'No More Nails' Invisible. It takes 48 hours to fully cure but is rock hard once fully set. I'm sure there is an American equivalent that is ideal.

[Domi]

Amazing job done, the stereo fits perfectly

[Bitsyncmaster]

Nice job and good engineering for that much needed change.

[jawn101]

Looks very cool! Really nicely done.

[awildermode]

Wow, nice work.

That linkage design is genius!

What is that metal disc in the lower corner of windshield?

[Chris_Von_Bron]

Road Tax holder

[john 05141]

Great work! You did this with great finesse and attention to detail. Looks factory made, that is the idea.
Does the airflow have any effect? Do you consider this a hard job to do?

John