The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1937 Chevy defroster ducts

I picked up a pair of aftermarket ducts but one part is missing and I found a place that could be able to make that part. I am thinking about having both parts made if there would be some demands for those defroster ducts? The part the hose attaches to is missing on the other duct.

Jeff - I did some surfing through web and other resource documents for the 1937 Chevy trucks (and cars) and found that the truck cabs were not designed/equipped for defroster vents nor did they even have GM accessory heaters/defrosters offered like the passenger cars did (shown in this 1937 Chevrolet Accessories Price List ). There where aftermarket heaters/defrosters offered, but they would have required cutting a hole (or holes) in the truck dash to create an opening for the defroster air to reach the windshield.

The 1937 Chevy passenger cars had a single defroster duct port (covered by a snap in sheet metal plate when an accessory defroster wasn't ordered/installed) on the top of the dash in front of the driver and used a 2-piece defroster vent similar to what you have pictured as part of the Defroster accessory kit available for the cars. The right hand piece (feed duct) in your pictures attached to the underside of the dash and the left piece attaches on top of the dash to divert the defroster output against the inner face of the windshield.

I've attached some pictures snagged from various sources to show the original truck dash panel, car dash panel, car dash defroster opening block-off plate and the original style car defroster pieces to help visualize what I've posted.

Not sure you may want to cut up your trucks dash to install what I'm pretty sure is a car accessory (I don't know what your goal is with your truck), but wanted to offer this info in case you may not want to use a non-truck item with your truck.

I am thinking about cutting holes in the dash to mount those ducts as it needs defrost if I drive it in colder weather,now if there is no room under the dash for them I will forget about it.

The cab of that truck is so small that I think just a heater would be enough to defrost the windows pretty quick, especially since it lives in a garage.

Jeff - Back in the day there were aftermarket "defroster fans" offered that you can mount in the cab, directed at the windshield to help with the problem. There are a number of them available, like this 12V one (you can find 6V ones too) in case you might be interested in going that route. The fan blade is exposed, but it's soft and flexible, making it safe to use in the cab. Some can be mounted to the steering column, while others can be mounted on the dash or from overhead, depending on your preferences. Perhaps this might be an option to consider for your fogging windows?

I presently have a fan but will be installing a heater soon and would prefer defroster ducts.

Perhaps some fellow Bolters with ‘37 trucks will chime in with a suggestion or two.

Do you really need defroster ducts? Crank your windshield open and that will solve your problem!
Kent

Cold weather doesn't effect mine, damp wet weather does. I've been caught out in heavy fog, and the windshield was as foggy inside as it was out side, I had a towel to keep it clear. The heater mounted under the seat blowing out on the floor board didn't effect the fog, just got my feet hot! My Vintage Air Mini, has outlets for defrost, but no way of getting the air to the glass without cutting holes, I opted not to cut the dash. I don't drive the truck enough to use defrost, maybe in the last 20 years I needed it three or four times.

OK. You're talking about a defogger rather than a defroster. Two different situations.

The problem is that you wont be blowing conditioned/ dehumidified air on your window to defog it like a modern car. You're just going to be blowing warm/hot air with the same humidity content on the fogged up window.

I think your best bet is to keep the inside of the windshield wiped down with RainX. Try doing it on your vanity mirror in the bathroom and look what happens when you steam it up during a shower.

The water on the glass beads up and rolls down allowing you to see your reflection instead of staying fogged up.

Maybe you need a fan blowing air on the windshield. That was an accessory back then. Some mounted to the steering column. This one is vacuum operated, which probably isn't a great idea with the vacuum wipers and the fan both needing vacuum. They show up on eBay from time to time. Here's a nice one. LINK